🏔️ Tiger Leaping Gorge 虎跳峡

What You’re Actually Coming For

Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the deepest river gorges on earth. The Jinsha River — upper tributary of the Yangtze — squeezes between Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (5,596 m) and Haba Snow Mountain (5,396 m) in a canyon that drops over 3,000 metres from rim to water. The scale is unlike anything else in Yunnan.

But the landscape isn’t why most trekkers remember it. The high trail is a two-day walk that puts you above the gorge with continuously changing views — the full arc of Jade Dragon’s thirteen peaks, the river far below at the Great Bend, guesthouse terraces at 2,400 m where you watch the snow mountain turn orange at sunset. The other people on the trail are trekkers. No day-trippers, no tour buses.

The Two Ways to Experience It

The High Trail (recommended): The classic 23 km, 2-day self-guided trek from Qiaotou Town to Tina’s Guesthouse. This is what people mean when they say “the Tiger Leaping Gorge trek.” The hardest section is the 28 Bends — 28 steep switchbacks gaining 700 m — tackled on Day 1. The route is well-marked with red arrows throughout.

The Lower Gorge Road: A paved road runs through the bottom of the gorge and is accessible by car or on foot in sections. It reaches the famous Tiger Leaping Stone — the actual rock in the river that gives the gorge its name. Accessible without trekking fitness, but misses the elevated gorge views entirely.

For the full high trail route, day-by-day itinerary, gear list, and transport guide, see the High Trail Trek Guide →. Prefer less climbing? See the Reverse High Trail Trek Guide →.

When to Go

Best: March–May (wildflowers, clear skies, dry trail) and September–November (post-monsoon visibility, autumn colour on the slopes).

Avoid: June–August — rainy season brings falling rock risk on the exposed cliff sections, muddy trail, and reduced visibility. January–February — possible ice on the 28 Bends.

The gorge floor sits at around 1,800 m and the trail crests at ~2,670 m. There is no serious altitude risk, but the elevation combined with sustained climbing means fitness matters more than acclimatisation.

Getting There

Qiaotou Town is the standard starting point. From Lijiang Old Town it’s 1.5–2 hours by bus (¥45, departures at 8:00 and 9:30 AM from Lijiang Bus Station) or 50–80 RMB per person in a shared car. Shangri-La is equally practical — many trekkers do the route one-way, starting from Lijiang and ending at Tina’s Guesthouse for a bus to Shangri-La. This avoids backtracking and flows naturally between the two cities.

Full transport options — buses, shared cars, luggage transfer, horseback — are covered in the High Trail Trek Guide → and Reverse High Trail Trek Guide →.

The Guesthouses

Halfway Guesthouse is the most famous overnight stop, with its Sunset Terrace facing Jade Dragon Snow Mountain directly. Dorm beds run ¥30–50, double rooms ¥120–180. Book ahead in May and October. Tea Horse Guesthouse is quieter, a bit earlier on Day 1’s route, and worth considering if you prefer a slower pace on Day 2.

All guesthouses serve meals. Naxi fried rice and matsutake mushroom chicken soup are the local standards — around ¥50–80 per person.

Guesthouse	Price	Notes
Halfway Guesthouse	Dorm ¥30–50 / Double ¥120–180	Most popular; famous Sunset Terrace; book ahead May and October
Tea Horse Guesthouse	Similar pricing	Quieter; good for those wanting an earlier Day 2 start
Tina’s Guesthouse	Dorm ¥40–60 / Double ¥100–160	Main transport hub; arrange return shuttle here

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