Zhang Yankun was born in January 1963 in Henan province. He joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in April 1985 and started his professional career in August 1985. He graduated from the Party School of the CPC Central Committee with a master’s degree in legal theory. He also received a Master of Business Administration (MBA).
Zhang formerly served as associate investigator of secretary to the general office of the district Party committee of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region; secretary to the office of the secretary of the general office of the State Department of Justice (division level); secretary to the general office of the Beijing Municipal Party Committee (division level); deputy Party secretary of the Huairou county Party committee; Party secretary of the Huairou county politics and law committee; deputy Party secretary, deputy district chief, acting chief and district chief of the Huairou district committee; deputy Party secretary, deputy district chief, acting chief, district chief and Party secretary of Huairou district.