Guan was born in December 1931 in Muling, Heilongjiang Province in northeast China.

In 1949, he was transferred to Hubei Province in central China, working in the provincial finance department.

[1] In January 1983, Guan became CCP Committee Secretary of Hubei, and held that position until December 1994.

As a result, both governors ended their terms prematurely and left the provincial government.

[1] After retiring from politics Guan focused on painting, and was interviewed in his studio by Xinhua News Agency in 2010.