The book has both historical and cultural values as a vivid memoir of how the Eastern Capital was like before Mongol conquers China's Song Dynasty.
1) When a civilization becomes mature and prosperous, then we can see:
a) Complicated city plans for various functions (Chapter 1 卷一, 東都外城、河道)
b) 24h shopping. Variety of goods, food, services: 《马行街铺席》 马行北去旧封丘门外祅庙斜街州北瓦子,新封丘门大街两边民户铺席外,馀诸班直军营相对,至门约十里馀,其馀坊巷院落,纵横万数,莫知纪极。处处拥门,各有茶坊酒店,勾肆饮食。市井经纪之家,往往只于市店旋置饮食,不置家蔬。北食则矾楼前李四家、段家熝物、石逢巴子,南食则寺桥金家、九曲子周家,最为屈指。夜市直至三更尽,才五更又复开张。如耍闹去处,通晓不绝。寻常四梢远静去处,夜市亦有燋酸豏、猪胰胡饼、和菜饼、獾儿、野狐肉、果木翘羹、灌肠、香糖果子之类。冬月虽大风雪阴雨,亦有夜市:𠝝子、姜豉、抹脏、红丝、水晶脍、煎肝脏、蛤蜊、螃蟹、胡桃、泽州饧、奇豆、鹅梨、石榴、查子、榲桲、糍糕、团子、盐豉汤之类。至三更方有提瓶卖茶者。盖都人公私营干,夜深方归也。
c) Fine-grained-ness of the choices: 都人侈纵,百端呼索,或热或冷,或温或整,或绝冷、精浇、膘浇之类,人人索唤不同。
d) Variety of entertainment: i) Market for fun: 《相国寺内万姓交易》 相国寺每月五次开放万姓交易,大三门上皆是飞禽猫犬之类,珍禽奇兽,无所不有。第三门皆动用什物,庭中设彩幕露屋义铺,卖蒲合、簟席、屏帏、洗漱、鞍辔、弓剑、时果、脯腊之类。近佛殿,孟家道冠王道人蜜煎,赵文秀笔及潘谷墨,占定两廊,皆诸寺师姑卖绣作、领抹、花朵、珠翠头面、生色销金花样幞头帽子、特髻冠子、縧线之类。殿后资圣门前,皆书籍、玩好、图画及诸路罢任官员土物香药之类。后廊皆日者货术传神之类。寺三门阁上并资圣门,各有金铜铸罗汉五百尊、佛牙等,凡有斋供,皆取旨方开三门。左右有两瓶琉璃塔,寺内有智海、惠林、宝梵、河沙东西塔院,乃出角院舍,各有住持僧官,每遇斋会,凡饮食茶果,动使器皿,虽三五百分,莫不咄嗟而办。大殿两廊,皆国朝名公笔迹,左壁画炽盛光佛降九鬼百戏,右壁佛降鬼子母揭盂。殿庭供献乐部马队之类。大殿朵廊,皆壁隐楼殿人物,莫非精妙。
ii) Performance in the market 《京瓦伎艺》 崇、观以来,在京瓦肆伎艺:张廷叟,《孟子书》。主张小唱:李师师、徐婆惜、封宜奴、孙三四等,诚其角者。嘌唱弟子:张七七、王京奴、左小四、安娘、毛团等。教坊减罢并温习:张翠盖、张成弟子、薛子大、薛子小、俏枝儿、杨总惜、周寿奴、称心等。般杂剧:杖头傀儡任小三,每日五更头回小杂剧,差晚看不及矣。悬丝傀儡,张金线。李外宁,药发傀儡。张臻妙、温奴哥、真个强、没勃脐、小掉刀,筋骨上索杂手伎。浑身眼、李宗正、张哥、球杖锡弄。孙宽、孙十五、曾无党、高恕、李孝详,讲史。李訸、杨中立、张十一、徐明、赵世亨、贾九,小说。王颜喜、盖中宝、刘名广,散乐。张真奴,舞旋。杨望京,小儿相扑、杂剧、掉刀、蛮牌。董十五、赵七、曹保义、朱婆儿、没困驼、风僧哥、俎六弄,影戏。丁仪、瘦吉等,弄乔影戏。刘百禽,弄蚁。孔三传、耍秀才,诸宫调。毛详、霍伯丑,商谜。吴八儿,合生。张山人,说诨话。刘乔、河北子、帛遂、胡牛儿、达眼五、重明乔、骆驼儿、李敦等,杂班。外入孙三神鬼。霍四究,说《三分》。尹常卖,《五代史》。文八娘,叫果子。其馀不可胜数。不以风雨寒暑。诸棚看人,日日如是。教坊钧容直,每遇旬休按乐,亦许人观看。每遇内宴前一月,教坊内勾集弟子小儿,习队舞,作乐杂剧节次。
iii) Frequent holidays and diverse events: 《元宵》 正月十五日元宵,大内前自岁前冬至后,开封府绞缚山棚,立木正对宣德楼,游人已集御街两廊下。奇术异能,歌舞百戏,鳞鳞相切,乐声嘈杂十馀里,击丸蹴踘,踏索上竿。赵野人,倒吃冷淘。张九哥,吞铁剑。李外宁,药法傀儡。小健儿,吐五色水、旋烧泥丸子。大特落,灰药。榾柮儿,杂剧。温大头、小曹,嵇琴。党千,箫管。孙四,烧炼药方。王十二,作剧术。邹遇、田地广,杂扮。苏十、孟宣,筑球。尹常卖,《五代史》。刘百禽,蚁。杨文秀,鼓笛。更有猴呈百戏,鱼跳刀门,使唤蜂蝶,追呼蝼蚁。其馀卖药、卖卦,沙书地谜,奇巧百端,日新耳目。至正月七日,人使朝辞出门,灯山上彩,金碧相射,锦绣交辉。面北悉以彩结,山矾上皆画神仙故事。或坊市卖药卖卦之人,横列三门,各有彩结金书大牌,中曰「都门道」,左右曰「左右禁卫之门」,上有大牌曰「宣和与民同乐」。彩山左右,以彩结文殊、普贤,跨狮子、白象,各于手指出水五道,其手摇动。用辘轳绞水上灯山尖高处,用木柜贮之,逐时放下,如瀑布状。又于左右门上,各以草把缚成戏龙之状,用青幕遮笼,草上密置灯烛数万盏,望之蜿蜒,如双龙飞走。自灯山至宣德门楼横大街,约百馀丈,用棘刺围绕,谓之「棘盆」,内设两长竿,高数十丈,以缯彩结束,纸糊百戏人物,悬于竿上,风动宛若飞仙。内设乐棚,差衙前乐人作乐杂戏,并左右军百戏,在其中驾坐一时呈拽。宣德楼上,皆垂黄缘,帘中一位,乃御座。用黄罗设一彩棚,御龙直执黄盖掌扇,列于帘外。两朵楼各挂灯球一枚,约方圆丈馀,内燃椽烛,帘内亦作乐。宫嫔嬉笑之声,下闻于外。楼下用枋木垒成露台一所,彩结栏槛,两边皆禁卫排立,锦袍,幞头簪赐花,执骨朵子,面此乐棚。教坊钧容直、露台弟子,更互杂剧。近门亦有内等子班直排立。万姓皆在露台下观看,乐人时引万姓山呼。
References: imagine people's happiness during Christmas market, October Fest, various parades, carnivals, Valentine's Day, ...
Note that it is not popular to enjoy pure nature, but people like more 热闹 (places with people and manmade fun things).
2) There is always alerting signal that high civilization does not guarantee long survival time. Maybe countries also have the Maslow's hierarchy of needs, e.g., military strength should be the guarantee of all others. No matter how culturally prosperous a country is, if the national defense is weak, then another brutal party may conquer it with ease.
3) An example wholesome life (depicted by this book) consists of: - Good financial status - Good food - Rich entertainment (stories, visual pleasure, ...) - Exposure to diversity - Holidays and different cultural events paired with each holiday ...