[1] According to Russian sinologist Alexander Pantsov, Mao's acquaintance with Zhang happened at the end of 1962:[2] Naive and shy, like many young Chinese women, she at the same time had a very strong character, was quick-witted and sharp-tongued.

And most importantly - amazingly beautiful!Zhang Yufeng was introduced to Mao by his personal bodyguard Wang Dongxing.

Zhang Yufeng accompanied Mao on his travels around the country, and soon she became his trusted secretary and, as reported by many Western and Chinese media, began to play the role of his main companion.

[6][7][8] Zhang supported Mao Zedong during his historical meeting with U.S. President Richard Nixon.

He developed Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, known in the United States as Lou Gehrig's disease.

By the summer of 1974, Mao's state of health had deteriorated so much that Zhang was able to understand him by the movement of his lips and gestures.

Jiang Qing, who desperately needed Mao's support in the internal party struggle, tried to appease Zhang, but failed.

According to academic Perry Link, immediately after the death of Mao, it is believed that it was Zhang who prevented Jiang Qing from taking possession of Mao's archives, which contained a large amount of compromising material on the entire top leadership of the Chinese Communist Party.

Knowing all the subtleties of the last years of Mao's life, Zhang acted as an important witness at the trial of the Gang of Four, including that of Jiang Qing.

[16][failed verification] In 2004, Zhang disclosed some details of Mao Zedong's final years to the CCP Central Committee.

Their eldest daughter, after finishing university in Beijing, went to the United States to obtain her doctorate degree and settled there.