He is known for starring in the films Assembly (2007), The Message (2009), The Chef, the Actor, the Scoundrel (2013), The Taking of Tiger Mountain (2014), Operation Mekong (2016), The Captain (2019), and Chinese Doctors (2021), as well as the television series All Men Are Brothers (2011).

He started his career by doing Mandarin voice dubbing[2][3] for films such as Shark Tale,[4] The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and Troy.

[5] Zhang subsequently played minor roles in some television series before appearing as supporting characters in films directed by Feng Xiaogang, such as Sorry Baby, Cell Phone, Big Shot's Funeral, and A World Without Thieves.

[citation needed] In 2012, Zhang teamed up again with Feng Xiaogang in the disaster film Back to 1942, playing a priest.

[18] He next starred in the crime film Mr. Six directed by Guan Hu;[citation needed] and had a supporting role in Zhang Yimou's fantasy historical epic The Great Wall.