GUO Yurong received her Master Degree in Physical Geography from Sun Yat-Sen University. From 1994 to 1997, GUO participated in a government-funded international training program in Canada, Australia and the United States. From 1988 to 2016, GUO served in an array of key positions in the government of Shenzhen Municipality, including Director of Education Bureau and Director of the Environmental Protection Bureau.

GUO Yurong served as the Chairperson of the University Council of the Southern University of Science and Technology between June 2016 to July 2021.