Born in 1928 in Nantong, Jiangsu Province, Zhang Xuwu is the grandson of Zhang Jian and the second son of Zhang Xiaoruo. In 1946 he entered NantongCollege as a textile major.

Mr. Zhang was an engineer at Nantong Textile Research Institute, vice mayor of Nantong City, vice governor of Jiangsu Province, vice Chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, member of the standing Committee of the Eighth National People's Congress, deputy director of the Financial and Economic Committee, executive vice chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, deputy general manager of China International Trust and Investment Company, chief supervisor of China International Trust and Investment Company, and executive vice chairman of China Patriotic Project Federation, etc.