[2] Zhang was born in Yuncheng County, Shandong, in May 1965, and graduated from Capital Normal University.

[3] He entered the workforce in July 1984, and joined the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in September 1987.

[3] Zhang was promoted to deputy head of the Organization Department of the CCP Beijing Municipal Committee in January 2018.

[3] In December 2020, Zhang was appointed deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Chinese Communist Party.

[4][5] On 21 June 2024, Zhang was put under investigation for alleged "serious violations of discipline and laws" by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), the party's internal disciplinary body, and the National Supervisory Commission, the highest anti-corruption agency of China.