https://www.scmp.com/rss/206095/feed Guo Jinlong was appointed Beijing party chief in 2012 after less than five years as the capital's mayor. But his new role was tested when, just days later, the city was struck by the heaviest downpour in almost six decades, leaving at least 79 people dead and thousands homeless. After graduating from the University of Nanjing in 1969, where he majored in physics, Guo spent the next 16 years rising through the party ranks. In early 2008 - the year Beijing hosted the Olympics - he became the... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang When I first arrived in Beijing in the summer of 2012, I was greeted with what local authorities called “a historically rare storm”. Trains were late, traffic was congested, basements were flooded and a man driving an SUV drowned in logged water under the Guangqumen Bridge. A total of 79 people died and the government vowed to make changes. Then Beijing mayor Guo Jinlong said the disaster had exposed many issues in Beijing’s urban planning, infrastructure and emergency management, stressing the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3322315/beijing-floods-deadly-reminder-prepare-climate-changes-worst?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3322315/beijing-floods-deadly-reminder-prepare-climate-changes-worst?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Aug 2025 01:30:08 +0000 Guo Jinlong was appointed Beijing party chief in 2012 after less than five years as the capital's mayor. But his new role was tested when, just days later, the city was struck by the heaviest downpour in almost six decades, leaving at least 79 people dead and thousands homeless. After graduating from the University of Nanjing in 1969, where he majored in physics, Guo spent the next 16 years rising through the party ranks. In early 2008 - the year Beijing hosted the Olympics - he became the... https://www.scmp.com/news/18th-party-congress/article/1053142/guo-jinlong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/18th-party-congress/article/1053142/guo-jinlong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Oct 2012 09:46:23 +0000 Guo Jinlong, a shrewd political survivor and former athlete, found himself in the eye of a storm within days of his appointment as Beijing party chief in early July. Widely perceived as a loyal henchman of Communist Party general secretary Hu Jintao, Guo, 65, was promoted to party boss of the capital on July 3 after less than five years as the capital's mayor. His emergence as a surprise, early winner of the behind-the-scenes horse trading added intrigue in the lead-up to this year's... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1041840/beijing-party-boss-guo-jinlong-populist-politician-whos-star-rising?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1041840/beijing-party-boss-guo-jinlong-populist-politician-whos-star-rising?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Sep 2012 16:00:00 +0000 This government seems to want to go all out to suppress the opposition Albert Cheng King-hon accuses the government of being behind a shareholder's decision not to put more cash into his broadcasting company We will make sure not a single person will die in Beijing any more during the major flood period Beijing party boss Guo Jinlong Call me chauvinistic, call me jingoistic, but I think we knocked the spots off Beijing last night London Mayor Boris Johnson on the Olympics opening ceremony https://www.scmp.com/article/1008016/who-said-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1008016/who-said-it?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Jul 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Beijing's Communist Party secretary, Guo Jinlong, yesterday led a tribute to flood victims in Shidu, the township in Fangshan district hardest hit by last weekend's storm. The ceremony was apparently intended to assuage public anger over the authorities' rescue efforts and response to the disaster. Residents are still searching for missing family members and say the government has offered little or no help. Flanked by municipal officials including acting mayor Wang Anshun , Guo admitted that... https://www.scmp.com/article/1007891/party-tribute-flood-dead?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1007891/party-tribute-flood-dead?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Jul 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Beijing's mayor and a deputy mayor resigned yesterday in what is likely a routine reshuffle after the municipal party congress. But the change in leadership comes amid a public outcry of the government's handling of rainstorms in the capital that left at least 37 people dead. State-run media reported that Wang Anshun was appointed as acting mayor after Guo Jinlong tendered his resignation. Deputy mayor Ji Lin also stepped down. The moves were not unexpected. Guo, 65, was promoted to Beijing... https://www.scmp.com/article/1007751/beijing-top-brass-quit-reshuffle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1007751/beijing-top-brass-quit-reshuffle?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Jul 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Beijing mayor Guo Jinlong was promoted to party secretary of the capital yesterday at the close of the municipal Communist Party congress, paving the way for him to become a Politburo member at this autumn's national party congress. Guo, a close ally of President Hu Jintao, replaces 70-year-old Liu Qi and his promotion means Hu will still have a strong influence on affairs in the capital well after his retirement next year. In a speech delivered to reporters after his appointment, Guo, 65,... https://www.scmp.com/article/1005798/mayor-elected-beijing-party-secretary?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1005798/mayor-elected-beijing-party-secretary?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Jul 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Beijing Mayor Guo Jinlong wrapped up a six-day visit to Taiwan yesterday that analysts said marked a new phase in cross-strait relations. Although the trip by Guo (pictured) was marred by daily protests by Falun Gong and Tibetan activists living in Taiwan, he was able to accomplish his mission and pave the way for Beijing to use cultural exchanges as the next step in building up cross-strait ties, analysts said. Leading a 500-strong delegation made up of more than 30 municipal-level government... https://www.scmp.com/article/993313/cultural-journey-boosts-taiwan-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/993313/cultural-journey-boosts-taiwan-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Beijing mayor Guo Jinlong arrived in Taiwan yesterday for a six-day visit, becoming the first mainland local government leader to visit the island following its presidential election last month. Guo is the first Beijing mayor to visit the island's capital, Taipei, and his visit is being seen as highly significant given the political sensitivity of cross-strait relations. 'This is my first trip to Taiwan, and I hope to experience and understand the economic development as well as the walks of... https://www.scmp.com/article/992862/beijings-mayor-arrives-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/992862/beijings-mayor-arrives-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Beijing Mayor Guo Jinlong says the average price of new housing in the capital fell 11.3 per cent last year thanks to heavy government intervention in the real estate market. Guo outlined developments in the Beijing property sector yesterday while presenting the city's programme for 'scientific development' this year to municipal lawmakers and political advisers. Members of Beijing's municipal people's congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference have been holding their... https://www.scmp.com/article/990001/intervention-sees-price-new-housing-drop-113pc?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/990001/intervention-sees-price-new-housing-drop-113pc?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Fears remain over polluted air and congested roads With 200 days to go to the opening of the Olympics, the Beijing government faces the herculean task of cleaning up the city's polluted air and reining in its chaotic traffic. Beijing's acting mayor Guo Jinlong, in a report to about 770 deputies to the 13th Beijing People's Congress, vowed yesterday to increase preparations for the upcoming Olympic Games to a 'high level' . The capital, notorious for air pollution and traffic jams, is under... https://www.scmp.com/article/623721/mayor-vows-clean-beijing-time-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/623721/mayor-vows-clean-beijing-time-games?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Jan 2008 16:00:00 +0000 The Communist Party chief of Anhui province , a protege of President Hu Jintao, is to take over as mayor of Beijing as the capital prepares to host next year's Olympic Games. Guo Jinlong , 60, has been appointed deputy secretary of the Communist Party's Beijing municipal committee, a statement on the central government's website said yesterday, confirming a South China Morning Post report. Mr Guo was the only candidate to replace Wang Qishan , who has resigned as mayor, the statement said,... https://www.scmp.com/article/617864/anhui-party-chief-be-named-mayor-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/617864/anhui-party-chief-be-named-mayor-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Nov 2007 16:00:00 +0000 Anhui party chief Guo Jinlong, a strong ally of President Hu Jintao, is expected to be named acting Beijing mayor soon, as the mainland leadership continues a sweeping reshuffle of key provincial and ministry posts, mainland sources said. Chen Deming, a deputy minister of the National Development and Reform Commission and a rising technocrat, will be named the new minister of commerce, responsible for boosting domestic consumption and managing the mainland's increasingly complex international... https://www.scmp.com/article/616254/staunch-hu-ally-tipped-next-beijing-mayor?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/616254/staunch-hu-ally-tipped-next-beijing-mayor?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Nov 2007 16:00:00 +0000 Woman's landmark posting in reshuffle A protege of Communist Party general secretary Hu Jintao will become the second female provincial party chief in the country's history, according to reliable sources. Shen Yueyue, 50, executive vice-minister of the powerful Central Organisation Department, will soon become the party boss of Jiangxi province in a new round of reshuffles of senior central and regional officials after the new leadership lineup was unveiled at the end of the party's 17th... https://www.scmp.com/article/614653/hu-protege-become-provincial-party-boss?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/614653/hu-protege-become-provincial-party-boss?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Nov 2007 16:00:00 +0000 Bridge tactician Deng still inspires power players Thanks to Deng Xiaoping, bridge has become a popular mind game among mainland senior officials and executives of state-owned big corporations. Knowing it was the favourite pastime of the once-paramount leader, a sizable chunk of the mainland leadership - in their younger days - learnt how to play bridge, a game for which the two richest Americans, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, regularly find time. It is also a passport for making it... https://www.scmp.com/article/609653/lai-see?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/609653/lai-see?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Sep 2007 16:00:00 +0000 Guo Jinlong, pictured above, is Anhui's party secretary and chairman of the provincial people's congress. He started off as a technician with a bureau of electricity in rural Sichuan province in 1969 after studying physics at the University of Nanjing in Jiangsu . From 1969 to 1985, he held various posts in Zhong county, making his mark as an expert in agricultural policies and catching the eyes of the senior leadership. In 1992, he was elected to the provincial party committee of Sichuan.... https://www.scmp.com/article/512243/man-mission?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/512243/man-mission?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Aug 2005 16:00:00 +0000