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Gorge Island

If you want to experience China’s harsh desert and witness stunning natural scenery, a hike Tiger Leaping Gorge down for you. Tiger Leaping Gorge is a canyon huge third largest river in the world and the largest river in China, the Yangtze River.

The gorge is about 18 kilometers long, runs from southwest to northeast and is a staggering two kilometers deep in some parts. The canyon is formed when the Yellow River runs between the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (altitude 5,596 meters) and Habaxueshan Mountain (altitude 5,396 meters). In terms of depth of the canyon and the height of the walls of the canyon, the Tiger Leaping Gorge rival the Grand Canyon.

The gorge is located 60 kilometers north of the picturesque town of Lijiang in Yunnan Province, in western China. The gorge is immense natural beauty, biodiversity and is a large part of the “Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas,” World Heritage Site.

The restaurant’s name for the river that runs through the gorge is the Golden Sands River (Jingsha) so as not to be confused, if not referred to by locals as maps or on the Yangtze River. same river, different names.

The name and history

In ancient times it was a tiger by a hunter on the run and escaped by jumping through the gorge at its narrowest point (25 meters wide). The tiger managed this leap by jumping on a rock. A stone that is now called tiger leaping rock and a great attraction for Chinese tourists

The layout of the throat

The map clearly shows the sections of the gorge, the trail, the marks of land and journey times. This is one of the best maps are found with their throats most of maps to be drawn by hand.

The top or before the throat is at the mouth of the canyon where the river enters the narrow walls of the throat. This point is narrower and taller. This is the part of the throat containing the tiger leaping rock. During the second half or throat of the river falls to 100 meters and the flow increases.

In the period of low or 3 of the throat the flow of the river is the fastest and the cliffs are steeper and more dangerous than in other parts.

The two paths

There are two routes through the gorge, the trail that runs high along the top of the throat and the lower path that follows the river on the back of the throat. These two tracks are very varied and suitable for different types of tourists on their way to read carefully to understand which one you choose before entering the gorge.

The Upper Trail

This path is on the north side of the gorge is 22 kilometers long and is the central bank which offers a spectacular view and extreme experiences. With an ‘average height above sea level of 2,700 meters and an average height of 1,000 meters above the river, the view is just awesome. The path narrows to a width of 20 cm in some parts and looking down is a great adrenaline rush.

The upper path is the path that is the most difficult, dangerous and requires a minimum level of fitness and ideally some experience of trekking. Do not worry too much though to the upper path. If you are in reasonable shape, you can complete the course by taking the time, being frequent breaks and spend a few nights in the same guest house in the throat which spread along the route. The most difficult part of the route is the first part where you climb a series of 28 switchbacks that are clearly visible on the map.

This circuit has a variety of micro-ecosystems that will change as you progress along it and also has a series of waterfalls that make pit stop regenerating. Almost all the Chinese tourists take the lower path to find the path is quiet and secluded. People who use this route are mainly foreign and local Naxi. I heard that you’ll see groups of hikers about once every hour.

A walk along the upper path takes 1.5 to 3 days to complete with 2 days being the norm.The price range of pensions on the whole path from 20RMB to 150RMB for the dorms more convenient for the more expensive rooms are doubles.

Lower Trail

This trail is easy, flat and boring. Very few people actually travel with most people taking a bus on this track. This path is very popular with Chinese tourists. Unlike the high-level trail that follows the cliff, the trail follows the river so that at least most have river views. At ground level is not a mile!

There really is not much more I can say about the lower path.

Recommended Hike

Day One – Start the day in Qiaotou, the small town at the head of the throat and finish the day at the Halfway House Guest, which is literally the halfway point of the trip. This will take about six hours and will cover 17 kilometers.

After the first two hours of walking we reach the Naxi Family Guest House, which is an ideal place to stop for lunch and relaxation. The next part of the trip will take two hours and is where you need to put in some effort to climb the 28 switchbacks. Once the final hairpin, collapse, and the rest then continue for the last two hours for the Halfway House Guest.

Day Two – Start the day at the Half Way house customer and end the day at Daju.

Excursion of about 2 hours past some stunning waterfalls and canyons children up to the Guest House Tina. Take a break here to not more than an hour and then continue down a path on the side of the cliff to the river where you can see one of Tiger Leaping Gorge attractions, the Cliffs Mantianxing.

At this point the river drops nearly 100 meters at the base, where there is a random pattern to break the barrier of water. The river breaks up in the river reef as shooting stars. Hence the name which means Mantianxing stars across the sky in Chinese. A very impressive performance.

Next follow the road for two hours until the lower throat to a ferry that takes you around the shores Daju to the town where you can catch a bus for a three hour journey back to Lijiang.

The best times to go

May and early June are the best times to travel to Tiger Leaping Gorge because weather conditions are suitable for hiking and the plants and flowers are in bloom.October and November are also good times to go.

June to September is the rainy season which makes the dangerous paths to avoid visiting during these months.

At an altitude of 2,700 meters, the trails in the winter will be cold and uncomfortable so try to avoid visiting at this time as well.

Getting there

You will find all the buses around Lijiang, which will take you to Qiaotou. The journey from Lijaing Qiaotou to one hour. The bus or get off Qiaotou in or just outside near the bridge that leads to the ticket at the entrance of the gorge.

At the ticket office, continues to walk (200 meters) until you come to a school. Continue past the school and take a small path to the left of the path that leads up. There will be a lot of colored arrows indicate the road.