Zhao won the 1991 IBF World Championships in singles, beating Alan Budikusuma in the final.

He is a two-time winner of the prestigious All England singles title (1985, 1990), and won the quadrennial Asian Games title on both occasions (1986, 1990) that he contested it, defeating his fellow countryman Yang Yang in the final on each occasion.

He was a member of China's world champion Thomas Cup (men's international) teams in 1988, and 1990.

Zhao Jianhua competed in badminton at the 1992 Summer Olympics in men's singles and was seeded #1.

In the round of 16 Zhao beat Deepankar Bhattacharya from India and in quarterfinals he lost to Hermawan Susanto from Indonesia 15–2, 14–17, 17–14.