[1] Zhang became a frequent collaborator with director Feng Xiaogang, as cinematographer on his films Sigh (2000), Big Shot's Funeral (2001), A World Without Thieves (2004), and The Banquet (2006).
In 1978, he enrolled at Beijing Film Academy, where he studied alongside Zhang Yimou, Gu Changwei, Chen Kaige, Li Shaohong, and Tian Zhuangzhuang.
In 1989, he directed Fake Hero, a drama film starring Niu Ben, Ji Ling, Feng Shun and Yan Bide.
In 1995, Zhang shot Ye Daying's Red Cherry, for which he received the Best Cinematography nomination at the 16th Golden Rooster Awards.
In 2001, he directed Towards the Republic, a historical television series starring Wang Bing, Lyu Zhong, Sun Chun, Ma Shaohua and Li Guangjie.
The film was directed by John Woo and stars Tony Leung, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Zhang Fengyi, Chang Chen, Zhao Wei, Hu Jun and Lin Chi-ling.
The rest of the principal cast, including Jaycee Chan, Hu Ge, Yu Shaoqun, Joan Chen, Huang Zhizhong, Jiang Wu, Ning Jing, Jiang Wenli, Mei Ting, Wei Zongwan, Dennis To, Wang Ziwen, Tobgyal, Simon Dutton, and James Lee Guy.
[8] In 2016, Zhang directed Martial Universe, a TV series adaptation based on the internet novel of the same name by Tiancan Tudou.