His most well known works, including Half of Man is Woman and Grass Soup, were semi-autobiographical reflections on his life experiences in prison and in witnessing the political upheaval of China during the Cultural Revolution.
Following the Communist victory in the Chinese Civil War, Zhang's father was accused of espionage, and later died in prison.
During the Anti-Rightist Movement, his poetry was criticized as counter-revolutionary, and Zhang was sent to a labor camp in Ningxia at age 21.
Since his release from prison, Zhang has served as a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and in 1992 he founded the West China Film Studio in Zhenbeibu, Ningxia, a former Qing Dynasty fort.
The studio has served as the shooting location for several films such as Ashes of Time and A Chinese Odyssey.