Born in Bengbu in the province of Anhui, China, Zhang and her family moved to the United States when she was six years old and settled in New Orleans, Louisiana. She is an only child. After being selected in Chanel/ Seventeen Magazine's New Model of the Year contest at the age of 16, Zhang decided to pursue modeling.

Her acting debut came about when Zhang was discovered by a casting director while she was at a nail salon in New York which landed her a bit part in The Shanghai Hotel and followed with an uncredited bit part in West 32nd. Zhang's short lived break into showbiz came in March 2007 when she was cast in the supporting role of Kati Farkas in the television adaptation of the popular young adult novels, Gossip Girl .

Before acting, Zhang started her career as a model in New York City.

Zhang has attempted to take up sports such as snowboarding and archery. She had previously wanted to be actively involved with neuroscience research and has returned to Johns Hopkins University to pursue her pre-med/neuroscience degree.

• Nan Zhang's biography at the official CW Gossip Girl website

http://www.sidereel.com/Nan_Zhang/_category/Details