The Qushui Bridge, located in the town of Qushui within Qushui County, marks a significant point in history. Formerly known as the Taga ferry, this location was pivotal for crossing the Yarlung Tsangpo River using boats. On August 1, 1966, the first modern large-scale road bridge across the Yarlung Tsangpo River was completed and opened to traffic, spanning 738 meters in length. The Taga ferry was the most famous crossing point on the river, bustling in its peak seasons with hundreds of people and thousands of livestock crossing daily, serving as a crucial passageway even for those traveling to India, Bhutan, and Nepal.
Traditionally, cowhide boats were used for crossing from May to September in the Tibetan calendar, and horse-head boats from October to the following April. At the southern end of the bridge, a uniquely shaped rock mountain known locally as “Kasang Qu Wo Re,” meaning “The Mountain that Flew to the Iron Chain Bridge,” greets those crossing. This mountain directs traffic splitting towards Shigatse on the right and towards Shannan on the left. It is said that within the mountain lie 108 sacred springs and 108 holy sites. To the east of this sacred mountain, a medicinal spring known as “Cai Qu Pu” is reputed to clear vision and cure various diseases when its waters are consumed.