Zhao entered Chinese film as a camera operator for YING XIONG / HERO (2002). His cinematography credits include LI HUN DA ZHAN / DIVORCE WARS (1992), LIN SHI BA BA (1993), SHI MIAN MAI FU / HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS (2004), QIAN LI ZOU DAN QI / RIDING ALONE FOR THOUSANDS OF MILES (2005), MAN CHENG JIN DAI HUANG JIN JIA / CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER (2006), GONG FU GUAN LAN / KUNG FU DUNK, THE CHILDREN OF HUANG SHI and JIANG SHAN MEI REN / AN EMPRESS AND THE WARRIORS (all 2008).  Nominated for Achievement in Cinematography 2004: SHI MIAN MAI FU (HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS) 1 nomination