Zhang was born in Wangcheng County, Hunan. He joined the Chinese Communist Party in August 1984. He graduated from the Wuhan College of Hydraulic Engineering (now part of Wuhan University) with a bachelor's, then master's degree. He later obtained a doctorate degree at Hunan University in environmental science engineering.[1][2]
Zhang spent most of his career in the hydroelectric industry, going through a series of engineering and administrative jobs. In June 1995 he took up a job in flood prevention in his home province. In April 1997 he was assigned to work in the provincial department of water works. In April 2000 he was promoted to deputy director. In March 2003, he took on his first full-time political job as Chinese Communist Party Deputy Committee Secretary of Yiyang. In December 2006, he became provincial director of water works. In March 2008 he became Mayor of Loudi. In June 2011, he became party chief of Yongzhou. In January 2013, he became Vice Governor of Hunan.[3]
Beginning in 2015, Zhang's career saw significant growth. In April 2015, he was named a member of the provincial party standing committee of Yunnan province and head of the provincial discipline inspection commission, taking on his first post outside of his home province.[4] In January 2017 he took over from Li Shulei as head of the discipline inspection commission of Beijing.[5] On July 20, 2018, he was named party chief Guangzhou.[6]
In December 2021, he stepped down as Secretary of the Guangzhou Municipal Committee. In January 2022, he was elected Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Guangdong Provincial People's Congress.[7][8]