Inspired by traditional Chinese methods, he created landscape paintings by "splashing" ink and color onto rice paper. This technique is known as pocai. His paintings became an integrated and unique chapter in the global trend of abstract art. Today, he is known as one of the most important Chinese artists of the 20th century.

In the 1930s, both Qi and Zhang were active in the art scene in Beijing, and were often highlighted in exhibitions and media. Zhang used to visit Qi when he was in Beijing, and during his last visit in 1948, Qi accepted Zhang's wife, Xu Wenbo, as his disciple and created a painting for her as a gift.

Afterward Zhang moved abroad and gained a reputation in the international art world. In the meantime, Qi became recognized by the country as an "artist of the people" and began to occupy a prominent position in modern Chinese art history.