Guo Lanying, famous soprano. She was born in a poor family in December 1930 in Shanxi Province. She began to study the traditional local opera, Shanxi bangzi, when she was 6. One year later, she stood on the stage for the first time at Taiyuan, Shanxi. When she was 11, she started to perform in Taiyuan with the theatrical troupe.

In 1946, she left the theatrical troupe, and entered Song and Dance Troupe of North China United University. Since then, she started her new opera career.

In 1947, Guo Lanying entered North China United University, majoring in opera. Later, she was transferred to Song and Dance Troupe of North China University. She has performed many sing and dance dramas which are very popular among the common people.

After the foundation of New China, Guo Lanying became the chief performer in the Song and Dance Theatre affiliated to Central Conservatory of China, Central Experimental Opera, and China Opera House. She played the leading role in many new operas, and created a series of vivid art images, which were very popular among ordinary people. As the emissary of Chinese art, Guo Lanying visited many countries, like Soviet Union, Romania, Poland, Czechoslovak, Yugoslavia, Italy, Japan etc. she made great contribution on the cultural communication.

Guo Lanying said farewell to stage in 1982. Then she taught in China Conservatory of Music. In 1986, she set up Guo Lanying Art School in Guangdong.

Guo Lanying' voice is sweet, her music range is wide, and her pronunciation is clear. Because she took strict exercises in her youth, she had a good grounding in art. The characters she performed achieved the harmonious combination of singing and acting, which made creative contribution on the foundation of the performing system of Chinese new opera.