Guo is known as a dissident writer and "barefoot lawyer", who has worked on several controversial issues to defend the rights of marginalized groups.

Prior to his 2006 imprisonment, Guo worked as a legal advisor to the Shanghai Shengzhi Law Firm.

After being held in pre-trial detention for 17 months, he was sentenced to five years of imprisonment at the Meizhou Prison on 14 November 2007 in what was characterized as a "trial marked with serious procedural irregularities.

Family members reported that Guo was tortured in custody, deprived of sleep, and shocked with electric batons.

[9] On 28 January 2021, Guo was arrested by the border inspection on the grounds of 'endangering national security' at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, when he was about to board a flight to the United States to visit his cancer-stricken wife.

[11] Following the death of Zhang in January 2022, U.S. Department of State spokesperson Ned Price issued a statement where he requested that the Chinese authorities must grant Guo humanitarian relief and allow his travel to the United States to be reunited with his children and grieve the passing of his wife.

As a result, Guo sent an open letter where he requested to be allowed to leave China and reunite with her,[17] which was rejected by the authorities.