Peking University Publishing House, formerly known as the Translation Editorial Room of Shi Jing University, was established in 1902. Yan Fu is a famous translator and thinker, and once served as the general manager of the translation editing room. 19 17, Peking University established a publishing department, and published such influential publications as Journal of Peking University, Sinology Quarterly, and Pioneer, the central organ of the China Socialist Youth League. China International Law by Li Dazhao and Zhang Runzhi, History of Western Ethics by Yang Changji, and Poetics by Qian were also published. 1952, Peking University Publishing Department revoked. 1979, with the consent of the State Publishing Bureau, the Ministry of Education approved the establishment of Peking University Publishing House and restored the organizational system of Peking University Publishing House. Peking University Publishing House, which gained new life in the reform and opening up, as a comprehensive university publishing house focusing on humanities and social sciences, insists on serving teaching and research, cultivating talents, spreading knowledge, accumulating culture, prospering academics and serving the society.

The aim is to adhere to the open school-running mode based on Peking University, facing the whole country and going to the world, and adhere to the policy of "giving priority to teaching materials, focusing on academics and striving for first-class", which has achieved good social and economic benefits and become a university press with important influence and good reputation in China. 1993 was awarded the title of "National Excellent Publishing House" by the Propaganda Department of the Communist Party of China and the Press and Publication Administration, 1994 was awarded the title of "National Advanced Collective in Textbook Construction" by the State Education Commission, and 1995 was awarded the title of "National Advanced University Publishing House" by the State Education Commission for the first time. In 2006, Peking University Publishing House was named "Top Ten Most Competitive Industries in 2006" by China Productivity Society and China Economic Daily. By the end of 2006, Peking University Society had won 824 awards in various publications, including 34 at the national level and 338 at the provincial and ministerial levels.