Tiger Leaping Gorge

 

Facts to Know about Tiger Leaping Gorge

Chinese Name: 虎跳峡 Pronunciation: hǔ tiào xiá

Admission Ticket Fare: 65 yuan

Suggested Visiting Hours: 2-3 Hours for sightseeing; 2 Days for hiking

Address: Shangrila City, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan, China

Best Travel Season: Autumn and Spring are best seasons for hiking. That is from mid-March to late June and from mid-September to mid-December. The other seasons are mostly rainy and windy.

 

Ticket Free of Charge Policy

Children under 6 years old (including 6 years old) or height below 1.2 meters are free of charge;
Senior citizens over 70 years old (with ID card) are free of charge;
Soldiers in active service and retired cadres in the army are free of charge (with officer certificate).
*The above policy is only applicable to admission fee.

 

Opening Time

Peak Season Low Season
07:30 – 16:30 (April to October) 08:00 - 16:00 (November to March of the next year)


 

Overview of Tiger Leaping Gorge

Tiger Leaping Gorge,Tiger Leaping Gorge
Tiger Leaping Gorge

Tiger Leaping Gorge is famous for its adventure and grandeur in the world. It is 15 kilometers long, with a height difference of more than 3,000 meters from the bottom of the valley to the top of the mountain. It is more than 1,500 meters deeper than the Colorado Grand Canyon in the United States, making it the deepest Grand Canyon in the world.
 

The list of the most beautiful places in China was released in Beijing on October 23, 2005. The top 10 most beautiful Grand Canyons in China are Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon, Tiger Leaping Gorge on the Jinsha River, Three Gorges on the Yangtze River, Nu River Grand Canyon, Lancang River Grand Canyon, Taroko Grand Canyon, Yellow River Jinshan Grand Canyon, Dadu River Jinkou Grand Canyon, Taihang Mountain Grand Canyon, and Kuche Grand Canyon on the Tianshan Mountain.


The valley is a part of the UNESCO natural preservation area, which is called the Three Parallel Rivers World Heritage Site, and it is also a part of China’s Three Parallel Rivers National Park. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain on the south bank of the canyon is 5,596 meters above sea level, and Haba Snow Mountain on the north bank is 5,396 meters above sea level.

 

There is such an interesting legend in the local area: Jade Dragon and Haba were two brothers. In order to prevent their sister Jinsha from leaving, they took turns on duty. Haba was on duty that day. He was lost in his sister's song and fell asleep unconsciously. When he woke up, he found that his sister Jinsha had been several miles to the East. Haba was too ashamed to lift his head, so today you can see the Haba Snow Mountain "hiding its head".
 

In addition to its natural beauty, Tiger Leaping Gorge is also a world-famous hiking resort. The Tiger Leaping Gorge hiking trail is one of the top ten classic entry-level hiking trails in the world, and the outdoor enthusiasts are coming here. It is mainly composed of two parts: the high road hiking line and the Tiger Leaping Gorge hiking line.
 

The Beautiful Scenery,Tiger Leaping Gorge
The Beautiful Scenery

Tiger Leaping Gorge is divided into three segments: Upper Gorge, Middle Gorge and Lower Gorge.
 

The Upper Gorge is the narrowest part of the canyon, which is 9 kilometers away from the Tiger Leaping Gorge Town. There is a huge stone lying in the middle of the river, which separates the torrent into two parts. Legend has it that there was a tiger by the heart of the river, and the tiger jumped from the side of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain to the side of Haba Snow Mountain, so the stone was named as tiger jumping stone.
 

The Middle Gorge is 5 kilometers away from the Upper Gorge, and there are the most dangerous reef areas. In this section, the reef stands bristling; the current is swift, and the waves thunder upon the shore.
 

After passing the most dangerous place in the Middle Gorge, it is the Lower Gorge. There is a huge gully near the exit of the Tiger Leaping Gorge. It is the best place to enjoy the Tiger Leaping Gorge.

 

Tiger Leaping Gorge Sights You Should Not Miss

The Lijiang Tiger Leaping Gorge Scenic Spot

The Lijiang Gorge , Tiger Leaping Gorge
The Lijiang Gorge

The Tiger Leaping Gorge scenic spot in Lijiang has a sightseeing plank road about 2 kilometers long on the wall of the tiger leaping cliff, which is suitable for the old and young families to travel. There are two viewing platforms in the scenic spot, where we can watch the tiger jumping stones of the river beating the heart of the river. Unlike Tiger Leaping Gorge in Shangri-La, which is full of wild attractions, and it has complete facilities and smooth walkways.

 

Qiaotou Town

Qiantou Town , Tiger Leaping Gorge
Qiantou Town

From the west of Lijiang city to 214 National Highway, then go along the National Highway all the way north. After that, you will find that there is Jinsha River Bridge. Crossing the Jinsha River Bridge, you can reach the destination – Qiaotou town by traveling more than 10 kilometers north from the Zhongdian county side. The total distance is 99 kilometers. Qiaotou town is also 96 kilometers south of Zhongdian County. Qiaotou town is also called "Tiger Leaping Gorge town". Qiaotou is a town facing the river in the east. There is a river in the east of the town named Chongjiang because it flows into the Jinsha River.
 

The Upper Gorge

The Upper Gorge , Tiger Leaping Gorge
The Upper Gorge

The upper part of the Tiger Leaping Gorge is also the narrowest part of the Whole Gorge. The side of the gorge is steep and almost a cliff. The Upper Gorge has a plank road from the side of the road to the river. It is 9 kilometers away from the highway of the Tiger Leaping Town. There is a huge stone lying in the middle of river, which divides the torrent into two and causes the waves to shook the sky. Legend has it that a tiger, with the help of this huge stone, jumped from the side of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain to the side of Haba Snow Mountain, so the stone was named Tiger Jumping Stone.
 

Daju Town

 Daju Town,Tiger Leaping Gorge
Daju Town

Daju is an ancient Naxi market town. There is a square in the south of the town. The east of the square is the "Tiger Leaping Gorge Hotel" and "Jinshajiang Hotel". The north of the square is the commissariat department store and guest house. The west of the Square is the very flavor "Qi Xia restaurant". The south of the square is a row of small department stores and recreation rooms.

Walnut Grove

Walnut Grove is a small village located between the Middle Gorge and Lower Gorge, where the original village is full of walnut trees, and that’s why it has been called Walnut Grove. The tourists who cross the gorge on foot in the morning, whether by gravel road or Haba Mountain trail, can arrive here in the afternoon for dinner and a night, so the Walnut Grove becomes a special scene of Tiger Leaping Gorge. Here you will hear the legend of the Canyon Inn as you drift into dreams.

The Lower Gorge,Tiger Leaping Gorge
The Lower Gorge


The Lower Gorge

Looking at The Lower Gorge, you will have two impressions: one is very wide, the other is very quiet. Here, the best way to appreciate the beautiful scenery is to shout loudly into the deep gorge. You can clearly hear your own voice lingering between the snow-capped peaks and the river. It is a wonderful enjoyment.

 

Recommended Travel Route

Tiger Leaping Gorge hiking has long been very popular among foreign tourists, but it has also become popular among a growing number of domestic tourists in recent years. The details of the trek are listed below for your reference only.
 

Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking

The Hiking Route,Tiger Leaping Gorge
The Hiking Route

On the first day, you can take a bus to Qiaotou town and walk along a road sign. The first stop is Naxi Yager. After passing 24 turns, you can come to Tea Horse Inn to have a rest and sleep in the Halfway Guesthouse at night. The next day you can start at the Halfway House, and go to the Middle Gorge and then arrive at the Walnut Grove. You will see many waterfalls along the way. Then you need to take a boat across the river to Daju town and from there back to Shangri-La or Lijiang.


One of the first things to do is asking Old Market Inn for some recent hiking news, especially about transportation. It is difficult to start from the Qiaotou town or from the Daju town. Although it is more convenient to walk back to Lijiang after the Qiaotou town, you need to consider that even if you have to wait for a day or two for a ride back to Lijiang in Daju town, it will be better than staying in some other places for a day or two.

 

With luck, you can finish the hike in two days. Head north from the China Hotel at the Qiaotou, cross the bridge and turn right, and you are on the road of Tiger Leaping Gorge. After six to eight hours of walking, you will reach the town of Walnut Grove. Walking during the rainy season in July and August can be dangerous, with landslides and cascading waterfalls blocking your path. It is better to ask the local residents about the situation.
 

Turbulent Water,Tiger Leaping Gorge
Turbulent Water

There are two guest houses in the Walnut Grove. The Spring Guesthouse at Seans Cafe is a more accessible guest house, while a guest house at Chateaude Woody is a quieter option. Both hotels have low-priced beds. Food and beer are available, and bottled water is occasionally provided, but it's best to bring your own.
 

The next day's trip is a bit shorter, about four to six hours. After two or three hours' walk that you'll see a patch that's almost on the opposite side of the ground. Here the road divides into two, and be careful of the steep path which leads to a village. From there, there is a road to the ferry crossing.
 

From where the ferry is located, it was a relatively clear way to the south to Daju town. The Tiger Leaping Gorge hotel is a prime tourist residence. When you go south, it's on your left, about 600 meters from the department stores. The food is delicious and the hotel is worth staying here for at least a day. The nearby Snow Hotel also has cleaner rooms.

 

Ways to Get to Tiger Leaping Gorge

By Bus

Lijiang Bus Station:
Take a bus at the Lijiang bus station and get off at the Tiger Leaping Gorge town, and it will take about 1.5 hours.

Shangri-La Passenger Station:
Take a bus at the Shangri-La Passenger station and get off at the Tiger Leaping Gorge, and it will take about 1/2 hours.

 

By Taxi

Chinese: 请带我去虎跳峡。English: Please take me to the Tiger Leaping Gorge.

If you go to the Tiger Leaping Gorge by taxi from the Shangri-La Airport, it takes about 2 hours(around 433 yuan).

If you go to the Tiger Leaping Gorge by taxi from the Shangri-La Passenger Station, it takes about 2.5 hours(around 453 yuan).

If you go to the Tiger Leaping Gorge by taxi from the Lijiang Bus Station, it takes about 1.5 hours(around 248 yuan).

The Valley, Tiger Leaping Gorge
The Valley

Question & Answer
0 Question
Empty Question
More questions & answers
Ask a question

Items with * are required fields

Can’t find what you’re looking for?
facebook
twitter
pinterest
mail
Enquiry
Share
China Travel, Best Guide and Tips from Travel Exper