Zhang's first international competition was the 2005 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. He qualified 3rd into the pommel horse event final with a score of 9.712. In the event final, he scored 9.475 and finished 6th on pommel horse. In 2009, Zhang became the world champion on pommel horse in the 2009 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, qualified first into the event final and finished with a score of 16.200.