Zhou was a native of Fuzhou, Sichuan Province (present-day Fuling District, Chongqing).
He had served as editor of the Hanlin Academy (翰林院編修), Secretary of Cabinet (內閣學士), Minister of Works, Ministry of War, and Left Censor-in-Chief (左都御史).
Zhou died in 1785 in his hometown and was posthumously granted the honorary appointment of Crown Prince's Grand Tutor (太子太傅).
Zhou prayed to Mazu for protection, his boat was finally arriving Naha Harbor safely.
[6][7] Zhou also compiled Liuqiuguo Zhilüe (琉球國志略), a sixteen volume topography of the Ryukyu Islands for the Qianlong Emperor.