Li Shangyin is generally regarded as the most outstanding poet in the late Tang Dynasty. His poetic style is deeply influenced by Li He, and his syntax, composition and structure are all influenced by Du Fu and Han Yu. Many critics believe that he is second only to Du Fu, Li Bai and Wang Wei among the outstanding poets in the Tang Dynasty. As far as the uniqueness of poetic style is concerned, he is not inferior to any poet. However, there are relatively many allusions, which are obscure. Those who appreciate Li Shangyin's poems and those who criticize him are all aimed at his distinctive personal style. Many poets in later generations imitated Li Shangyin's style, but none of them were recognized.