About 70 kilometers (44miles) from Lijiang city, on the north side of the highway leading from Dali to Lijiang, locates the ancient town named Stone Drum Town.

It is here, the Yangtze River to make a sudden V-shaped bend and flow to the northeast. This extraordinary turn, nearly180-degrees, creates beautiful and marvelous views that startle the imagination. This bend is called the First Bend of the Yangtze River. With the gradual deposit of fertile soil at this spot, a village called Shigu Town slowly came into being. Since ancient times, this town has been important, linking Tibet with the outside world.

Here Tibetan people bring their quality fell, hide and herbal medicine and take home tea, salt, cloth and other necessities. The First Bend in the Yangtze River has been of strategic importance since ancient times. Many famous historical events happened here.