Yingyao Liang's work depicts imaginary landscapes, characters, and stories. Her artistic style is influenced by a variety of sources, from traditional Chinese painting techniques to the work of Hieronymus Bosch and the surrealists. She admires the work of Hayao Miyazaki, Tim Burton, and Jan Svankmajer, especially their use of surreal imagery and ability to create alternate worlds. She was trained in traditional Chinese landscape painting and often draw on its loose brushwork and emphasis on the natural world in her work.

In terms of subject matter, Yingyao's paintings are strongly influenced by traditional Chinese folklore and myths, as well as Western fairy tales and popular cultures, especially cultural touchstones from her childhood, such as Disney's Alice in Wonderland, the Chinese animated feature Journey to the West, as well as Shan Hai Jing, a Chinese fantasy book depicting creatures from Chinese legends.