According to county records, Baitutan was named after Chengtan River, which formed a deep pool with stones at the bottom, shaped like a big white rabbit.

The historical evolution of Baitutan was not tested before the Song Dynasty. In the Song Dynasty, Liling was divided into six townships and sixteen miles, and Baitutan belonged to Shangfeng Renli in Liling Township. There is no record in Yuan Dynasty; In the Ming dynasty, the township was changed, and it was a square and a capital; During the reign of Kangxi in Qing Dynasty, Liling County had thirty capitals, and Baitutan belonged to thirteen capitals, which was called the territory of Zhajiang River. During the Republic of China, it was called Heqing Township; 1949 was later called Zhajiang Township, 1952 belonged to Baitutan District, 1956 was officially called Baitutan Township, and 1985 was changed from township to town.