During the late Warring States period, Jing Ke, an assassin sent by Crown Prince Dan of Yan for a mission of killing King Zheng of Qin, failed in the attempt.

After the Yan state fell, Crown Prince Dan fled far into the Liaodong region, and was eventually tracked down and slain by the pursuing Qin forces.

According to the legend, the prince's last site of refuge was at the bank of this river, hence the name.

The Taizi was formally the third largest tributary of the Liao River.

The Taizi River, like the Hun River running parallel north of it, flows through some of the most important agricultural and industrial regions of southern Liaoning, including the cities of Benxi, Anshan and Liaoyang.