Zhang was noted for promoting Chinese women's education and Chinese educational equality, he founded Suzhou Leyi Girls' School and Pinglin Middle School in Suzhou, Jiangsu.

[2] His birth name was Zhang Wuling (Chinese: 張武齡).

Zhang was born in Hefei, Anhui, in 1889, the grandson of Zhang Shusheng, a high-ranking military officer in the Huai Army.

In 1918, he moved to Suzhou, he established Suzhou Leyi Girls' School (Chinese: 蘇州樂益女子學校) in 1921 and Pinglin Middle School (Chinese: 平林中學) in 1925.

In 1906, Zhang married Lu Ying (Chinese: 陸英) in Hefei, Anhui.