Both the bridge and nearby village (modern-day Longteng) were named Gyotōhei (魚藤坪) after a local plant Millettia pachycarpa (Chinese: 魚藤; pinyin: yúténg; Japanese pronunciation: gyotō) believed to be poisonous to fish; legends believed that a malevolent carp in a nearby lake was responsible for misfortune, and residents planted the shrub to counter the carp.

[4] The original design consists of a central steel truss flanked by multiple brick masonry arch approaches.

The April 1935 Shinchiku-Taichū earthquake and subsequent aftershocks in July damaged the bridge beyond repair.

The ruined 1907 bridge piers are covered with white tung tree flowers (桐花; tóng huā) every year from April to May, marking the height of its popularity as a tourist and hiking destination.

The bridge is accessible by taxi south from Sanyi Station of Taiwan Railways Administration.