3 Days Yunnan Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Lijiang Arrival
   Explore Lijiang Ancient Town on Your Own

   Welcome to this hiking trip to Yunnan! The long flight trip must be tiring, now just handle everything to your local driver and guide, who will pick you up at the airport. After checking into the hotel in Lijiang, in the rest of the day, you can stroll around the Lijiang Ancient Town alone. This charming plateau city will show you something unique and charming. A brief exploration allows you to slowly adapt to the plateau environment. And you also catch the relaxing atmosphere in advance. Use this activity as a perfect warm-up for your hiking journey.

   More than 800 years ago, Lijiang Ancient Town served as one of the most important spots on the ancient tea and horse road. And in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it got even more prosperous

   In the ancient city, you can see a lot of traditional masterpieces: traditional wooden houses, stone bridges and winding rivers. Here, architecture and nature are living in harmony. If you can, you might as well stand on the East Street and look up for a moment. The Yulong Snow Mountain is right there behind the roof, and it is amazingly beautiful.

   Strolling in the alleys, you will find a variety of ethnic products (jewelry, local tea, handmade silverware, colorful shawls and so on). All of these inherit and show the local Naxi culture.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Lijiang
2. Day 2: Lijiang to Tiger Leaping Gorge Hike
   Trek to Enjoy Local Naxi Culture and Rest at Tea Horse Guesthouse

   After breakfast, your tour guide will pick you up from the hotel. And your journey starts now.

   First of all, drive to the first bend of the Yangtze River in Shigu Town (about 52-kilometers far). A kind reminder is: the scenery on the road is amazing. So get your camera ready. The"V"-shaped curve looks just like a spectacular miracle. And it’s formed by the fierce water flow of the Yangtze River, which suddenly gets blocked by the cliffs. Then continue to go down to the north (about an hour drive), and we will reach the Tiger Leaping Gorge. It’s one of the deepest canyons in China. An unforgettable hiking experience is about to begin.

   

   And today, your guided hike begins along the Upper Trekking Route (starts near Qiaotou Town). This is the narrowest and most dramatic section of the entire gorge (the river below is only about 20 meters wide). Your first stop is a Naxi minority farm. This is the place where you can see how nature and human culture get blended together. Take a look at the villagers’ daily life and gain insight into their traditional lifestyle in this place. Then we shall continue hiking to the Naxi Family Guesthouse, feel free to enjoy a cup of coffee and take a short break to recharge.

   

   Trek along the cliff-side trail and the small waterfalls. Your journey will be accompanied by the muddy, roaring Yangtze River, which gradually comes into full view below. Soon you will reach the famous 24 Bends. Every step upward reveals a new and breathtaking perspective of Tiger Leaping Gorge.

   When you finally complete all the 24 bends, let’s celebrate this great achievement with the most open and magnificent scenery of the canyon. Nature’s grand beauty will fill your eyes, remember to record the grandeur of Yulong Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain in both your camera. After that, continue to hike to the Tea Horse Inn in about an hour. Spend your night here, and get ready for tomorrow’s trip.

   Important Hiking Tips:

   • Footwear: Be sure to wear professional anti-slip hiking shoes. The trail is not easy to walk, and a nice pair of shoes can greatly reduce the risk of slipping.
   • Food & Water: Guesthouses along the route provide simple meals and hot water. But we still recommend you to bring a thermos for refills, and prepare high-energy snacks such as chocolate and energy bars.
   • Sun Protection: UV radiation is strong. Get ready for it and bring stuff like high-SPF sunscreen and sunglasses. They are all essential.

   

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   Tea Horse Guesthouse
3. Day 3: In-depth Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking, Lijiang Departure
   Admire Views of Snow Mountains and Small Waterfalls During Your Hike

   After breakfast, descend for about 2 hours to Halfway Guesthouse, the midpoint of the trek, where you will enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding towering ranges of snow-covered mountains.

   Next, wind the way down the path dug out from the cliff, enjoying the beautiful small waterfalls until you reach Tina's Guesthouse on the main road. Hike along the road for about 1.5 kilometers to "Teacher Zhang's Inn", along the way you will encounter some lovely goats and several small walled waterfalls. Upon arrival, you can have a light meal. After a short rest, move down to the river and listen to the sound of the tumbling Jinsha River hitting the huge rocks.

   

   You are about to reach the final highlight of the Tiger Leaping Gorge hiking tour - Tiger Leaping Rock. It is said that a tiger once leaped from one side of the gorge to the other with this rock. This's why the gorge is called "Tiger Leaping Gorge". Finally, hike back to Teacher Zhang's Inn, where you will meet your driver and take a car ride back to Lijiang.

   

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