Lugou Bridge is located about 15 kilometers southwest of Tiananmen in Beijing, spanning the Yongding River. Named after the Lugou River (the ancient name of Yongding River) it crosses, the Lugou Bridge is the oldest existing stone arch bridge in Beijing. The bridge is 266.5 meters long and 7.5 meters wide, with its widest point reaching 9.3 meters. It has ten piers and eleven arches, and the entire bridge is made of stone, with key parts connected by silver ingot iron dowels, making it the longest ancient stone bridge in North China. On July 7, 1937, Japanese imperialists launched a full-scale invasion of China here, and the Chinese garrison at Wanping City rose in resistance, marking the beginning of the “Lugou Bridge Incident” (also known as the “July 7 Incident”). The Chinese army fired the first shot of the full-scale War of Resistance Against Japan at Lugou Bridge.
Lugou Bridge is renowned for its unique architectural structure and exquisite carving art, as well as its enchanting scenery. From the day it was completed, various legends have emerged around the bridge. Over its 800-year history, these legends have been widely passed down orally among the people. Throughout this transmission, the content of the Lugou Bridge legends has been continuously enriched and developed, eventually becoming the subject of stories, poems, songs, proverbs, novels, dances, dramas, and other forms of art, steadily increasing its fame.
The legend of Lugou Bridge is rich, covering various aspects such as the construction of the bridge, the lions on the bridge, the Dragon-Slaying Sword at the bridge pier, the Lugou Moonlight, the connection between Lugou Bridge and Wanping City, and the Lugou Bridge Incident. While the earliest records of the legend are now difficult to trace, articles about it were published in newspapers during the Republic of China period. The "Lugou Bridge Incident" that erupted in 1937 further brought the bridge worldwide fame. Stories related to the Lugou Bridge legend are scattered across local histories and other sources. Some of these stories have been initially compiled into collections like The Moon over the Lugou Bridge at Dawn (Lugouxiaoyue) and The Legends of Lugou Bridge.
The legend of Lugou Bridge has a long history and has spread widely, not only throughout Wanping but also across China, and even in countries like Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Chinese communities worldwide. Much like the historical and technological value of the bridge itself, the legend of Lugou Bridge also holds significant literary, cultural, and historical value.