Our ultimate Tiger Leaping Gorge trekking guide inwards China’s Yunnan province, in addition to all the data you lot would e'er need!
Vertical cliffs rising dramatically from the turquoise waterway to the glaciated peak of Snow Dragon Snow Mountain.
The Jinsha River, a tributary of the legendary Yangtze River, meanders its agency through terraced farmlands in addition to imposing limestone ridges, creating i of the most stunning backdrops to live on institute anywhere inwards China.
For years intrepid travellers take away hold been making the voyage to the little town of Qiaotao to accept purpose inwards the captivating hike that traverses the high hills of Tiger Leaping Gorge.
It is a worthwhile trek, in addition to something that nosotros stoked nosotros completed during our fourth dimension inwards China. We had heard varying tips close the trek in addition to how many days to stretch it out over. In the destination nosotros opted to produce the trek over 3 days (well, 2.5 to live on exact) in addition to institute the agency nosotros did things to live on simply close perfect for us.
Rather than write close how incredible Tiger Leaping Gorge is in addition to how the sights, smells, sounds in addition to tastes are, nosotros take away hold lay together this guide hence you lot tin honor out for yourself.
General Information On Tiger Leaping Gorge
The Gorge runs for close 15km inwards length in addition to at his highest betoken has a maximum depth of 3790m.
The people that alive inwards the part are primarily of the Naxi (or Nashi) ethnic minority group, who tin entirely live on institute inwards this particular expanse close the base of operations of the Himalaya.
The legend of how Tiger Leaping Gorge got its advert is illustrated in addition to fascinating.
Apparently a hunter was chasing a tiger through the gorge many years ago. When it reached the narrowest betoken the tiger leapt across the Jinsha River, escaping the furious hunter. The stone where the tiger made its outflow is instantly an iconic viewing point.
The Gorge was officially opened inwards 1993 to unusual tourists in addition to is instantly i of the most pop opportunity destinations inwards Yunnan.
Getting To Tiger Leaping Gorge
The town that serves equally the starting betoken for the Tiger Leaping Gorge trek is Qiaotao (桥头) – a dusty hamlet amongst non much going on for it likewise its proximity to the Gorge.
While some tour companies inwards Lijiang produce offering twenty-four hours trips in addition to packaged deals, nosotros recommend simply getting to Qiaotao yourself. It is inexpensive in addition to pretty easy.
Getting To Qiaotao From Lijiang
Make your agency to the charabanc station on the due south side of Lijiang yesteryear catching the lay out thirteen world bus. We recommend buying your ticket the twenty-four hours earlier to ensure you lot larn a seat. The charabanc leaves at 8.30am in addition to they charged us 24RMB per ticket.
Make certain you lot order the ticket lady in addition to the driver you lot are going to Qiaotao, in addition to non Tiger Leaping Gorge, otherwise you lot volition destination upward going yesteryear the trail head.
Getting To Qiaotao From Shangri La
If you lot are making the mission to Tiger Leaping Gorge from Shangri La, you lot tin outflow on whatever long-distance charabanc that is going to Lijiang, Dali or Kunming. Cost should live on roughly 30RMB.
Visiting The Upper Gorge
If you lot larn dropped off inwards the town of Qiaotao, you lot are correct close the starting betoken for the Upper Trail. When you lot larn inwards town the driver volition halt off at the ticket booth, where you lot volition live on charged 65RMB for entrance to Tiger Leaping Gorge.
This is valid throughout the duration of your remain inwards the area. It is possible to avoid this fee if you lot become far early on inwards the morn or belatedly afternoon.
Another choice would live on to larn dropped off earlier town in addition to and hence walk roughly the master copy street. But inwards our opinion, the fee is really reasonable for what you lot larn (especially compared to the rest of China’s outrageously overpriced attractions).
One thing non to immature adult woman is the upper department of the Tiger Leaping Gorge. Located close 4km from town along the river road, the Upper Gorge has a serial of boardwalks that Pb you lot correct downwards to the mighty Jinsha River. The see you lot larn hither is good worth the extra journey.
Your ticket includes entrance to this area, hence you lot may equally good exercise it. We hitchhiked from town to the Upper Gorge in addition to dorsum amongst minimal fuss. There are also taxis that volition happily accept you lot there.
Leaving Your Luggage And Finding The Trail Head
If you lot take away hold a large backpack that you lot don’t desire to accept on the trek amongst you, Jane’s Guest House volition happily shop it for the one-off cost of 5RMB, no affair how long for.
The invitee solid is close 100m yesteryear the ticket booth inwards the town of Qiaotao, in addition to is a swell house to remain either earlier or after the trek.
For the start of the Upper Trail, proceed walking downwards the colina yesteryear Jane’s Guest House yesteryear a large school. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 fleck farther on, you lot volition run across a route leading uphill to your left in addition to a sign saying, “Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking High Way Thus Into”.
Continue upward that route (don’t plough off it) for close 45 minutes in addition to you lot volition run across a trail heading upward a steep colina amongst some other sign. There is the start of the Upper Trail.
How Many Days To Complete The Trek?
Some people produce it inwards 1.5 days, others take away hold done it inwards i long day. If you lot are brusk on time, in addition to hence this amount of fourth dimension mightiness live on your entirely option.
But if you lot actually desire to accept your fourth dimension in addition to appreciate every minute of the trek, nosotros recommend doing it over 3 days – peculiarly if you lot desire to cheque out the Upper Gorge in addition to Walnut Grove at the destination of your Tiger Leaping Gorge trek.
There is also a lower trail which follows the other side of the river. This is NOT the trek you lot are looking for, although the views are meant to live on quite overnice equally well.
Our Itinerary
We chose to produce the trek over 3 days in addition to 2 nights, which inwards our sentiment was a perfect amount of time.
Day 1
After arriving inwards Qiaotao at close 10.30am in addition to dropping our large backpacks off at Jane’s Guest House, nosotros hitchhiked downwards to the Upper Gorge in addition to spent simply over an hr walking roughly that beautiful stretch of the area.
By the fourth dimension nosotros hitchhiked dorsum to the trail caput in addition to were railroad train to start out our hike, it was close 1pm. When you lot plough off of the route in addition to onto the proper trail, the hiking is quite steep. We institute this firstly department to live on the toughest of the whole trek.
There were a twain of men waiting amongst horses who offered us rides to the plough over for a fee. We simply smiled, said “no give cheers you” in addition to kept on walking. They didn’t follow us. However inwards peak flavour nosotros take away hold heard they are quite persistent.
After photos in addition to stopping for breaks, it was close 3.30pm when nosotros showed upward to Naxi Family Guest House. There was a tempest rolling in, hence nosotros decided to telephone outcry upward it a twenty-four hours here.
We are glad nosotros did, because the really side yesteryear side department after Naxi Family Guest House was the infamous 28 Bends – steep, climbing switchbacks that take away hold incredible views, but seem to become on forever.
The atmosphere in addition to views at Naxi Family Guest House were amazing, in addition to nosotros are happy that nosotros did halt there. The solid unit of measurement is friendly in addition to the nutrient is decent in addition to reasonably priced. No English linguistic communication was actually spoken.
Naxi Family Guest House Prices
- Twin room amongst shared bathroom: 60RMB (30 per person)
- Standard double room amongst individual bathroom: 100RMB
- Deluxe double room amongst individual bath (and mount view): 120RMB
We felt the twin room amongst shared bath was to a greater extent than than adequate. The shared bathrooms are really basic, but had hot water.
A homo waiting amongst his Equus caballus to accept you lot upward the mountain, should you lot live on too tired to tackle the hills on your own.
Day 2
After stocking upward on a huge vegetable fried rice meal, nosotros laid off at close 8am in addition to tackled the 28 Bends total of energy. In hindsight, this was a swell thought equally it meant nosotros weren’t that exhausted when nosotros got to the top. In our opinion, the get-go of twenty-four hours 1 was tougher than the 28 Bends anyway.
We stopped for a quick tiffin at the Halfway Lodge. Sitting on the plough over deck overlooking the towering snow-capped mountains was breathtaking – in addition to non simply because of the altitude. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 basic fried noodle dish amongst vegetables was 15RMB.
Don’t immature adult woman out on their ‘Toilet With Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 View’, fifty-fifty if you lot don’t take away hold to exercise it. The Halfway Lodge claims their lavatories take away hold the best vistas of whatever other latrine inwards the world. Having tested the claim ourselves, it would live on difficult to dispute.
The residuum of the trek after Halfway Lodge is pretty spectacular, in addition to non equally tiring equally the firstly purpose of the day. The path narrowed correct downwards to some slightly sketchy in addition to rocky surfaces amongst tumbling cliffs on i side, but nada too dangerous.
We hitting the master copy route at close 3pm, in addition to booked our charabanc ticket to Shangri La from Tina’s Guest House for 3.30pm the side yesteryear side twenty-four hours for 55RMB. (NOTE – you lot tin also purchase this from Halfway Inn in addition to pick it upward at Tina’s, if you lot excogitation on leaving that same afternoon.)
They also take away hold tickets to Lijiang. We felt that Tina’s didn’t take away hold much of a overnice vibe, hence nosotros were happy to motility on spell the daylight hours were nonetheless ahead of us.
We followed the route for close 45 minutes, taking inwards the sensational vistas, until nosotros got to the Tibet Guest House inwards Walnut Grove. This house was lovely, amongst an affable Tibetan solid unit of measurement running the place. We had heard rumours that the nutrient at the Tibet Guest House was the best inwards all of Tiger Leaping Gorge. Well, nosotros weren’t disappointed.
Along amongst comfortable rooms, construct clean shared bathrooms, a cosy atmosphere in addition to wifi, this house was a winner for us. Also inwards this expanse is Sean’s Guest House in addition to Chateau De Woody. Sean’s seemed to take away hold quite a lively ambiance in addition to would live on the house to take away hold a few beers, if you lot felt similar it.
Tibet Guest House Prices
- Twin room amongst shared bathroom: 60RMB (30 per person)
- Private room amongst individual bathroom: 120-150RMB
- Book your accommodation at Tibet Guest House on Hostelworld earlier become far to avoid missing out.
Day 3
As our charabanc to Shangri La wasn’t until mid-afternoon, nosotros took our fourth dimension inwards the morn in addition to went for a walk to lookout adult man the sunrise over Tiger Leaping Gorge. We had a relaxed breakfast in addition to laid off to explore Walnut Grove at close 11am.
To larn to the trail nosotros walked farther along the route to Woody’s in addition to followed the paved route down.
At i betoken the trail veers off inwards dissimilar directions, but follow the yellowish in addition to ruby arrows pointing the reverse management (to Sean’s in addition to Woody’s) in addition to you lot volition live on fine.
Walnut Grove is stunning in addition to should non live on missed. Eventually you lot larn to a betoken where a lady asks for coin to proceed onto the ‘Ray Of Sunshine’ trail. This is supposedly for ‘maintenance’ of the trail.
It was entirely 10RMB, hence nosotros happily paid in addition to kept walking along the incredible stretch of pathway.
Eventually nosotros got to some other betoken where some other lady asked for 15RMB to exercise her ladder. We said nosotros had already paid the terminal lady, showed her a receipt in addition to said nosotros didn’t desire to exercise her ladder to operate out – instead nosotros wanted to maintain walking along the river.
She became aggressive, yelled at us to plough roughly in addition to and hence tried slamming a gate inwards our faces. In reply to her aggressiveness, nosotros simply pushed through the gate in addition to continued on.
From in addition to hence on, simply close every purpose requires some sort of ‘maintenance’ fee. Bridges, ladders, access to a viewing stone, everything. For i viewing stone nosotros simply didn’t exercise the bridge, instead walking along the natural stones.
They weren’t happy close this, but nosotros weren’t happy close existence hassled every stride of the agency for fees on plough over of the original entrance fee nosotros had paid.
If nosotros forked over coin every fourth dimension nosotros were asked, it would take away hold come upward to to a greater extent than than the initial 65RMB. We had also been told that the people call for for coin were non legitimate, in addition to instead are simply taking wages of the thousands of Chinese tourists who happily mitt over whatever amount of coin asked of them.
It is upward to you lot whether you lot desire to believe that claim in addition to pay the fees or not.
You tin proceed walking along the trail in addition to it volition eventually Pb dorsum to the road. We decided to climb upward a serial of ‘sky ladders’ to larn to Tina’s. 168 steep, sometimes vertical, but sturdy rungs volition accept you lot to a greater extent than or less out of Tiger Leaping Gorge.
(10RMB fee to live on paid at the top…surprise surprise…)
We made it to Tina’s at close 1.30pm in addition to relaxed amongst a beer inwards mitt to celebrate finishing the trek.
August 2016 Update: The “Extra Fees” In Tiger Leaping Gorge
One of our wonderful readers Mike has got inwards comport on amongst some updates close the province of affairs on Tiger Leaping gorge equally of August 2016.
Here are his words:
I late hiked Tiger Leaping Gorge in addition to at that topographic point take away hold been some major (good) changes to the Ray of Sunshine trail.
Essentially, the touts you lot complain close on the weblog take away hold consolidated their efforts into 2 stations in addition to nobody bothers you lot for coin on the trail:
* i is at the entrance for 10 RMB – this gets you lot downwards the trail in addition to to the river
* the other is simply earlier you lot larn inwards the span in addition to Sky Ladder territory in addition to costs xv RMB
There are large signs at both stations explaining – inwards Chinese in addition to English linguistic communication – that the trail charges a fee because is maintained yesteryear the locals:
The Sky Ladder was built yesteryear the folks who run Sandy’s Guesthouse at the plough over (free admission to that department if you lot remain at Sandy’s), equally was the span that goes out to the large stone that the mythical tiger used when leaping across the gorge.
The span also has a 10 RMB fee if you lot desire to exercise it, hence it’s a grand total of 35 RMB ($5) for everything on the trail.
The “refreshments” available en route are sold yesteryear former dudes who I approximate mightiness take away hold in i trial spent their days bothering hikers for money, but instantly sell fruit, H2O in addition to cannabis at entirely slightly-inflated prices.
It was a much ameliorate sense than I expected after reading close your trip downwards the Ray of Sunshine trail in addition to a perfect ending to the amazing 3 days nosotros spent hiking the gorge.
Also, the charabanc instantly drops hikers off straight at the trail caput instead of having you lot walk upward the side of the highway for 45 min.
Other Tips For Tiger Leaping Gorge
- Bring snacks amongst you lot if you lot tend to larn hungry during treks. We took some dried fruits in addition to nuts bought from a supermarket inwards Lijiang, in addition to this was plenty for us. Food tin live on bought at all the invitee houses along the route.
- Have at to the lowest degree 2 litres of H2O amongst you lot at all times. More is recommended. Again, you lot purchase H2O at all the invitee houses (5-10RMB per bottle). We ship a SteriPen, which allows us to sterilise tap in addition to creek water, simply to live on safe.
- Make certain you lot take away hold moisture conditions gear, equally it tin modify really apace inwards Tiger Leaping Gorge.
- If trekking inwards wintertime (October to March), the temperature can, in addition to will, plummet. Wear layers in addition to gloves.
- It is almost impossible to larn lost along the way. Red in addition to yellowish arrows pointing to diverse invitee houses are painted on stones periodically along the trail, equally good equally blueish sign posts.
- We met a guy on the trail who hitchhiked from Tina’s amongst no problem. This is some other choice if you lot don’t desire to pay for the bus.
- If you lot produce accept the charabanc from Tina’s, they volition halt at Jane’s Guest House hence you lot tin grab your other backpack.
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