Born and bred in Shanghai, Zhang was recognized as one of the foremost writers of love stories and novels during her lifetime. Publishing her first novel in 1943, Zhang immediately became the most popular author in Shanghai. In 1952, she left Shanghai and worked for the American News Agency in Hong Kong. She moved to the United States in 1955, and also wrote several Englishnovels, none of which has met the popularity her Chinese works had, however.
Her main works include:
Ban Sheng Yuan (半生缘, Yuan of Half a Life, a.k.a. Eighteen Springs)
Qing Cheng Zhi Lian (倾城之恋, Love that Falls a City)
Jin Suo Ji (金锁记, Record of a Golden Lock)
Hong Meigui Yu Bai Meigui (红玫瑰与白玫瑰, The Red Rose and the White Rose)