As a consequence, his works are influenced by Western music, particularly in their harmonic accompaniment.
Among his best-known compositions are Song of the Fishermen (???, Yú Guang Qu) used as the theme song for a film of the same name, and Colourful Clouds Chasing the Moon (????, Cai Yún Zhui Yuè).
He also invited the musician Huang Yijun to compose The Flowers are Blooming and the Moon is Full (????) which was included on a 1935 recording Ren Guang supervised.
He died in the Wannan Incident (also called the New Fourth Army Incident, during the Second Sino-Japanese War) in Wannan, southern Anhui, in January 1941.