 Guo entered into the First Normal School of Hunan () to study in 1920.When Mao Zedong served as a school officer of the affiliated primary school () in First Normal School (), Guo turned to Mao for advice and he had a close relationship with Mao.Guo joined in the Xinmin Institute () by Mao's recommendation in 1920 and became a CPC member while Mao was as his referrer in 1921.