Secret history of the palace: royal anecdotes such as Emperor Shunzhi becoming a monk in Mount Wutai, the mystery of Concubine Dong E's life experience, Cixi dressing up as Guanyin, etc.
Various aspects of officialdom: exposing the shady secrets of officialdom and examination fraud, such as He Shen amassing money, Zhang Qingge's "Prohibition of Gifts", etc.
All aspects of society: covering anecdotes from the market, legends from the world, and strange folk stories, such as Yuan Mei's case, Zheng Banqiao's wise battle with a salt merchant, etc.
Cultural anecdotes: record anecdotes about literati such as Ji Xiaolan and Nalan Xingde, as well as scientific and technological inventions such as the bicycles made in Huangluzhuang.
Folk perspective: records the stories of traffickers, charlatans, sorcerers and other classes, and presents the "face of all living beings" in Qing Dynasty society.
