虎跳峡
One of the world's deepest gorges — a 2-day hiking trail along clifftops above the Yangtze.
Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the great hikes in Asia — a 2-day trail along clifftop paths 3,900 metres above the Yangtze River, through dramatic mountain scenery between Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain. The trail is achievable without technical climbing experience, and excellent guesthouses (notably the Halfway Guesthouse) provide overnight accommodation mid-trail. One of the most rewarding experiences in Yunnan.
Take a bus from Lijiang's Qiaobu Bus Station (桥步客运站) to Qiaotou (桥头), the trailhead — 2 hours, approximately ¥30. The classic 2-day trail runs from Qiaotou to Walnut Garden (核桃园), staying overnight at the Halfway Guesthouse. Book guesthouse beds well in advance. The trail is well-signed but hire a local guide for the first-timer's confidence.
Opening Hours
Trail: always accessible. Start hiking by 8am.
Entry Fee
¥65 gorge entrance fee (payable at the trail start)
Address
Hutiaoxia Town, Shangri-La County, Yunnan Province
云南省香格里拉县虎跳峡镇
Book guesthouse accommodation (Halfway Guesthouse, Tea Horse Guesthouse) 2–4 weeks ahead during May–October hiking season — limited beds and they fill quickly. Contact via WeChat for direct booking.
You must bring your passport to enter this attraction. Without it, you will be denied entry.
Show these to locals — large Chinese text designed to be read at arm's length.
Show this to locals:
请问去虎跳峡桥头的公共汽车在哪里坐？我想去徒步。
Where do I catch the bus to Tiger Leaping Gorge (Qiaotou)? I want to do the hiking trail.
For your eyes only:
Buses depart from Lijiang's Qiaobu Bus Station (桥步客运站). Journey to Qiaotou takes about 2 hours, costs approximately ¥30. First bus around 8am.
Show this to locals:
您好，我有预约，我的名字是___，今晚住一晚。
Hello, I have a reservation. My name is ___. I am staying one night.
For your eyes only:
The Halfway Guesthouse (中途客栈) is the most popular overnight stop on the high trail. Staff speak basic English.
Follow these guides to navigate each part of your visit.
Book the Halfway Guesthouse via WeChat 2–4 weeks ahead during hiking season
Take the 8am bus from Lijiang Qiaobu Bus Station to Qiaotou (2 hrs, ¥30)
Pay the gorge entrance fee (¥65) at the Qiaotou ticket booth
Start hiking the high trail (高路) — not the road along the valley bottom
The first 2 hours involve a steep climb called "28 Bends" (二十八道拐) — take it slowly
Once at altitude, the trail levels out with extraordinary views of the gorge and both snow mountains
Reach the Halfway Guesthouse for lunch and an overnight stay (book in advance)
Day 2: continue downhill to Walnut Garden or return to Qiaotou — a bus or jeep returns to Lijiang
Hike the high trail (高路), not the road — the clifftop path is what makes Tiger Leaping Gorge legendary.
"28 Bends" at the start is steep but manageable in 2 hours — start early and rest at the top before continuing.
Altitude along the high trail reaches 2,670m — pace yourself and drink plenty of water.
The gorge is impassable without overnight accommodation in the middle — book the Halfway Guesthouse months ahead in peak season.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
玉龙雪山
A 5,596m glacier massif above Lijiang — take the highest cable car in China to 4,506m.
Explore →Lijiang Old Town
丽江古城
A UNESCO-listed Naxi minority town of cobblestone canals and wooden architecture — best before 9am.
Explore →Yuanyang Rice Terraces
元阳梯田
3,000 years of Hani agricultural engineering — the most extraordinary sunrise landscape in China.
Explore →Save all your travel cards, action guides, and reservations in one place — accessible offline anywhere in China.