2009–2011: Beginnings and Rising popularity Zhang graduated from Central Academy of Drama in 2007. He rose to fame for his role as Murong Yunhai in the popular Chinese romance comedy drama
Meteor Shower (2009) and its sequel,
Meteor Shower II (2010). In 2010, he starred in the Korean-Chinese animal film
Hearty Paws 2 alongside
Song Joong-ki. In 2011, Zhang hosted
Hunan TV's variety program
Great Sunday with
Meteor Shower co-stars Peer Zhu and
Vision Wei. The same year he starred in the romance drama
Fall in Love, a remake of the South Korean television series
Autumn in My Heart. He then reunited with
Meteor Shower co-star in the action film
No Limit; both also played a couple in the historical television series
Phoenix Totem.
2012–2016: Continued success In 2012, Zhang starred in the romantic comedy drama
The Queen of SOP alongside
Joe Chen. It achieved high ratings throughout its run, leading to increased recognition for Zhang. He was recognized as the Most Influential Actor at the Asian Idol Awards, and was coined Mainland's "No.1 Idol Actor" for his successful work in idol dramas. In 2013, Zhang starred in historical drama
Heroes in Sui and Tang Dynasties. which was met with high ratings and positive reviews from critics. Zhang won the Most Popular Actor award at the 19th
Shanghai Television Festival. The same year, he starred in the romance television series
The Colors of Youth, where he portrayed 11 different personalities in one character. In 2014, Zhang joined the travel reality program
Divas Hit the Road. The series was a hit with the audience and continuously topped television ratings and popularity ranking throughout its run. He then starred alongside
Zhao Liying in the romantic comedy drama
Boss & Me, based on Gu Man's popular novel
Come and Eat, Shan Shan.
Boss & Me was a huge hit both domestically and overseas. Zhang won the Asian Star award at the
Seoul International Drama Awards. In a departure from his usual sunny roles, Zhang played 'Cold Blood' in the wuxia drama
The Four (2015), based on the novel
Si Da Ming Pu by Wen Ruian. The same year, he was also cast in the
film adaptation of popular science fiction novel
The Three Body Problem. Following the establishment of his studio in 2015, Zhang announced that he would be taking part in the production of two upcoming dramas,
The Rhapsody of a Summer Dream and
If Paris Downcast. In 2016, Zhang starred in the television adaptation of the Chinese mythical novel,
Classic of Mountains and Seas. He was nominated for the Best Actor award at the
Huading Awards. The same year, he starred in the crime thriller
Ten Deadly Sins, based on the
novel of the same name.
2017–present: Acclaim In 2017, Zhang co-starred in
Wu Jing's action film
Wolf Warriors 2. He received praise for his role as a factory heir and army fanatic. He then starred in the revolutionary drama film
Eternal Wave alongside
Aaron Kwok and
Zhao Liying. The same year, Zhang played
Run Run Shaw in the drama
The Legendary Tycoon, which narrates the life of the tycoon. In 2018, Zhang starred with an alongside
Janine Chang in romance drama
Here to Heart. His performance earned him a Best Actor nomination at the
Asian Television Awards. In 2022, a Chinese TV series "Gentlemen of East 8th" was released with Hans Zhang as the producer, screenwriter and star. ==Personal life==