Gu received his early medical education at Qiqihar Medical College, where he studied clinical medicine with a specialization in neuropsychiatry from September 1979 to August 1982. After graduation, he began his medical career at Yangming Hospital in Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang, serving successively as physician, director of surgery, vice president, and later president of the hospital. During this period, he also pursued further education and obtained a bachelor's degree in clinical medicine from Jilin Medical College between July 1994 and July 1996.[2]
In the 1990s, Gu gradually transitioned into public administration. From 1993 to 1995, he served concurrently as President of Yangming Hospital and Vice Chairperson of the Yangming District Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He was appointed Vice Mayor of Yangming District in June 1995, while continuing to oversee hospital administration. In March 2000, he became Vice Mayor of Mudanjiang, a position he held until July 2006. During his tenure, he also served as Chairperson of the RCCK Mudanjiang Municipal Committee and later as Vice Chairperson of the Heilongjiang Provincial Committee of the RCCK.[3]
Between September 2003 and May 2006, Gu undertook postgraduate studies in social medicine and health services management through a joint master's program offered by Harbin Medical University and La Trobe University in Australia. He later completed doctoral studies in forestry economic management at Northeast Forestry University from September 2005 to July 2008, earning a PhD in management.[4]
From February 2010 to January 2018, Gu served as deputy director of the Heilongjiang Provincial Supervision Department, while continuing to hold senior leadership roles within the RCCK at the provincial level.[4] From 2013 to 2016, he concurrently served as a full-time deputy secretary-general of the Heilongjiang Provincial Committee of the CPPCC and attended a mid-career training program for young and middle-aged cadres at the Central Party School in 2015.[5][2]
In January 2018, Gu was appointed Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the Heilongjiang Provincial People's Congress and Chairperson of the Heilongjiang Provincial Committee of the RCCK, positions he held until December 2022. In December 2022, he was appointed full-time Vice Chairperson of the Central Committee of the RCCK. In March 2023, he was elected a member of the 14th Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and appointed deputy director of its Supervisory and Judicial Affairs Committee.[6] Since May 2023, he has continued to serve as full-time Vice Chairperson of the Central Committee of the RCCK and Chairperson of the Heilongjiang Provincial Committee of the RCCK.[7]