There’s good cause for all of the hype about Tiger Leaping Gorge on the Yunnan travel circuit. Hikers enjoy some of the finest panoramas on the continent, taking in snow-capped peaks and a 10-mile, deep-cut gorge.
The hike itself takes anywhere from two to four days, depending on how much time hikers set aside to admire the view along the way. The most strenuous portion is a set of switchbacks early in the hike that wind their way to a high vantage-point over the gorge. The view from the top completely justifies the exertion.
Otherwise, the footpath clings to high ridges that are shared by Naxi minority farmers. A few of them have converted their mountain villas into guesthouses and offer hikers hot meals and simple amenities. Side trails cut a path to secondary highlights like Walnut Grove.
Maps are available from guesthouses and cafés in Lijiang. Most of them are hand-drawn and only serve to orient the major stops along the way. Visitors who would like to see the view without all the trekking can charter a minibus from Qiaotou a short distance to the main lookout.
Getting There & Away
Hikers invariably bus in from Lijiang, the nearest major tourist destination in the region. Buses bound for Zhongdian (or Shangri-La, as it’s now known) make an intermittent stop at Qiaotou (2 hours) where hikers disembark. Lijiang operates a small airport with connections to Kunming (about an hour), Shanghai and Chengdu.