広州軍区
Zhang was born in Wuqiang County, Hebei Province. He graduated from the basic department of PLA National Defense University, and also studied at the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Party School, majoring in administrative management. He was the director of the political department and a standing committee member of the CPC committee of the Guangzhou Military Region. From September 2007 to December 2015, he was political commissar and CPC party chief of the Guangzhou Military Region. He attained the rank of lieutenant general in July 2006 and general in July 2010.