General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important exposition on literary and artistic work has provided us with a fundamental guide to the work of literature and art in the new era. From the perspective of thinking characteristics, this paper analyzes the strategic thinking, systematic thinking, dialectical thinking and bottom-line thinking in General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important exposition on literary and artistic work, which involves the orientation of literature and art development, the orientation of literary and artistic functions, the development path of literature and art, and the norms of literary and artistic practice. The strategic thinking is reflected in the fact that literary and artistic work should be rooted in history to explore rules, focus on the world to judge the general trend, and plan the future based on reality. The systematic thinking is reflected in the linkage and promotion of literary and artistic work in close contact with the people, serving for state governance and reflecting the spirit of the times. The dialectical thinking is reflected in the unity of opposites between social benefits and economic benefits, between meeting functions and leading missions, between learning from and adhering to culture, and between innovation and creation and literary inheritance. And the bottom-line thinking is reflected in that literary and artistic work should stick to the bottom line of social value, rule of law, patriotism, and the leading position of Marxism. Studying the thinking characteristics of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important exposition on literary and artistic work is of great theoretical significance and practical value for how to further grasp the rules of literary and artistic work in the new era and guide its more scientific and healthy development.