| The inscription on the stele, stone tablet, was written in Emperor Qianlong's calligraphy. It is the ancient phrase used since the Jin Dynasty to describe Lugou Qiao: 卢沟晓月 Lúgōu Xiǎoyuè: The Moon over the Lugou Bridge at Dawn. On the other side of the stele is a poem Qianlong composed in contemplation of the words and the view from the bridge.
Ever since the bridge was built people traveled to the bridge to observe the moon, especially during festivals. It was a half-day journey to get there, the Marco Polo Bridge is about 16 kilometers or 10 miles from the old center of Beijing (Yanjing). The sight of the moon reflecting off the water, probably framed by trees, must have made the walk well worth it.
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