diff --git a/__tests__/unit/node/markdown/markdown.test.ts b/__tests__/unit/node/markdown/markdown.test.ts
index e8219a54..c042d6ba 100644
--- a/__tests__/unit/node/markdown/markdown.test.ts
+++ b/__tests__/unit/node/markdown/markdown.test.ts
@@ -101,5 +101,13 @@ describe('node/markdown/markdown', () => {
         'tabindex'
       )
     })
+
+    test('cjkFriendlyEmphasis', async () => {
+      const src = 'これは**「テスト」**です'
+      expect(await render(src)).toContain('<strong>「テスト」</strong>')
+      expect(await render(src, { cjkFriendlyEmphasis: false })).not.toContain(
+        '<strong>'
+      )
+    })
   })
 })
diff --git a/src/node/markdown/markdown.ts b/src/node/markdown/markdown.ts
index 6293b7bc..ee5c3954 100644
--- a/src/node/markdown/markdown.ts
+++ b/src/node/markdown/markdown.ts
@@ -54,17 +54,21 @@ export interface MarkdownOptions extends MarkdownItAsyncOptions {
   /* ==================== General Options ==================== */
 
   /**
-   * Setup markdown-it instance before applying plugins
+   * Configure the markdown-it instance before any plugins are applied.
    */
   preConfig?: (md: MarkdownItAsync) => Awaitable<void>
   /**
-   * Setup markdown-it instance
+   * Configure the markdown-it instance after all built-in plugins are applied.
    */
   config?: (md: MarkdownItAsync) => Awaitable<void>
   /**
    * Disable cache (experimental)
    */
   cache?: boolean
+  /**
+   * HTML attributes applied to external links.
+   * @default { target: '_blank', rel: 'noreferrer' }
+   */
   externalLinks?: Record<string, string>
 
   /* ==================== Syntax Highlighting ==================== */
@@ -72,7 +76,8 @@ export interface MarkdownOptions extends MarkdownItAsyncOptions {
   /**
    * Custom theme for syntax highlighting.
    *
-   * You can also pass an object with `light` and `dark` themes to support dual themes.
+   * You can also pass an object with `light` and `dark` themes to support
+   * dual themes.
    *
    * @example { theme: 'github-dark' }
    * @example { theme: { light: 'github-light', dark: 'github-dark' } }
@@ -91,7 +96,8 @@ export interface MarkdownOptions extends MarkdownItAsyncOptions {
   /**
    * Custom language aliases for syntax highlighting.
    * Maps custom language names to existing languages.
-   * Alias lookup is case-insensitive and underscores in language names are displayed as spaces.
+   * Alias lookup is case-insensitive and underscores in language names are
+   * displayed as spaces.
    *
    * @example
    *
@@ -113,31 +119,11 @@ export interface MarkdownOptions extends MarkdownItAsyncOptions {
    */
   languageAlias?: Record<string, string>
   /**
-   * Custom language labels for display.
-   * Overrides the default language label shown in code blocks.
-   * Keys are case-insensitive.
-   *
-   * @example { 'vue': 'Vue SFC' }
-   */
-  languageLabel?: Record<string, string>
-  /**
-   * Show line numbers in code blocks. Requires the `preWrapper` plugin.
-   * @default false
-   */
-  lineNumbers?: boolean
-  /**
-   * Wrap code blocks in a container carrying the language label and the
-   * copy button. The default theme's code block styling relies on this
-   * markup. Disabling it also disables `lineNumbers`.
-   * @default true
-   */
-  preWrapper?: boolean
-  /**
-   * Fallback language when the specified language is not available.
+   * Fallback language used when the specified language is not available.
    */
   defaultHighlightLang?: string
   /**
-   * Transformers applied to code blocks
+   * Transformers applied to code blocks.
    * @see https://shiki.style/guide/transformers
    */
   codeTransformers?: ShikiTransformer[]
@@ -148,24 +134,46 @@ export interface MarkdownOptions extends MarkdownItAsyncOptions {
    */
   colorReplacements?: CodeToHastOptions['colorReplacements']
   /**
-   * Setup Shiki instance
+   * Configure the Shiki instance.
    */
   shikiSetup?: (shiki: Highlighter) => void | Promise<void>
+
+  /* ==================== Code Blocks ==================== */
+
+  /**
+   * Wrap code blocks in a container carrying the language label and the
+   * copy button. The default theme's code block styling relies on this
+   * markup. Disabling it also disables `lineNumbers`.
+   * @default true
+   */
+  preWrapper?: boolean
   /**
-   * The tooltip text for the copy button in code blocks
+   * The tooltip text for the copy button in code blocks.
    * @default 'Copy Code'
    */
   codeCopyButtonTitle?: string
-
-  /* ==================== Markdown It Plugins ==================== */
-
   /**
-   * Options for `markdown-it-anchor`. Set to `false` to disable adding ids
-   * and anchor links to headings. Note that the default theme's outline and
-   * heading hash links rely on these ids.
-   * @see https://github.com/valeriangalliat/markdown-it-anchor
+   * Custom language labels for display.
+   * Overrides the default language label shown in code blocks.
+   * Keys are case-insensitive.
+   *
+   * @example { 'vue': 'Vue SFC' }
    */
-  anchor?: anchorPlugin.AnchorOptions | false
+  languageLabel?: Record<string, string>
+  /**
+   * Show line numbers in code blocks. Requires the `preWrapper` plugin.
+   * @default false
+   */
+  lineNumbers?: boolean
+  /**
+   * Enables importing code snippets from files with `<<<`.
+   * @default true
+   * @see https://vitepress.dev/guide/markdown#import-code-snippets
+   */
+  snippet?: boolean
+
+  /* ==================== Markdown Extensions ==================== */
+
   /**
    * Options for `markdown-it-attrs`. Set to `false` to disable.
    * @see https://github.com/arve0/markdown-it-attrs
@@ -183,20 +191,26 @@ export interface MarkdownOptions extends MarkdownItAsyncOptions {
       }
     | false
   /**
-   * Options for `@mdit-vue/plugin-frontmatter`
-   * @see https://github.com/mdit-vue/mdit-vue/tree/main/packages/plugin-frontmatter
+   * Improves emphasis (`**bold**`) handling in Japanese, Chinese, and
+   * Korean text.
+   * @default true
+   * @see https://github.com/tats-u/markdown-cjk-friendly
    */
-  frontmatter?: FrontmatterPluginOptions
+  cjkFriendlyEmphasis?: boolean
   /**
-   * Options for `@mdit-vue/plugin-headers`
-   * @see https://github.com/mdit-vue/mdit-vue/tree/main/packages/plugin-headers
+   * Options for `markdown-it-anchor`. Set to `false` to disable adding ids
+   * and anchor links to headings. Note that the default theme's outline and
+   * heading hash links rely on these ids.
+   * @see https://github.com/valeriangalliat/markdown-it-anchor
    */
-  headers?: HeadersPluginOptions | boolean
+  anchor?: anchorPlugin.AnchorOptions | false
   /**
-   * Options for `@mdit-vue/plugin-sfc`
-   * @see https://github.com/mdit-vue/mdit-vue/tree/main/packages/plugin-sfc
+   * Options for `@mdit-vue/plugin-headers`. Set to `true` or pass options
+   * to collect page headers into page data.
+   * @default false
+   * @see https://github.com/mdit-vue/mdit-vue/tree/main/packages/plugin-headers
    */
-  sfc?: SfcPluginOptions
+  headers?: HeadersPluginOptions | boolean
   /**
    * Options for `@mdit-vue/plugin-toc`. Set to `false` to disable the
    * `[[toc]]` syntax.
@@ -204,30 +218,32 @@ export interface MarkdownOptions extends MarkdownItAsyncOptions {
    */
   toc?: TocPluginOptions | false
   /**
-   * Options for `@mdit-vue/plugin-component`. Set to `false` to disable.
-   * @see https://github.com/mdit-vue/mdit-vue/tree/main/packages/plugin-component
+   * Math support.
+   *
+   * You need to install `markdown-it-mathjax3` and set `math` to `true` to
+   * enable it. You can also pass options to `markdown-it-mathjax3` here.
+   * @default false
+   * @see https://vitepress.dev/guide/markdown#math-equations
    */
-  component?: ComponentPluginOptions | false
+  math?: boolean | any
   /**
-   * Enables importing code snippets from files with `<<<`.
-   * @default true
-   * @see https://vitepress.dev/guide/markdown#import-code-snippets
+   * Custom labels for the built-in containers (`::: tip` etc.). Also used
+   * as the default titles of GitHub-flavored alerts.
+   * @see https://vitepress.dev/guide/markdown#custom-containers
    */
-  snippet?: boolean
+  container?: ContainerOptions
   /**
-   * Options for `markdown-it-container`
-   * @see https://github.com/markdown-it/markdown-it-container
+   * Whether to enable GitHub-flavored alerts (`> [!NOTE]`).
+   * @default true
+   * @see https://vitepress.dev/guide/markdown#github-flavored-alerts
    */
-  container?: ContainerOptions
+  gfmAlerts?: boolean
   /**
-   * Math support
-   *
-   * You need to install `markdown-it-mathjax3` and set `math` to `true` to enable it.
-   * You can also pass options to `markdown-it-mathjax3` here.
-   * @default false
-   * @see https://vitepress.dev/guide/markdown#math-equations
+   * Add `tabindex="0"` to tables so keyboard users can focus and scroll
+   * them.
+   * @default true
    */
-  math?: boolean | any
+  tableTabIndex?: boolean
   /**
    * Options for the image plugin (resolves image sources against the public
    * directory, adds dimensions, and supports lazy loading). Set to `false`
@@ -235,24 +251,24 @@ export interface MarkdownOptions extends MarkdownItAsyncOptions {
    * @see https://vitepress.dev/guide/markdown#image-lazy-loading
    */
   image?: ImageOptions | false
+
+  /* ==================== Vue Integration ==================== */
+
   /**
-   * Allows disabling the github alerts plugin
-   * @default true
-   * @see https://vitepress.dev/guide/markdown#github-flavored-alerts
+   * Options for `@mdit-vue/plugin-component`. Set to `false` to disable.
+   * @see https://github.com/mdit-vue/mdit-vue/tree/main/packages/plugin-component
    */
-  gfmAlerts?: boolean
+  component?: ComponentPluginOptions | false
   /**
-   * Add `tabindex="0"` to tables so keyboard users can focus and scroll them.
-   * @default true
+   * Options for `@mdit-vue/plugin-frontmatter`.
+   * @see https://github.com/mdit-vue/mdit-vue/tree/main/packages/plugin-frontmatter
    */
-  tableTabIndex?: boolean
+  frontmatter?: FrontmatterPluginOptions
   /**
-   * Allows disabling the CJK-friendly plugin.
-   * This plugin adds support for emphasis marks (**bold**) in Japanese, Chinese, and Korean text.
-   * @default true
-   * @see https://github.com/tats-u/markdown-cjk-friendly
+   * Options for `@mdit-vue/plugin-sfc`.
+   * @see https://github.com/mdit-vue/mdit-vue/tree/main/packages/plugin-sfc
    */
-  cjkFriendlyEmphasis?: boolean
+  sfc?: SfcPluginOptions
 }
 
 export type MarkdownRenderer = MarkdownItAsync
@@ -287,7 +303,7 @@ export async function createMarkdownRenderer(
   const theme = options.theme ?? { light: 'github-light', dark: 'github-dark' }
   const codeCopyButtonTitle = options.codeCopyButtonTitle || 'Copy Code'
 
-  let [highlight, dispose] = options.highlight
+  const [highlight, dispose] = options.highlight
     ? [options.highlight, () => {}]
     : await createHighlighter(theme, options, logger)
 
@@ -305,21 +321,22 @@ export async function createMarkdownRenderer(
   const slugify =
     (options.anchor ? options.anchor.slugify : undefined) ?? defaultSlugify
 
-  // custom plugins
-  if (options.component !== false) {
-    componentPlugin(md, options.component)
-  }
+  // VitePress customizations
   if (options.preWrapper !== false) {
     preWrapperPlugin(md, {
       codeCopyButtonTitle,
       languageLabel: options.languageLabel
     })
+    // must be applied after preWrapper as it augments its output
     lineNumberPlugin(md, options.lineNumbers)
   }
   if (options.snippet !== false) {
     snippetPlugin(md, srcDir)
   }
   containerPlugin(md, options.container)
+  if (options.gfmAlerts !== false) {
+    gitHubAlertsPlugin(md, options.container)
+  }
   if (options.image !== false) {
     imagePlugin(md, publicDir, options.image)
   }
@@ -329,25 +346,23 @@ export async function createMarkdownRenderer(
     base,
     slugify
   )
-
   if (options.tableTabIndex !== false) {
     tablePlugin(md)
   }
 
-  if (options.gfmAlerts !== false) {
-    gitHubAlertsPlugin(md, options.container)
-  }
-
-  // third party plugins
+  // community plugins
   if (options.attrs !== false) {
     attrsPlugin(md, options.attrs)
   }
   if (options.emoji !== false) {
     emojiPlugin(md, options.emoji)
   }
-
-  // mdit-vue plugins
+  if (options.cjkFriendlyEmphasis !== false) {
+    mditCjkFriendly(md)
+  }
   if (options.anchor !== false) {
+    // must be applied after attrs so that user-defined ids from curly
+    // attributes take precedence over slugified ones
     anchorPlugin(md, {
       slugify,
       getTokensText: (tokens) => {
@@ -384,32 +399,6 @@ export async function createMarkdownRenderer(
       ...options.anchor
     })
   }
-
-  frontmatterPlugin(md, options.frontmatter)
-
-  if (options.headers) {
-    headersPlugin(md, {
-      level: [2, 3, 4, 5, 6],
-      slugify,
-      ...(typeof options.headers === 'boolean' ? undefined : options.headers)
-    })
-  }
-
-  sfcPlugin(md, options.sfc)
-  titlePlugin(md)
-
-  const tocOptions = options.toc
-  if (tocOptions !== false) {
-    tocPlugin(md, {
-      slugify,
-      ...tocOptions,
-      format: (s) => {
-        const title = s.replaceAll('&amp;', '&') // encoded twice because of restoreEntities
-        return tocOptions?.format?.(title) ?? title
-      }
-    })
-  }
-
   if (options.math) {
     try {
       const mathPlugin = await import('markdown-it-mathjax3')
@@ -435,8 +424,30 @@ export async function createMarkdownRenderer(
     }
   }
 
-  if (options.cjkFriendlyEmphasis !== false) {
-    mditCjkFriendly(md)
+  // mdit-vue plugins
+  if (options.component !== false) {
+    componentPlugin(md, options.component)
+  }
+  frontmatterPlugin(md, options.frontmatter)
+  if (options.headers) {
+    headersPlugin(md, {
+      level: [2, 3, 4, 5, 6],
+      slugify,
+      ...(typeof options.headers === 'boolean' ? undefined : options.headers)
+    })
+  }
+  sfcPlugin(md, options.sfc)
+  titlePlugin(md)
+  const tocOptions = options.toc
+  if (tocOptions !== false) {
+    tocPlugin(md, {
+      slugify,
+      ...tocOptions,
+      format: (s) => {
+        const title = s.replaceAll('&amp;', '&') // encoded twice because of restoreEntities
+        return tocOptions?.format?.(title) ?? title
+      }
+    })
   }
 
   // apply user config