Hiking Tiger Leaping Gorge: The Ultimate Guide to China's Top 10 Global Trek
Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the world's top 10 classic trekking routes, and the Tiger Leaping Gorge High Road trekking route attracts many trekkers. Hikers can explore the ancient Naxi villages and learn about the history of the Tea and Horse Trail with its stone paths and horse posts as they walk between the cliffs.
Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the world's top 10 classic trekking routes, and the Tiger Leaping Gorge High Road trekking route attracts many trekkers. Hikers can explore the ancient Naxi villages and learn about the history of the Tea and Horse Trail with its stone paths and horse posts as they walk between the cliffs. Let's learn more about Tiger Leaping Gorge:
Location of Tiger Leaping Gorge:
Tiger Leaping Gorge is located in Tiger Leaping Gorge Town, Shangri-La City, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China, situated in the Jinsha River section between the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and the Haba Snow Mountain, between Longbang Township, Yulong County, Lijiang City and Tiger Leaping Gorge Town, Shangri-La City, Diqing Prefecture. In the canyon section can be divided into three sections: Upper Tiger Leaping, Middle Tiger Leaping and Lower Tiger Leaping, and the scenery and characteristics of each section are different:
Upper Tiger Leaping: it is the narrowest section in the whole canyon, and the river is only about 20 metres wide. There is a huge stone in the centre of the river, called the Tiger Jumping Stone, and it is said that a tiger once jumped to the other side of the river by virtue of this stone, hence the name of Tiger Leaping Gorge.
Middle Tiger Leaping: The river falls more than 100 metres in a 5 km section, forming 18 dangerous beaches, attracting tourists with the temperament of ‘both danger and poetry’.
Lower Tiger Leaping: the river slows down, and the primitive forests and Naxi villages reflect the poetic scenery.
Snow mountain confrontation: on both sides of the gorge, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain confront each other across the river, covered with snow all year round, together with the rushing Jinsha River, giving tourists a beautiful landscape painting.
Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Route
2 Days 1 Night Complete Route: Naxi Accord → 28 Turns → Tea Horse Inn → HalfWay (nearby lodging) → Waterfalls → Forks → Tina's Guest House → A Line of Sky → Middle Tiger Leaping → Ladder of the Brave → Guest House.
2 Days 1 Night Medium Intensity Route (recommended for beginners): Chama Inn→Halfway→Waterfall→Fork in the road→Tina's Guest House (nearby lodging)→Line of Sky→Zhonghu Jump→Yongzhi Staircase→Guzhi Staircase→Guzhi Guest House.
The following is an introduction to some of the main attractions that occur during the Tiger Leaping Gorge trekking route:
Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge section:
Naxi Yaguo: the village encountered shortly after the start of the hike, where you can see the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain revealing its beautiful profile, with an inn for rest and supplies.
28 turns: out of the Naxi Accord after a section of the ‘zigzag’ shape of the steep slopes, along the way you can enjoy the beauty of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, climbed to the highest point can clearly see the canyon on the other side of the Jade Dragon thirteen peaks of the true face, but it is a test of physical strength and endurance.
Tea Horse Inn: there is a viewing terrace, you can look up at the snowy mountains, good luck can also see the sunshine gold mountain, is a rest point on the way.
Cliff Trail: a section of the trail that hangs halfway up the cliff face, Haba Mountain becomes steeper and the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain starts to face the hikers directly, giving a sense of oppression, there are also graffiti and English signs along the way.
Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge section:
Halfway (Midway Inn): Located in Local Bay Village, this is the core part of the trekking route, with such Netflix hit points as ‘The First Toilet in the World’ and ‘Cool Balcony’. Standing on the balcony, you can overlook the raging waves of the Jinsha River and the towering Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and in the early morning, you may also meet the rolling sea of clouds.
Guanyin Waterfall / Longdongshui Waterfall: The water cascades down from a high place, and under the sunlight, a gorgeous rainbow can often be seen in the water mist.
Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge: The best part of Tiger Leaping Gorge. The thrill of it needs to be experienced by tourists themselves.
A Line of Sky: It is a narrow canyon passage with high cliffs on both sides, and you can only see a line of sky when you look up, which is very dangerous.
Lower Tiger Leaping Gorge Section
Walnut Orchard Village: Here the gorge gradually opens up and you can feel that you are about to leave the gorge.
Lower Tiger Leaping: The opposite of Upper Tiger Leaping and Middle Tiger Leaping, the Haba and Yulong Snow Mountains slow down, and the Jinsha River is smooth again here.
New Ferry: A ferry crossing along the riverside path, where you can take a boat across the river to Lijiang Daguo Township, a place near the end of the Tiger Leaping Gorge hiking route.
Tiger Leaping Gorge hiking suggestions:
Pre-preparation
Documents: carry valid documents such as ID card to facilitate ticket purchase and accommodation registration.
Clothing: Prepare punching clothes, quick-drying clothes, hiking trousers and so on.
Equipment: high-top waterproof and non-slip hiking shoes; hiking socks can relieve the friction between the feet and shoes; hiking poles can reduce the pressure on the legs; in addition, you need to prepare hiking packs, sun hats, gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen and so on.
Items: Carry mobile phones and mobile power for easy contact and navigation; prepare some lightweight food that can quickly replenish energy.
Medicines: Prepare cold medicine, anti-inflammatory medicine, gastrointestinal medicine, motion sickness medicine, anti-mosquito and insect bite medicine, and medicine used to deal with bruises, such as band-aid, Yunnan Baiyao aerosol.
Precautions for Hiking
Safety: The rainy season of Tiger Leaping Gorge is concentrated in July and August, which is prone to rockfalls, landslides and other dangers, so try to avoid travelling during the rainy season. Pay attention to the road conditions during the hiking, be careful of falling rocks, and don't stay too long when passing through dangerous sections.
Physical condition: Prepare your body well in advance and take appropriate exercise to enhance your physical fitness. When hiking, control the speed, keep the rhythm, avoid excessive fatigue, take a rest at the right time, and replenish water and energy.
Environmental protection: Respect local customs and ecological environment, do not destroy vegetation, do not litter, and keep the environment tidy.
Conclusion:
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