Together with Wong Wen-hao (Weng Wenhao in pinyin), Ding was also the founder of China's new National Geological Survey, where he collaborated closely with foreign scholars such as Johan Gunnar Andersson in training the first generation of Chinese geologists (Fiskesjö and Chen 2004; Fiskesjö 2011, Shen 2014).

In 1921, Ding became the general manager of the Beipiao Mining Company, and founded the Chinese Geological Society.

They signed "The Temporary Regulation on Reclamation of Juridical Rights in Shanghai by China" on August 1, 1926.

Ding was also the first Chinese scholar to systematically study the written words of Yi ethnicity (see Fiskesjö 2011).

At the time of his death, he was working on a comprehensive book on the archaeology of ancient China.

Furth 1970; Fiskesjö & Chen 2004) should be consulted for the correct titles of the Chinese-language works by Hu Shih and other writers, most of which are mistranslated and quoted incorrectly in English, in the entry text above—thus potentially misleading the readers of this entry.