The First Bend of the Yangtze River lies at the outside of Shigu Town, Yunnan Province. When turbulent waves of the Yangtze River rush across Shigu Town, they are blocked by hills and form a large sharp V-turn, hence the birth of the world-famous bend.

It is the location where the Yangtze River makes its first major turn and changes the direction from the north-south to south-northeast.

The curve is big and sharp, while the surface of the river is expansive and flowinggently. It is said to be the place where Dayu managed to control the flood.

The river is wide around the bend and it was the site of chosen to be the spot for military massive soldiers to crossings the river in the past. In 1253, one of Kublai Khan's troops crossed the river here. In 1936, the Red Army crossed the Yangtze River here on their way to their northern bases with the help of local boatmen.