According to the content and artistic characteristics, it can be divided into two categories:
One uses the past as a metaphor to satirize the debauchery of the emperor and discuss the gains and losses of state affairs. For example, Guo Huaqing Palace is full of artistic imagination on the basis of historical facts, which is both fascinating and intriguing. The whole poem speaks for itself without comments.
The other part talks about history with poetry, uses the topic to express his political feelings and opinions, and has the color of historical theory. For example, "Red Cliff" lamented Zhou Yu's success due to the east wind and expressed his incompetence. This writing is especially imitated by many poets in later generations. The concern for realistic politics has formed a profound sense of history in Du Mu's poems. Even if he lingers in the landscape and depicts nature, he often combines his feelings about nature, society and history, and has a sense of suffering from painful lessons.