Gao Chengyong was born on November 10, 1964, in Yuzhong County, Gansu, China. Gao married and had two children.

Gao Chengyong was responsible for a series of brutal murders over a span of 14 years, from 1988 to 2002. During this time, he raped and killed eleven women. Most of the victims were in Baiyin, Gansu province, while one was found in Baotou, Inner Mongolia. His youngest victim was only eight years old. The first murder is believed to have occurred in a grocery store that Gao managed with his wife.

Gao usually chose to operate during the daytime, following his victims as they returned home. His attacks typically happened inside their homes. In many cases, he raped his victims both before and after killing them. He often mutilated the bodies. Some women had their reproductive organs removed, and at least one victim had her hands and breasts cut off. His methods led to comparisons with Jack the Ripper, a notorious serial killer from the past.

Gao was skilled in evading capture for many years. His wife did not suspect him of committing these crimes, believing his long absences from home were due to casual work for which he returned with money.

Police work to connect all the murders began in 2004. They offered a reward for information. His capture came in 2016 when his uncle was arrested for a minor offense. During a DNA test linked to the uncle, authorities discovered a familial match to the killer. Gao was arrested at the grocery store where he worked. After his arrest, he confessed to the eleven murders.

On March 30, 2018, Gao was convicted and sentenced to death, losing all his assets. He was executed on January 3, 2019, but the method of execution was not made public.