Professional publishing, as a core segment of the modern publishing industry, serves an irreplaceable role in disseminating specialized knowledge, driving technological progress, and facilitating civilizational advancement. This paper systematically examines the evolution and current landscape of professional publishing both globally and within China, while analyzing its challenges and proposing a development path centered on "specialization, excellence, distinctiveness, and depth." This paper traces the origins of professional publishing to the 18th–19th centuries, when the Industrial Revolution spurred demand for specialized knowledge among emerging professions such as engineers and physicians. It then compares the global dominance of transnational publishing groups (e.g., RELX Group, Springer Nature) characterized by mature digital ecosystems, extensive academic journal portfolios, and advanced AI-driven services, and China’s distinctive professional publishing landscape, which features industry-specific publishers primarily focused on book publishing, fragmented academic journal distribution, and a "large in quantity but weak in strength" structure. Through in-depth analysis, this paper identifies key challenges faced by Chinese professional publishing: outdated traditional paradigms inadequately addressing diverse knowledge service needs, disruptive impacts of AI (e.g., generative AI reshaping content creation and quality control), substantial pressure from technological iteration and digital transformation, limitations in international competitiveness, and risks regarding copyright protection and data security. To address these challenges, this paper proposes an integrated development strategy: (1) Specialization by strengthening core positioning and professional capabilities in niche fields; (2) Excellence by creating high-quality content and precision services tailored to user needs, exemplified by Elsevier’s AI-powered academic platforms; (3) Distinctiveness by fostering unique, differentiated offerings, as seen in Henan Science and Technology Press’s success in handcraft publishing; (4) Depth by enabling in-depth utilization of content resources and targeted dissemination, such as Chemical Industry Press’s safety education platform. This paper concludes that integrating "specialization, excellence, distinctiveness, and depth" with digital and intelligent technologies remains crucial for Chinese professional publishing to achieve high-quality development, enhance global competitiveness, and adapt effectively to the evolving landscape of knowledge dissemination.