He became a member of the Beijing party standing committee in July 2013, taking charge of the Zhongguancun administrative district a month later, in addition to overseeing education in the city.

[1] In May 2016, he replaced the disgraced Lü Xiwen as deputy party chief of the Chinese capital.

[3] He was the Executive President of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

[4] In August 2022, Gou stepped down as Director of the State General Administration of Sports after reaching the age of 65.

On 30 May 2024, Gou was suspected of "serious violations of laws and regulations" by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), the party's internal disciplinary body, and the National Supervisory Commission, the highest anti-corruption agency of China.