What are the motifs in Six Records of a Floating Life by Shen Fu?

The value of travel is a recurring idea. Shen Fu writes in meticulous detail about the places he has visited in his lifetime, even describing those of the places he found wanting, in order to tell the reader exactly what he didn't like about them. Those places he loves, he does so because of their intense natural beauty, and the hospitality of the people there. Yun shares his love for travel, although her being a woman limits her ability to do so, and talks about how much she wishes she were a man, so she might be able to go and see the beautiful places she has only heard about.