Tiger Leaping Gorge

Located a two hour bus ride North from Lijang is one of the deepest gorges in the world, Tiger Leaping Gorge. The gorge is carved by the Yangtze river between 5000m foothills of the Himalayas. It's sheer shale walls and dramatic scenery pegged it as "one of the 1000 natural places in the world you must visit" in a book we consulted before creating the itinerary for this trip.

We spent two days in the gorge, hiking 1000 meters up & then along a trail that wound through villages and fields along the west hillside above the river. At night we stayed in guesthouses, enjoying some of our favorite fresh Chinese meals and the serenity that comes with arriving in a place that is reached by foot.

Christy and her bamboo walking stick which kept her sure-footed 2500 feet above the river.

Guesthouse our first night
Freshly farmed meal at the guesthouse.

View from a tea stop

A guesthouse that claims the best view from the toilets.

Our group ahead on the trail crossing a waterfall.

Christy's turn across the waterfall.

In the clouds at the highest point, over 8000 feet, of the hike.

Little Christy Big mountains

One of the many farmhouses with a view along the trail