Tiger Leaping Gorge

If there is one spot backpackers, mainland Chinese and other travelers seeking nature head to, it’s definitely Tiger Leaping Gore (TLG). Situated on the other side of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain some 3 hours from Lijiang it’s a vast gorge carved between two towering mountain ranges. People come here because of the clear(er) air, beautiful sights, challenging hikes and relaxing atmosphere.



A friend of ours in Beijing used to work for an Australian travel company and said we must come to TLG. She recommended a local guide to take us through the gorge, above the gorge and just about everywhere else to see. Sean, who talked with quite a bit, was the first tour operator in the area, taking foreigners through the gorge since 1983.

Our first day we arrived in Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge, settled in, then did a 3 hour hike down the gorge floor and back. The sights along the way were amazing, rice and wheat terraces along the hill, with rising mountains in the backdrop made for some awe inspiring scenery. The river itself was a beautiful turquoise and very fast moving. Sean told us that not too long along a guy from the States fell into the river and smashed himself up pretty well along the boulders. None of that for us of course – we were fine.


Now is a good time to mention that on our second day of the trip I got an eye infection that was threatening the remainder of our trip. Noel was ready to book a flight back to Beijing and on to Oz just so that I could be fixed. I said no way, it would heal itself in a week and on with it. The morning of first day to the gorge, we met a guy in our group of 6 who happened to be an ophthalmologist based in Seattle and who also had a week’s supply of medicine to treat it. Totally by chance but the timing could not be better.



Our second day in the gorge was a 22Km hike from Walnut Grove to Qitao. The hike was mostly along small rock and dirt trails high above the gorge road. Sights along the way were absolutely beautiful. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.