Studies on translation textbooks have been an important part of translation education research. Using the methods of bibliometrics and content analysis, this paper investigates the development and features of studies on translation textbooks in China over the past forty years. Early studies on translation textbooks are mainly about subjective experience-based reviews of a single translation textbook between English and Chinese, with emphasis on the components of a textbook. Since translation became a major and an independent discipline, studies on translation textbooks have been expanded to external and comprehensive ones; more language pairs between Chinese and foreign languages other than English have been included in textbooks; empirical research methods have been increasingly employed; and theoretical studies have been strengthened. In the era of information technology, it is essential to deepen theoretical studies on translation textbook construction, promote studies on the relationship among textbook construction, classroom teaching, and educational technology, conduct studies on the development of AI-aided translation textbooks, and carry out empirical studies on translation textbook evaluation so as to realize the integration of compilation, application, and evaluation in translation textbook construction.