[1] Zhong was born into a family of farming background in Xiangyin County, Hunan.
In July 2005, he was appointed as president of Hunan University before serving as Dean of the School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering of Hunan University.
[1] In December 2005, he was elected a fellow of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.
[1] In December 2010, he was appointed as director of Chongqing Municipal Science and Technology Commission, rising to chairman in April 2011.
[1] On October 27, 2014, he was appointed secretary-general of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.