The invention discloses a ZrC modified asphalt based C/C composite material. The ZrC modified asphalt based C/C composite material is prepared by the steps: by taking a carbon fiber preform as a reinforcement body and taking zirconium carbide doped asphalt carbon as a matrix, preparing asphalt carbon by asphalt catalytic crosslinking, splitting and graphitizing, and converting zirconium carbide through ZrCl4, thereby obtaining the product. The preparation method comprises the following steps: preparing a precursor, and performing melt impregnation, catalytic crosslinking, pressurized semi-coking, splitting, densifying, graphitizing, densifying again and the like. The ZrC modified asphalt based C/C composite material disclosed by the invention is excellent in high temperature resistance and ablation erosion resistance and can be used for preparing a thermal protection material in a hypersonic flight vehicle.