HZSM-5 zeolite combined with unique zinc and phosphorus species, yields excellent selectivity (∼85%) to BTX (benzene, toluene, xylenes) in aromatic products. It was found that both zinc and phosphorus species were highly distributed in the pores of the zeolite channel network to form isolated zinc phosphate groups, which directly bond to the surface of zeolite, leading to a strong Lewis acidic center and an optimized surface acidity distribution favorable for BTX formation and the hydrothermal stability of the catalyst.