Zhang Yuanji devoted himself to introducing new knowledge of western learning, carefully selected and organized the translation and publication of a large number of foreign academic and literary masterpieces, among which Yan Fu's Theory of Evolution and Lin Shu's La Traviata had far-reaching influence. Under his auspices, the enterprise also edited and published a large number of reference books. 19 15, China's first new dictionary, Ci Yuan, was published, which created a precedent for modern reference books in China. In addition, the business has also edited and published more than ten kinds of magazines that have a wide influence on the public, such as Oriental Magazine, Fiction Monthly, Education Magazine, Women's Magazine and Student Magazine.
He is good at the study of edition catalogue and is also closely related to procuratorial work. His books, such as Secretary of Han Fenlou Ember, Secretary of Bao Auditorium, Preface and Postscript Collection of Gardens, have both modern catalogue-style novels and detailed investigations, which have become the models of modern ancient book appraisal. In addition, he also wrote essays on school history, Diary of Zhang Yuanji, Letters from Zhang Yuanji and Reading Notes of Zhang Yuanji and Fu Zengxiang.