Zang entered the Shandong Provincial First Normal School in 1923 and later trained at the Wuhan Branch of the Central Military and Political School.

In 1929, he went to Qingdao University, and under the guidance of Wen Yiduo began publishing poetry.

After the war, he was involved in editorial activities and published his first collection of short stories and prose.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, he held several important positions, among them as chief editor of Poetry magazine.

He also co-edited the "Selected Poems of Chairman Mao" with Zhou Zhenfu.