Born in Beijing in 1966. Zhao graduated from the Central Academy of Fine Arts Oil Painting Department, Beijing in 1988. His practices encompass photography, video and performance. In works inspired by public service information and government propaganda, the artist and his toy panda engage in a sharp, deadpan dialogue. He uses humour and the persona of Pandaman to tackle difficult issues of concern to contemporary society.

The Red Mansion Foundation invited Zhao Bandi and his panda to London for a one month residency in 2003 to produce a series of works inspired by their experiences in Britain. Bandi created a video and a series of photographs with captions.

The Manchester Art Gallery, the Ikon Gallery in Birmingham and Aspex Gallery in Portsmouth as well as the London Underground were showing his work simultaneously during the summer of 2004 in a series of off-site shows (billboards and banners) and gallery-based exhibitions.