Tiger Leaping Gorge 虎跳峡
One of the deepest river canyons on Earth — 16 kilometers long, with the Jinsha River thundering 2,000 meters below a cliff-edge hiking trail that is widely considered China's best trek. The gorge is squeezed between Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain, and legend says a tiger once leapt across it in a single bound.
Region
Northwest Yunnan / Jinsha River
Altitude
2500m
Best Time
March to May, September to November
Climate
Cool mountain canyon, 10-25°C, dry winters
Tiger Leaping Gorge (虎跳峡) is where the Jinsha River — the upper Yangtze — forces its way through a 16-kilometer canyon between two giants: Haba Snow Mountain (5,396m) and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (5,596m). In places the gorge narrows to just 30 meters wide, and the river drops so violently that 30 cubic meters of water thunder through every second. It is one of the world's deepest river canyons, with the riverbed lying up to 3,900 meters below the peaks above. The main event is the High Trail (高路徒步线), a 22-kilometer cliff-hugging footpath running along the northern side of the gorge between Qiaotou and Tina's Guesthouse. It is almost always hiked in two days, with an overnight at the famous Halfway Guest House, where the terrace beer-garden view over the canyon is worth the entire climb. The trail offers the full Chinese countryside experience: farmhouses, apple orchards, terraced fields, and viewpoints where the roaring river seems close enough to touch. A steeper 28-bend climb brings you to the 28 Bends — the hardest part of the trek, and the moment the scale of the canyon finally hits you. Below, the Lower Trail (中虎跳) descends to the river itself: a heart-pumping staircase of 1,700 steps down to Tiger Leaping Stone, the boulder where legend says a tiger crossed the river in a single leap. Many hikers do the High Trail and skip the descent; our advice is to save energy for it — standing on that rock with the gorge walls towering overhead is the moment that defines the whole trek. The gorge is best from March to May and September to November, when skies are clear and the trail is dry.
At a Glance: Should You Go?
A 30-second read to decide if Tiger Leaping Gorge fits your trip — and how to plan it.
Minimum Time
2 days (the classic trek); 1 long day if you're fit
Physical Demand
Challenging — 28 Bends climb at 2,600m, steep descents, uneven trail
Daily Budget
CNY 200-400 per person/day (trail costs are low)
Best For
Hikers, fit travelers, anyone who wants China's best trek without permits
Not For
Anyone with knee problems, vertigo, or no hiking experience — the descents punish knees and the drops are sheer
Best Season
March to May, September to November
Plan Your Time in Tiger Leaping Gorge
Three ways to do it — pick the one that fits your schedule, then follow the steps.
- 1 8 AM: start from Qiaotou after leaving your bag at Jane's Guest House
- 2 10:30 AM: conquer the 28 Bends (2h — the hardest stretch)
- 3 12 PM: lunch at a trailside farmhouse
- 4 1:30 PM: continue to the Halfway terrace for the view and a beer
- 5 4 PM: push to Tina's if you're fast, or turn back at a comfortable point
- 6 6 PM: bus from Tina's back to Lijiang (CNY 40)
- 1 Day 1: 8 AM from Qiaotou — 28 Bends by 10:30, lunch on trail, reach Halfway by 4 PM, terrace sunset beer
- 2 Day 2: 8 AM continue to Tina's (3-4h), drop bags, descend 1,700 steps to Tiger Leaping Stone, return, bus to Lijiang by 5 PM
- 1 Days 1-2: the classic trek
- 2 Day 3: bonus — Haba Snow Mountain base hike, the Upper Gorge viewpoint, or rest in Lijiang before continuing north
Estimate Your Tiger Leaping Gorge Budget
Per-person daily costs we recorded on the ground in 2026 — accommodation, food, local transport, and one paid sight per day. Drag to plan; everything runs in your browser.
Minimum recommended: 2 days (the classic trek); 1 long day if you're fit
Everyone sharing the trip
Travel Style
Budget = dorms & street food · Mid = guesthouses & local restaurants · Comfort = boutique hotels & nice dinners
Estimated trip total (accommodation + food + transport + one sight per day)
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From our travels in Tiger Leaping Gorge
"We woke at Halfway Guest House at 5:50 AM without an alarm — the sunrise over Jade Dragon Snow Mountain does that to you. Beer from the night before still in hand, we watched the Jinsha River catch fire 2,000 meters below while the canyon's shadow retreated. The 28 Bends nearly broke us the day before — two hours of switchbacks at 2,600 meters — but standing on that terrace, with Haba and Jade Dragon facing each other across the gorge, we understood why hikers call this the finest trek in China. The descent to Tiger Leaping Stone was the exclamation point: 1,700 steps down, and the river's roar so loud you feel it in your chest."
Top Attractions
Things to Do
Insider Tips for Tiger Leaping Gorge
Things we wish someone had told us before visiting Tiger Leaping Gorge.
Start the trek from Qiaotou early (by 8 AM) — the 28 Bends are best climbed in morning cool, and you'll reach Halfway by late afternoon
Entrance fee is CNY 45 (plus CNY 2 for the 'Tiger Leaping Stone' pass) — paid at the gorge ticket office; keep the stub, you'll be asked for it along the trail
You can leave your main backpack at Jane's Guest House in Qiaotou and collect it at the other end — hike light, send bags ahead
The trail is doable in one long day (8-9 hours) for fit hikers, but two days is the classic way — the Halfway terrace sunset is worth the overnight
Carry at least 2 liters of water and cash — the trailside farm shops take only cash
Go on a weekday. Weekends bring day-trippers to the viewpoints below, and the trail guesthouses book out
What to Skip & Watch Out For
The honest side of Tiger Leaping Gorge — the crowds, the tourist traps, and the mistakes we see first-timers make.
Rainy-season rockfalls
July-August rains loosen the cliffs — the Lower Gorge walkway to Tiger Leaping Stone sometimes closes and the High Trail turns slippery. Check trail conditions at Jane's before setting out.
The split ticket
The CNY 45 entrance covers the gorge; the walk down to Tiger Leaping Stone costs an extra CNY 2 pass. Keep both stubs — you'll be checked along the trail.
Weekend day-trippers
Tour buses arrive from Qiaotou from 10 AM and the viewpoints fill with selfie sticks. Start by 8 AM or hike on a weekday.
How to Get to Tiger Leaping Gorge
Fly or take the high-speed train to Lijiang (3.5h from Kunming), then bus or private car 2h to Qiaotou — the gorge's trailhead. The gorge sits on the Lijiang-Shangri-La road, so it also works as a stop on the way north.
By Train
No station at the gorge itself. The nearest rail access is Lijiang Station (2h by road) or Shangri-La Station (1.5h). Most hikers connect by bus or car from Lijiang.
By Bus
From Lijiang Bus Station, minibuses to Qiaotou run through the morning (CNY 25-35, 2h). Alternatively, any Lijiang-Shangri-La bus can drop you at Qiaotou. Returning, buses from the trail end at Tina's back to Lijiang cost CNY 40.
By Flight
Fly into Lijiang Sanyi Airport (LJG) — daily flights from Kunming (1h) and major cities. From the airport, a private car to Qiaotou is about CNY 400; the bus via Lijiang city is far cheaper.
Places We Recommend by Name
Real names, real prices — cross-checked with local listings and our own stays in 2026. These are the places we'd send a friend.
Where to Eat & Drink
Halfway Guest House kitchen (虎跳峡中途客栈)
CNY 40-60/personThe terrace dining room has the best restaurant view in China — handmade noodles, stir-fried mountain vegetables, and cold beer while the Jinsha roars below. The yak-butter tea is famously strange; try it once.
Tina's Guesthouse
CNY 30-50/personThe High Trail's southern anchor at the 22km mark: simple home cooking for hikers finishing the trek, cold beer, and a terrace over the Lower Gorge.
Where to Stay
Halfway Guest House
CNY 40 (dorm) - 200 (double)The world-famous halfway point — dorm beds from CNY 40, private doubles with canyon views, hot showers, and a sunset terrace that justifies the entire trek.
Jane's Guest House, Qiaotou
CNY 80-200The trailhead institution: stores your luggage while you hike, sells maps, and is the classic pre-trek base where hikers swap route intel.
Where to Stay
Trail Guesthouses (Halfway / Tea Horse)
The heart of the trekking experience — simple rooms with canyon views, hot showers (usually), and kitchens serving noodles and beer. The Halfway Guest House terrace is famous worldwide. Dorm beds from CNY 40.
CNY 40-200Qiaotou Trailhead Inns
Jane's Guest House at the trailhead stores luggage, sells maps, and serves as the classic pre-trek base. Basic, friendly, and full of hikers swapping route intel.
CNY 80-200Lijiang Base (before/after the trek)
Most hikers stay in Lijiang the night before and after — Old Town Naxi courtyards or Shuhe guesthouses, then take an early minibus to Qiaotou.
CNY 150-500What to Eat in Tiger Leaping Gorge
Halfway Guest House Noodles (虎跳峡中途客栈)
The legendary reward after a day on the trail: handmade noodle bowls, stir-fried mountain vegetables, and cold beer on a terrace suspended 2,000 meters above the Jinsha. The yak-butter tea here is famously odd — visually and taste-wise it resembles mushroom soup — but you have to try it once.
Trailside Apple & Walnut Stalls
Farm stands along the High Trail sell fresh-picked apples and walnuts from the orchards terraced into the canyon slopes. Handfuls of walnuts cost a few yuan — buy extra for the 28 Bends.
Qiaotou Farmhouse Meals
The trailhead town's small family restaurants serve hearty mountain cooking: twice-cooked pork, stir-fried local greens, and hot soups. Expect to eat well for CNY 30-50 per person.
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When to Visit Tiger Leaping Gorge
Best season: March to May, September to November
Cool mountain canyon, 10-25°C, dry winters
Full month-by-month guideSuggested Itineraries
Tiger Leaping Gorge is included in several of our recommended Yunnan itineraries, from quick 3-day escapes to the full 14-day grand loop.
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