[2] In 1973, he made his acting debut in the film Sunny Days directed by Lin Nong, playing the role of Xiao Changchun.
His performance impressed the renowned director Xie Tieli, who recommended him to audit for the film The Pioneers (创业, 1974).
He was selected to play the lead role Zhou Tingshan, based on the model petroleum worker, "Iron Man" Wang Jinxi.
[2] Zhang later starred in the films Wedding, Xu Mao and His Daughters, and the TV series Eighteen Years in Enemy Camp.
He was named a distinguished artist by the State Council of China and awarded a special pension.