Zhao entered Inner Mongolia Radio & TV University in September 1982, majoring in Chinese language, where he graduated in October 1985.

[5] During the Cultural Revolution, he was a sent-down youth performing manual labor in Horqin Left Middle Banner, Jilin province.

[7] In July 2012 he was appointed the Vice-Chairman of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a mostly ceremonial position he held until January 2013, when he retired.

He penned works in a wide range of topics, from murder mysteries to his recollections of trips to Hong Kong and Russia.

[9][10] On March 20, 2015, at approximately 9:30 pm in the city of Chifeng, Zhao was driving a black Audi sedan with Ordos license plates pursuing a white vehicle with a woman inside.

[12] Zhao then allegedly proceeded to a local garbage dump where he attempted to bury her body amid mounds of rubbish.

The investigation concluded that Zhao used the conveniences of his office to aid in the promotion and business activities of associates, and "illegally possessed bullets and guns", "severely violated socialist morality by engaging in adultery", and took bribes.

On November 11, 2016, Zhao was convicted on charges of intentional homicide, taking bribes, abuse of power, and illegal possession of firearms, and sentenced by the Taiyuan Intermediate People's Court to death.