The Marco Polo Bridge Incident occurred on July 7, 1937, near Beijing, China. It marked the beginning of the full-scale conflict between the Empire of Japan and the Republic of China during the Second Sino-Japanese War. The incident started when Japanese troops clashed with Chinese forces while conducting a nighttime military exercise near the bridge. The Marco Polo Bridge, also known as the Lugou Bridge, is a historic stone bridge that dates back to the 13th century. Following the incident, fighting escalated rapidly, leading to significant military engagements and the eventual occupation of large parts of China by Japanese forces. This conflict had lasting impacts on Sino-Japanese relations and the broader context of World War II.