In 1910, he returned to China, where he achieved the degree "recommended man" (juren 举人) on the imperial examination for students who studied abroad.

In 1922, in accordance with his recommendation, this group was formally renamed "Music Research Institute of Beijing University."

[2] In September 1929, according to his plan it was upgraded to the National Institute for Music (in 1949 it was renamed the Shanghai Conservatory, which it remains today).

Xiao Youmei also was one of China's first composers to master Western compositional techniques and incorporate them in his works.

Among his notable students is the famous Chinese composer and music educator Lin Shengyi [zh], who once studied harmony with him.