The name references the story that Wang Zhongshu, the prefect of Suzhou, funded its construction with his own lavishly decorated belt rather than through forced labor or additional taxation.

[1] During the 1793 British Macartney Embassy, John Barrow visited the Precious Belt Bridge, accurately describing its length and the manner in which its central arches are higher than the others.

[2] The bridge was inscribed as the 285th Major Cultural Heritage Site under National-Level Protection added during the 5th round of nominations in 2001.

Although the bridge was originally protected by pairs of foo dogs at each end, today only a single stone lion remains at the north entrance.

[1] The stone tower and stela pavilion originally located at the north end of the bridge have similarly vanished.