Cai Yuanpei was the founder of China's capitalist education system in the early 20th century. He clearly proposed to abolish the feudal educational purposes of loyalty to the monarch, respect for Confucius, respect for the public, martial arts and practicality. Advocating the bourgeois democratic education policy, which takes military and national education and materialism education as the top priority, moral education as the center, world outlook education as the ultimate goal and aesthetic education as the bridge, has initially established a new bourgeois education system. Cai Yuanpei's educational practice is mostly in higher education. When he was the president of Peking University, he proposed that the essence of a university is to study profound knowledge. He advocates academic freedom, science and democracy. Advocate the division of science and engineering, arts and sciences. Change "academic year system" into "credit system", implement "course selection system", actively improve teaching methods, simplify courses, advocate self-study, and implement student autonomy and professor management in schools. After his thoughts and measures were implemented in Peking University, they affected the whole country, and some even called him a liberal educator.

Cai Yuanpei also attached great importance to labor education, civilian education and women education. He opened schools and evening classes for civilians in a patriotic girls' school in Peking University and Shanghai. Cai Yuanpei made an indelible contribution to modern education in China and the China Revolution, mainly in the following aspects:

1. Since Cai Yuanpei, China has formed a relatively complete bourgeois education thought and system.

2. His idea of "freedom of thought and inclusiveness" made Peking University the birthplace of the new cultural movement and created conditions for the new democratic revolution.

3. A group of scholars with advanced ideas and outstanding talents have been protected for the Chinese nation.