The Tiger Leaping Gorge trek near Lijiang in Yunnan is one of the finest treks through some of the most naturally beautiful and diverse landscapes China has to offer.

There is a legend that a tiger once jumped across the gorge by clearing the rock from which the name  Tiger Leaping Gorge comes. The trail runs high on the southern side of the gorge passing through quiet villages, shady forests, blustery precipices and verdant terraced farmland. The snow covered peaks of  the Jade  Dragon Snow Mountain  (Yu Long Snow Mountain) (5596m) and  Haba  Snow Mountain (5396m) shadow either side of the gorge.

 

Tiger Leaping Gorge is the longest, deepest, and narrowest gorge in the world. The gorge has a drop of 3790 meters, which is higher than the famous Hells Canyon (2400 meters) in USA. The narrowest part of the gorge is only 30 meters wide. 

 

Tiger Leaping Gorge runs from Qiaotou village in Zhongdian, to Daju, Lijiang. It consists of an upper, middle and lower gorge, and includes eighteen dangerous shoals. The river is in various states; sometimes it gallops with random stones and flying waves; sometimes it becomes misty with flying waterfalls; which forms a peculiar landscape.

LiJiang-Tiger leaping Gorge

 

Day 1 

            

In the morning, we drive 102 kilometers, or around 2 hours to Qiaotou (1850 meters), towards the upper Tiger Leaping Gorge. From Qiaotou, we drive 6 kilometers along the gorge road to a small village, where the vehicle will leave and our local guide will go with you to start the trek up the Haba Mountains (1 hour to Zhong Luo Yu village at 2250 meters, another 1.5 hours to '24 Bends' at 2650 meters, another 1.5 hours to Two Families' at 2320 meters, and 2 hours to Bendiwan at 2410 meters.

The total trekking distance is around 15 kilometers). 

Overnight in twin-bedded rooms(including private shower)

 

Tiger Leaping Gorge-LiJiang 

Day 2

         

Continue your trek from Halfway Lodge to the Walnut Grove (1.5 hours from  Halfway Lodge  Gou at 2060 meters) depending on your body condition: optional tour to visit the middle part of Tiger Leaping Gorge. from  Halfway Lodge  Gou at 2060 meters) depending on your body condition: optional tour to visit the middle part of Tiger Leaping Gorge.

 

From here, you will take a local vehicle to drive 40 minutes (or 10 kilometers) to Yongke village. From Yongke, you will trek 40 minutes to the pier, followed by a ferry boat (10 minutes) to cross the Yangtze River to the Old Pier at 1650 meters, located on the other side of the River.

 

From the Old Pier, trek 1.5 hours to Daju at 1760 meters. The mini-van and driver will meet you at Daju and transport you back to Lijiang (90 kilometers, or 3.5 hours). The total trekking distance is around 14 kilometers.

More information for this tour, please visit the link below