Han Zheng, a graduate with a Master's in Economics from East China Normal University in 1994 and a senior economist, was born in Cixi County, Zhejiang Province in April 1954. He is currently Deputy Secretary of the CPC Shanghai Committee and Mayor of Shanghai.

Han served successively as secretary of the CYLC Shanghai Chemical Industry Bureau Committee, deputy Party secretary of Shanghai Chemical Engineering School, Party secretary and deputy director of Shanghai No.6 Rubber Shoes Factory, Party secretary and deputy director of Dazhonghua Rubber Factory. Han then served as secretary of the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC) Shanghai Committee, governor of Shanghai Luwan District, deputy secretary-general of Shanghai Municipality and director of Shanghai Development Planning Commission until February 1998, when he became a member of the standing committee of the CPC Shanghai committee and Vice Mayor of Shanghai. Han was elected Vice Secretary of the CPC Shanghai Committee in May 2002 and became Executive Vice Mayor in October the same year. He was elected a member of the CPC Central Committee on the 16th National Congress of the CPC in November 2002 and was elected Mayor of Shanghai in February 2003. He was elected a member of the CPC Central Committee at the 17th National Congress of the CPC in October 2007. He was reelected as Mayor of Shanghai in January 2008.