Where the Dragon Turns: The Magnificent First Bend of the Yangtze River

The Miracle Turn that Shaped a Nation

Located approximately 50 kilometers from Lijiang in Yunnan Province, near Shigu Town (Stone Drum Town), lies a geographical wonder that altered the course of Chinese history—the First Bend of the Yangtze River (Changjiang Diyiwan). Here, the mighty Jinsha River (the upper reaches of the Yangtze), rushing down from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, encounters the imposing Hailuo Mountain. Blocked by the cliffs, the river makes a sudden, dramatic "V-shaped" turn of over 100 degrees, shifting its course from south-southeast to northeast,. Geographers often remark that without this miraculous turn, the Yangtze might have flowed south into Vietnam or the Indian Ocean; instead, it turned east to nourish the vast Chinese heartland, becoming the cradle of Chinese civilization,.

A Landscape of "Little Jiangnan"

Unlike the rugged and precipitous gorges found upstream (such as Tiger Leaping Gorge), the river at the First Bend opens up into a broad, gentle expanse. The water flows calmly here, creating a stark contrast with the surrounding towering mountains. The riverbanks are lined with lush willow forests and vibrant fields, dotted with traditional villages and rising cooking smoke. This serene, pastoral scene on the plateau is often compared to the lush "Jiangnan" water towns of eastern China, offering a "landscape painting" aesthetic that captivates photographers and travelers alike,. In spring, the riverside is ablaze with rapeseed flowers and peach blossoms; in autumn, the willows turn golden, creating a stunning palette of colors against the emerald or turquoise water (depending on the season),.

The Legend of the Three Sisters

Local Naxi folklore imbues this geographical feature with romantic myth. Legend has it that the Jinsha River, Lancang River (Mekong), and Nu River (Salween) were three sisters traveling south together. The two elder sisters (Lancang and Nu) were determined to flow south, but the youngest, Jinsha, longed for the light and love of the east. At Shigu, she bade farewell to her sisters and made a determined turn eastward to find her own path, leaving behind the magnificent bend as a testament to her resolve,. This blend of geological reality and cultural mythology adds a layer of spiritual depth to the landscape.

1.A Hub of History: Shigu and the Red Army

2.The First: Bend is not just a natural landmark; it is a site of immense historical importance. It sits adjacent to Shigu Town, named after a white marble drum-shaped monument erected during the Ming Dynasty to commemorate a victory of the local Tusi (chieftain). Historically, this was a vital hub on the Tea Horse Road and a strategic military crossing. It is famously known as the site where the Red Army successfully crossed the Jinsha River during the Long March in 1936. Led by the legendary boatmen of the region, thousands of soldiers crossed here, escaping the encirclement of enemy forces,. Today, visitors can see the Red Army Crossing Monument and explore the ancient streets of Shigu, where the echoes of history still resonate in the old shops and stone bridges.