His father went to Shanghai as a worker in a factory when he at the age of 5, at the same time, he attended old-style private school and developed an interest in Chinese Opera.
[citation needed] From 1934 to 1937, Zhou worked in the Shanghai Cultural of National Salvation Association (上海文化届救国会).
[citation needed] In 1966, the Cultural Revolution was launched by Mao Zedong, Zhou suffered political persecution.
[citation needed] From December 1977 to April 1982, Zhou served as vice minister of Culture of China.
From November 2006 to 2011, Zhou served as honorary chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles.