Zhang was born Zhang Xijun (张锡钧) in Nangong County (now Nangong), Hebei, in 1908, during the late Qing dynasty (1644–1911).[3] In 1925, he attended the Nangong Normal Training School (南宫师范讲习所).[3]
In the summer of 1929, he was admitted to Yantai Zhifu Army Officer School (烟台芝罘陆军军官学校) and served in the officer training team of the 21st division of the National Revolutionary Army.[3] In December, he joined the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and served as secretary of the secret party branch of the training team.[3]
In 1931, he returned to hometown to engage in revolutionary activities.[3] In 1937, the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out, he served as secretary of the CCP Nangong County Committee.[3]
Beginning in 1939, he served in several posts in Hebei-Shandong-Henan Border Region, including deputy party secretary, party secretary, political commissar, head of the Organization Department, and head of the Civil Affairs Department.[3] He was secretary of the CCP Hebei-Shandong-Henan Border Region [zh] Committee, political commissar of the Hebei-Shandong-Henan Border Region Military Region and political commissar of the 7th Column of the Hebei-Shandong-Henan Border Region Military Region in October 1945, political commissar of the 11th Column of the Hebei-Shandong-Henan Border Region Military Region in August 1947, deputy political commissar of the 5th Corps of the 2nd Field Army of the People's Liberation Army [zh] in February 1949, and vice mayor of Nanjing in April 1949.[3] During his time as vice mayor of Nanjing, he made every effort to assist Mayor Liu Bocheng in carrying out his work and contributed to the social stability and recovery of Nanjing.[3]
After the establishment of the Communist State in 1949, he successively served as member of the CCP Southwest China Bureau Committee, member of the Southwest China Military and Political Committee, second secretary of the CCP Chongqing Municipal Committee, and first secretary of the CCP Chongqing Municipal Committee.[3] He became vice minister of the Second Ministry of Machinery Industry in August 1952.[3] He was promoted to minister of Motor Manufacturing Industry in April 1955, he remained in that position until September 1957, when he was appointed minister of Coal Industry.[3]