Midway between Lijiang and Shangri-la, Tiger Leaping Gorge (Hu Tiao Xia) in China's Yunnan Province has carved its way between snow-capped peaks and formed one of the deepest gorges in the world. The roaring Jinsha River (part of the Yangtze River) shows the power of nature there.
Known as one of the world's great treks, the rugged Tiger Leaping Gorge trail refreshes souls with sheer natural beauty and majestic snow mountain views. And Naxi culture is another pearl shining on the Gorge.
Use this guide to plan your Tiger Leaping Gorge trip.
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Facts about Tiger Leaping Gorge
- Chinese: 虎跳峡 Hǔtiào Xiá /hoo-tyaoww sshyaa/ 'Tiger Leaping Gorge'
- Maximum depth: 3,790 meters (12,434 feet), about twice the depth of the Grand Canyon
- Length: 23 kilometers (14 miles)
- Highest TLG Trail altitude: 2,670 meters (8,760 feet), which won't cause altitude sickness
- Suited to: nature and hiking lovers
- Time needed: 2–3 hours for a short visit; 1–2 days for hiking
- Location: about 86 kilometers (53 mi) north of Lijiang City, and around 106 km (66 mi) from Shangri-La
A Less Visited Hiking Trail in Tiger Leaping GorgeWhich Section to Visit in Tiger Leaping Gorge
Tiger Leaping Gorge stretches about 23 kilometers from Qiaotou Village in Hutiaoxia Zhen ('Tiger Leaping Gorge Rural District') to Daju Village.
Tiger Leaping Gorge has three sections: the Upper Gorge, Middle Gorge, and Lower Gorge.
The Upper Gorge and Middle Gorge are recommended for their sheer and stunning landscapes. The Lower Gorge is usually not recommended due to its plain scenery.
Location of Tiger Leaping GorgeThe Upper Gorge — for a Perfect Combo of a Short Visit and a Hike
As the narrowest section, the upper gorge is characterized by rapids and a steep landscape. It is accessible to all travelers, which kindly offers two choices: the Upper Gorge Scenic Spot for a short visit (1–2 hours) and the High Trail for hiking to the wild path (1–2 days).
- The Upper Gorge Scenic Spot: following the well-paved plank path along the Jinsha River, you can reach the narrowest area of the whole gorge to listen to the roar of the Jinsha River. The tiger statue seen in most pictures is located there. It's an energy-saving and time-smart choice.
Tips: There are 1,000 steps down to the viewing platform from the parking lot. You can choose a sedan chair or the escalator to avoid the one-hour walk.
Parking Lot of the Narrowest Part- The High Trail: It starts from Qiaotou ('Bridge Head' village) and winds its way up to the middle of Haba Snow Mountain before tracing the length of both the Upper Gorge and Middle Gorge. People usually take a 2-day from Naxi Family Guesthouse (Upper Gorge) to Tina's Guesthouse (Middle Gorge), passing the 28 Bends.
Tips: The High Trail faces south so hikers often get the benefit of sunlight even in the deep gorge. The trail's top altitude of about 2,700 meters or 8,800 feet means altitude sickness is not a problem.
The Middle Gorge — Challenging Hiking
Suitable for: energetic hikers; fit people with a good sense of balance
The Middle Gorge is a perfect place to challenge yourself. It usually takes half a day to admire its splendid scenery. You can seek thrills by climbing the vertical Sky Ladder, and admire the strikingly beautiful Yixiantian (the 'Ray of Sunshine').
- Teacher Zhang's Trail and Tiger Leaping Rock: The drop of the river in the middle gorge is high, especially at Mantianxing (满天星 'Sky Full of Stars'). Mantianxing gets its name as the rocks in the rapids are like stars twinkling in the sky.
- Tiger Leaping Rock is the most famous of the "stars". In the legend, the hunted tiger used it to leap across the river.
- Sky Ladder with 168 steps: It scares those afraid of heights away due to its steepness (a few degrees off vertical) and height (20 meters, about 6 floors high). The rough metal ladder is fastened to a cliff with two metal bars across for each "rung".
- This thrilling ladder offers a vertigo-inducing view at the top. People usually choose the Sky Ladder out to finish the Middle Gorge Hike. If you are afraid of heights, you'd better give it a miss.
Sky Ladder- Yixiantian (the 'Ray of Sunshine' Trail): It got its name as the river seemingly pierces through the mountains like a ray of sunshine at one point — straight with steep cliffs either side.
- Descending to the river, the Ray of Sunshine Trail passes a small cave on the way. Following the paths cut through the cliff may take your breath away.
Local folks develop and maintain the trails of the Middle Gorge, so you have to pay an entrance fee or tickets for each spot. Three trails lead to different highlights: Teacher Zhang's Trail, Sky Ladder, and the Ray of Sunshine Trail.
They are connected, so you are free to hike one of them or move back and forth between them, or trek all of them. The most popular route is Teacher Zhang's Trail in and Sky Ladder out, which offers the best experience and is time-saving.
The Lower Gorge — Not Recommended
The Jinsha River gets calm and quiet in the Lower Gorge area. Compared to the first two gorges, the scenery is plain. Few people visit it due to the featureless landscape.
Besides, the locals have abandoned the trails, and the overgrown bushes and rocks from landslides have made hiking difficult and possibly dangerous.
Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Itinerary Suggestions
Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking MapHiking is the most popular way to explore Tiger Leaping Gorge and take in its breathtaking scenery.
The hike typically takes 1 to 2 days, allowing you to choose between a leisurely one-day trek or a more immersive two-day journey, depending on your physical condition.
Recommended 2-Day Hiking Route
Hiking Along the High TrailDay 1: Naxi Family Guesthouse to Tea-Horse Guesthouse (3 hours) to Halfway Guesthouse (2 hours)
- Distance: 15 km (9 miles)
- Elevation: from 2,200 m (7,217 ft) up to 2,670 m (8,759 ft) and down to 2,300 m (7,546 ft)
- Overnight stay: Halfway Guesthouse
Naxi Family Guesthouse marks the starting point of the hike, followed by the famous 28 Bends. Afterward, you would hike through the most scenic part of the trail, stretching from Tea Horse Guesthouse to Halfway Guesthouse.
On the first day of the hike, the most challenging section is the 28 Bends. The trail there is a mix of 30% stone steps and 70% dirt paths, with a narrow width that only allows one person to pass at a time.
The main challenge lies in the elevation gain, as you ascend from 2,200 (7,217 ft) to 2,670 (8,759 ft) meters. While this could be tiring, altitude sickness is unlikely. Most people with regular exercise experience can complete this section.
The first day of hiking is primarily uphill, featuring breathtaking views of towering mountains, majestic gorges, and distant snow-capped peaks. Along the way, you'll also encounter the rich culture and traditions of the local ethnic minorities.
Day 2: Hike from Halfway Guesthouse to Tiger Leaping Gorge Rock (4-5 hours)
- Distance: 5 km (3 miles)
- Elevation: from 2,300 m (7,546 ft) to 1,900 m (6,234 ft)
On the second day, the trail mostly features flat terrain and downhill sections.
The most challenging part is the steep descent to Leaping Gorge Rock. It involves about an hour of navigating down a steep cliff, where you could view the perilous shoal known as "Starriness."
This is the narrowest part of the gorge, where a tiger could easily leap across the Jinsha River.
If you're scared of heights or have knee's problem, just give it a miss. You could finish your hike at Tina's Guesthouse.
On the second day of the hike, you would venture further into the gorge and taking in the awe-inspiring ruggedness of the canyon. You would also enjoy the roaring river, scenic waterfalls, and the surrounding natural beauty.
Recommended 1-Day Hiking Route
Hiking in the Tiger Leaping GorgeIf you'd like to enjoy the hike and its stunning views such as waterfalls, snow-capped mountains, and the rushing river without feeling too tired or spending too much time, a one-day hike could be a perfect choice. It's also thrilling and interesting.
Here is the recommended 1-day itinerary:
- Start point: Tea Horse Guesthouse
- End point: Halfway Guesthouse
- Distance: 5 km (3 miles), about 2 hours
- Elevation: remaining at 2,300 m (7,546 ft)
Why we recommend this hiking route:
1. It offers the most stunning scenery in the entire gorge.
2. It's relatively easy and not very strenuous, featuring mostly flat terrain, so it's suitable for guests with average fitness levels or even children.
Another option is to start from the 14 KM Point and finish at Tina's Guesthouse, which takes about 2-3 hours.
This route has become less popular since the Tea Horse Guesthouse section was opened. The scenery here isn't as spectacular, and the trail isn't as easygoing compared to that section.
If You Don't Want a Hike
As we mentioned before, if you prefer not to hike but still want to enjoy the scenery, you could do a short visit, going to the Upper Gorge Scenic Spot. It's about a 2-hour drive from Lijiang.
Once there, you could walk along the well-paved plank path to see the roaring Jinsha River and the famous Tiger Statue. The visit typically takes 1 to 2 hours. After your visit, you could return to Lijiang or continue on to explore Shangri-La.
Recommended Tours
- 3-Day Tiger Leaping Gorge and Stone Village Hiking Tour
- 8-Day Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La Tour
- Or contact us to make your Tiger Leaping Gorge itinerary based on your requirements.
Best Times to Visit Tiger Leaping Gorge
Comfortable weather is always beneficial to enjoying your holiday. Choose the best time that fits your schedule and interests.
September to October: 12 to 25°C (54–77°F), the "Comfortable Season"
Autumn of Tiger Leaping GorgeLijiang's autumn is the best time for a hike and a short visit to see the stunning views and roaring river.
The comfortable weather is good for hiking or a short visit to the Upper Gorge. The weather is pleasant, usually with the breeze. The river's flow will still be at a high level after the rainy season. The leaves become colorful as well, which makes the gorge more attractive. Photographers are likely to prefer fall for capturing masterpieces.
November to March: 3 to 20°C (37–68°F), Dry Season, Off Season
Snow Mountain Along the Tiger Leaping GorgeWinter is the best time to enjoy the stillness and admire the snow-capped mountains clearly. Although it's cold in this period, the benefits may be quite worthwhile. For a short visit to the Upper Gorge, you can enjoy the viewpoints with fewer people. For hikers, the trails are more peaceful.
April to May: 15 to 26°C (59–79°F), Beautiful Flowers Season
The spring months have perfect daytime temperatures for hiking and dreamy temperatures at night for sleeping.
The farming activities are busy around mid-March. Sit on a rock, look down at the blue-green fields, and see the Naxi people busy farming. The blooming flowers and flourishing forests brighten the gorge as well. Only the calls of goats might break the quiet of the mountainside trail. The rustic scenes are spirit-renewing.
June to August: 17 to 27°C (63–81°F), Rainy Season
June to August is the rainy season when hiking is not recommended.
But it is the best time to see the Upper Gorge with the fastest flow rate.
During the rainy season, landslides happen often and may make visits or hiking trails inaccessible. The local government might shut down the Gorge and block the road for safety reasons due to heavy rain.
How to Get to Tiger Leaping Gorge
Tiger Leaping Gorge is situated at the midpoint between Lijiang and Shangri-la. Here's how to reach it from both locations:
From Lijiang (2 Hours' Driving)
Tiger Leaping Gorge is about 86 km (53 miles) from Lijiang Ancient Town, which is roughly a 1½ to 2-hour drive. If you're traveling by bus, you have two main options:
- For a short visit to the Upper Gorge: Take a direct bus to the scenic area.
- For hiking: Take a bus to Hutiaoxia Town and get off at Qiaotou. From Qiaotou, you'll need to find a taxi or carpool to reach your hiking start point.
From Shangri-La (3 Hours' Driving)
Tiger Leaping Gorge is about 106 km (66 miles) from Dukezong Ancient Town, approximately a 3-hour drive.
- For hiking: Choose a bus that stops in Hutiaoxia Town. Upon arrival, hire a car to reach your hiking start point.
- For sightseeing: Take a direct bus to the scenic area.
Return buses to Lijiang or Shangri-La typically depart from Tina's Guesthouse or Teacher Zhang's Guesthouse.
Bus schedules are fixed, with 1–2 buses available in the morning. The number and timing of buses may vary by season.
Tickets are usually purchased online via WeChat, which might be challenging if you don't speak Chinese.
Private Transfer Is Recommended
Opting for a private transfer provides more flexibility, allowing you to bypass the challenges of bus travel. A private transfer can take you directly to your hiking start point and pick you up at the end of your hike, offering a hassle-free experience.
What to Pack for Hiking
Tiger Statue in Tiger Leaping Gorge- Backpack: Choose the size based on your needs. A 10L backpack is sufficient for essentials, but 20-30L is ideal for more storage.
- Clothing: Pack quick-dry clothing and a windproof jacket. Temperatures can vary significantly between morning and evening. During the hike, a T-shirt is suitable but be prepared to add layers in the early morning and evening. Strong winds and occasional showers are possible during the rainy season.
- Footwear: Wear non-slip, soft-soled sneakers or hiking shoes, as the terrain will involve rocks and dirt.
- Trekking Poles: You can buy trekking poles locally, or buy a bamboo stick at the starting point to use as hiking poles.
- Knee Braces: These are helpful for the many ascents and descents.
- Sun Protection: Bring a mask, sunglasses, and a hat to protect against strong UV rays.
- Gloves: Useful for climbing ladders.
- Food: Carry small snacks like chocolate for energy, and 1-2 bottles of water. You'll find supply points along the way to purchase drinks, water, and fruit.
- Power Bank and Charging Cables: Keep your devices charged throughout the hike.