Born in Jinan, Shandong. Zhao came sixth in U12 World Girls Championships in Menorca, in 1996, equal 18th in the U14 World Girls Championship held in Oropesa del Mar in 1998, fifth in the U16 World Girls Championship held in 2000, also in Oropesa del Mar, seventh in the U18 World Girls Championships in Heraklio in 2002 before she made her first serious impact on the world chess scene in the same year when she won the 19th World Junior Girls Championships (2002), played in Goa.

Zhao scored 11/12 on board 4 in the 35th Chess Olympiad in Bled (Olympiad, women (2002)) and followed up this excellent result by winning an individual gold in the 36th Olympiad, Women (2004), an individual gold at the 37th Chess Olympiad: Women (2006), and a team gold when the Chinese team won the Women's World Team Championship (2007).

Zhao's tournament record is also distinguished. In 2000, she won the Balatonturist Open in Budapest and the Budapest FS07 IM-A, the HeiBei zt 3.3 (Women) in 2001, the Groningen Harmonie Open-A in 2003, the Cannes Stroer (Women) in 2003, and came equal first with Zhu Chen in the North Urals Cup (2007)