The novel is remarkable not only for its huge cast of characters and psychological scope, but also for its precise and detailed observation of the life and social structures typical of 18th-century Chinese society.
Romanen er bemærkelsesværdig ikke bare for sin store personkreds og brede psykologiske spændvidde, men også for sin præcise og detaljerede skildring af livet og de sociale strukturer, der var typiske for 1700-tallets kinesiske aristokrati.