In 1979, he was elected chairman of Shanghai Buddhist Association and became the abbot of the Jade Buddha Monastery. He did his utmost to raise funds, renovate monastery buildings and recruit Buddhist monks. All these gave an impetus to restoring the Buddhist monastery system, promoting the circulation of Buddhist sutras and religious objects, holding Buddhist rituals of sutra explanation and activating religious services.
      In 1983, as dean of the Institute, he presided over the founding of Shanghai Buddhist Institute. In 1988, he was conferred upon the title of honorary president of Shanghai Children’s Welfare Association and set up “Master Zhen Chan Welfare Funds for Disabled and Handicapped Children”. He took up a concurrent post of abbot of the Shanghai Jingan Ancient Monastery in October of the same year. Also he was the abbot of the Daxiangguo Temple in Kaifeng, Henan Province in November 1992. He was elected vice-chairman of China Buddhist Association in October 1993. Master Zhen Chan was a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, member of the Standing Committee of Shanghai People’s Political Consultative Conference, and member of the Council of Shanghai Overseas Friendship Association. Master Zhen Chan was a well-known social activist. During his tenure of office, he was always busy with visits and receptions. He spared no efforts to play an active role in promotion of understanding and friendship among the Buddhists throughout the world and explanation of the policy of religious freedom. Master Zhen Chan, with a good knowledge of Buddhism wrote twelve volumes of Jade Buddha Hall of Wisdom and many pamphlets and also papers published overseas, in addition to speeches and lectures at ceremonies of sutra explanation.