He used to be deputy secretary of the Education Committee of Zibo Municipal Committee, researcher and deputy director of the Education Committee of Zibo City, director of the Education Bureau of Zibo City and secretary of the Party Committee of Zibo Normal University.

On April 9, 20 13, he was criminally detained on suspicion of accepting bribes and was arrested on April 26 of the same year.

On the morning of July14,2065438, the Intermediate People's Court of Zibo City, Shandong Province made a first-instance judgment on this case of corruption, bribery and misappropriation of public funds: the defendant Zhang Hongliang was convicted of accepting bribes, sentenced to life imprisonment and deprived of political rights for life.