Zu first attracted attention in 2008 for his role as Li Ya in the successful TV drama Lurk.

While he was teaching at Beijing Film Academy he also appeared in many television series, such as The Highland Troop, The Silent Witness and Shajiabang.

In 2011, Zu had a cameo appearance in The Founding of a Party, which earned him Best New Actor Award at the 2011 Chinese Young Generation Film Forum.

In 2014, Zu co-starred with Chen Daoming and Gong Li in Coming Home, directed by Zhang Yimou and written by Yan Geling and Zou Jingzhi.

[2] In May 2010, Zu married Liu Tianchi (刘天池; 劉天池), a teacher at Central Academy of Drama.