Guo Degang

Guo Degang, born in 1973, originally from Hongqiao District, Tianjin. During his childhood, Guo began studying storytelling performances (ping shu). In 1979, he started learning from Gao Xiangkai, a performer of Xihe drum storytelling, which laid a solid foundation in traditional arts. Starting in 1981, he engaged in xiangsheng (crosstalk) training, and in 1984, he studied Xihe drum storytelling with veteran artist Wang Tianyu, continuously enriching his artistic cultivation.

In 1988, Guo first went to Beijing to audition for the newly established speech troupe of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, but due to the turbulent political situation, performances ceased. He then worked at the Tianjin Hongqiao Cultural Center and studied戏曲 (traditional Chinese opera) under Jin Jinlai and Yang Zhigang. In 1993, he began collaborating with small theater troupes in Tianjin’s suburbs for touring performances. By 1994, Guo visited Beijing for a short time, performed briefly, then returned to Tianjin. In autumn 1995, he went to Beijing again to join a戏剧团 (theatre troupe) in Fengtai District as a评戏演员 (performer in traditional Chinese opera), but left due to salary issues. In 1996, he started performing xiangsheng at a teahouse in Liulichang, Beijing, gradually gaining recognition in the industry.

In 1998, Guo assembled veteran storytelling performers from Tianjin to form a team, performing xiangsheng at Zhonghe Theatre in Beijing’s Qianmen area, and promoted the return of xiangsheng to theaters under the banner of the "Beijing Xiangsheng Conference." However, due to conflicts among performers and the disbanding of the team, audiences gradually decreased, and performances paused. Around the same time, he befriended performers like Zhang Wenshun and Yu Qian, laying the groundwork for his later career.

Starting in 2000, Guo began collaborating with Yu Qian, gradually expanding his influence. In 2002, he held another Xiangsheng Conference in Beijing, gradually establishing a good reputation in the industry. In 2004, he founded Huasheng Tianle Teahouse in Panjiayuan, where he performed regularly to further promote xiangsheng art. In the same year, he formally studied under Hou Yao Wen, becoming a formal disciple in xiangsheng.

In 2005, Guo held a solo performance at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, attracting widespread attention from the industry. That same year, he signed with the China Railway Arts Troupe, becoming a professional performer. He continued to diversify his performance styles, involving drama, film, and theater. In 2007, he held a milestone solo performance at the Great Hall of the People, which marked his rise in the xiangsheng world. Subsequently, he founded “Deyun Society,” leading the team to tours across China and abroad, continuously expanding his artistic horizons.

Beyond his performance career, Guo has also involved himself in film and television production, directing, and screenwriting. He has actively worked to compile, preserve, and innovate traditional opera formats such as Peking opera and Pingju, promoting their inheritance and development. Although he and his team have faced media scrutiny over issues like territorial disputes within the entertainment circle, false advertising, and controversial remarks, his contributions to the preservation of traditional Chinese culture and the revival of xiangsheng arts are widely recognized within the industry.

Regarding his family, Guo’s father, Guo Youyuan, is a retired police officer, and his mother was a rural elementary school teacher. His first wife, Hu Zhonghui, was a student at Hongqiao Cultural Center. They married in 1994 and divorced in 1996. Later, he married his second wife, Wang Hui, in 2004; she previously worked in the Jingyun Drum Art field in Tianjin. They have a son, Guo Qilin, born in 1996. Additionally, Guo has many apprentices, including well-known xiangsheng and Peking opera performers, dedicated to passing down and developing traditional arts.