After receiving six years of elementary education, he became an apprentice at an oil processing plant in a nearby town.
提到宣紙，張拓蕪特別澄清說：「宣城賣的紙其實產自涇縣，可惜涇名不彰，反被宣城掠美去了。涇縣山泉的水質好，造的紙當然出色。」在十歲以前，張拓蕪的童年過得非常愉快。家有水田十八畝、旱地十二畝，即使鬧荒歉，也總有碗飯吃。