保定陸軍軍官學校
Gao Guanwu was born in Chongming County, Jiangsu Province. After graduating from the Baoding Military Academy, he became a journalist with the newspaper "Minquanbao" (). Later he returned to military service, and successively held the offices of Chief of Staff of the Guangzhou River Guard Headquarters, Manager of the Aviation Bureau of Guangdong, Chief of Staff of the Military Governor of Guizhou and other posts. Furthermore, he was appointed Vice-Commander of the 10th Army of the National Revolutionary Army commanded by Wang Tianpei (). During the Northern Expedition Gao Guanwu served as the commander of the National Revolutionary Army garrison in Xuzhou.