The First Bend of the Yangtze River is located on the north side of the highway leading from Dali to Lijiang, about 70 km from Lijiang Town. The upper reaches of the Yangtze River is named the Golden Sands River, which originates from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The Golden Sands River flowed southward along the Hengduan Mountain Ranges and was forced to the turn to north because of the Alpine movements which caused changes in the earth’s physiognomy. When the river reaches Stone Drum Town, it makes an abrupt turn and flows further northward, forming the rare V-shape bend.
On the hill as the river bends stands the small Stone Drum Town. It is so called because of the existence of a drum-like stone tablet. It is 1.5 meter in diameter, 70 mm in thickness, being the memorial tablet marking the victory of territorial expansion of Lijiang’s local ruler Baichuan, surnamed Mu, in the 27th to 40th year of the Jiaqing era of the Ming Dynasty (1548-1561). It is one of the earliest stone tablets hitherto found at Lijiang.
The river is broadened at the bend and flows slowly. The famous historical event, such as “Zhuge Liang's Crossing the Lushui River in the Fifth Month” and Kublai Khan’s “Crossing the River on Leather Rafts” all chose this place as a ferry. In May 1936, the Red Army’s leader, He Long, Ren Bishi and Guan Xiangying led the Second Route Red Army to march north, crossing the river also at this place. At present, a splendid memorial tablet marking the victorious crossing is erected here.