Lugouqiao (literally the Bridge Over the Reed Ditch) has been made famous by at least three historisc events: Marco Polo's description, Emperor Qianlong's inscription and the outbreak of the War Against the Japanese Aggressors. Officiallly the bridge was called the “Lugou Stone Bridge,” and it was completely built of white stone and looked majestic with a total of 485 stone lions lined on the balustrades of both sides. Apart from minor maintenance repairs made during subsequent dynasties, historical records show that it underwent a major restoration in 1689 after two arches were washed away by floods .It was on that occasion that the river was renamed Yongding (Eternal Stabilty), but the name of the bridge remained Lugou.