Zhang Tingfa was born on 9 April 1918 in Xiamao Town, Sha County, Fujian Province, to a family of craftsmen.

[1] During the Second Sino-Japanese War, Zhang was an officer of the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army, and fought in the celebrated Hundred Regiments Offensive.

In 1944 he was appointed commander of the Seventh Subdistrict of the Taihang Military District, and participated in several battles against the Japanese occupation force in northern China.

[1] During the Chinese Civil War, Zhang was commander of the Third Subdistrict of the Tongbai Military District, and fought in many battles under the leadership of Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping.

[2] Zhang retired from his leadership positions in July 1985,[1][3] and became a member of the Central Advisory Commission (CAC) in September.