Tiger Leaping Gorge, a canyon carved by the Yangtze River, is located roughly sixty kilometers from Lijiang in Yunnan.

Tiger Leaping Gorge draws tremendous interest from trekking enthusiasts. This picturesque location is considered one of the most beautiful trekking destinations in Chine.

Tiger Leaping Gorge

Tiger Leaping Gorge spans just over 16 km between two peaks: Yulong Xue Shan (5,596 m) and Haba Xue Shan (5,396 m). With a vertical drop of 300 meters, the gorge is formed by numerous rapids sometimes framed by 2,000-meter cliffs. The gorges rank among the deepest in the world.

Tiger Leaping Gorge takes its name from a legend recounting how a tiger, fleeing a hunter, leaped across the canyon at its narrowest point, which measures 25 to 30 meters wide.

Visiting Tiger Leaping Gorge

This famous gorge can be explored on foot via hiking trails or by bus along the roads that wind along either side of the river. Three distinct paths run along Tiger Leaping Gorge: the Upper Gorge, Middle Gorge, and Lower Gorge. The entire trek spans 18 km between Qiaotou and the town of Daju.

Exploring by bus

For those uninterested in hiking or without time to explore the gorge on foot, tourist buses traverse the lower section of the gorge. The bus stops at the main viewpoint.

The bus option is generally favored by Chinese tour groups, while trails are preferred by international travelers.

Tiger Leaping Gorge Trek

The hike along Tiger Leaping Gorge is considered one of the most spectacular in Chine. Rarely crowded with Chinese tour groups, you may encounter a few groups of international travelers and the Naxi people who use these trails daily.

The trek can be completed along the upper gorge trail in 2 days, but many spend 3–4 days to fully appreciate the area's natural beauty. Expect an average of 6 hours of hiking per day.

While the trek presents no major technical difficulties, certain narrow passages and cliff-edge sections require careful attention. The trail offers breathtaking vistas of the gorges and surrounding mountains.

The relatively well-marked trail will guide you to the most stunning sites, including the Tiger Leaping Rock. Along the middle gorges, you can enjoy views of the rapids at Mantianxing and Yixiantian. By venturing off the main path, you'll find small trails leading to caves decorated with ancient paintings, where prehistoric tools and utensils have been discovered.

Along the way, you can stop at one of the guesthouses to spend the night or simply rest and refuel before continuing your trek.

Safety precautions while trekking

Although the hiking trail isn't the most dangerous, it's essential to remain attentive to ground conditions (slippery rocks, rockfall, branches).

During the trek, you'll cross small streams and climb over rocks. Be sure to wear sturdy hiking boots to prevent slips and ankle injuries. If heavy rains have recently fallen in the region, the trek can become quite hazardous. Trekking in bad weather is strongly discouraged.

Always carry a water bottle. Untreated stream water can cause illness.

During your hike, respect the surrounding nature, even though some areas unfortunately serve as plastic waste dumping grounds. The fauna and flora are rich here—let's do our best to preserve them.

When to go?

The best seasons for trekking Tiger Leaping Gorge are May, October, and November.

In winter, temperatures can drop significantly, especially at higher elevations, making the hike uncomfortable.

Avoid the rainy season from June to September, as trails can become extremely hazardous. Landslides are also frequent during this period.

As one of Yunnan's most popular attractions, Tiger Leaping Gorge is relatively easy to reach.

From Lijiang, buses bound for Shangri-la depart hourly and stop at Qiaotou, the village closest to the gorge.

Buses also travel to Baishuitai, where you can ask the driver to drop you at Tiger Leaping Gorge.

Taxis and minibuses are also available for the journey, though at significantly higher cost.

Admission fees

Entrance tickets cost 65 RMB per person.

10 RMB is charged for access to the viewpoints closest to the gorge.