Zhang, born in June 1944, serves as executive vice chairwoman of the Central Committee of the China Democratic National Construction Association (CDNCA) and vice president of All-China Federation of Trade Unions.
   
A native of Ningbo City in east China's Zhejiang Province, Zhang graduated from Radio Department of Beijing Polytechnical University in 1966.
   
Between 1968 and 1984, she worked at several factories in Liaoyang City, northeast China's Liaoning Province.
   
Zhang's political career started in 1984, when she became deputy head of Wensheng District of Liaoyang City in northeast China's Liaoning Province. She served as vice mayor of Liaoyang City between 1985 and 1993. From 1993 to 2001, she worked as vice governor of Liaoning Province.
   
She was vice chairwoman of CDNCA's Central Committee between 1997 and 2003. She has been serving as executive vice chairwoman of CDNCA and vice president of All-China Federation of Trade Unions since 2003.

She was elected vice chairwoman of the 10th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on March 12, 2005 at the closing meeting of CPPCC's annual session.  
  
She is a member of the Ninth and 10th CPPCC National Committee.