Nestled between the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (玉龙雪山) and the Haba Snow Mountain (哈巴雪山), the majestic Tiger Leaping Gorge is a popular destination among travelers headed to Yunnan, China. With well-established tourism infrastructure and marked hiking paths, planning a hiking trip to the spectacular gorge is a breeze.
The Tiger Leaping Gorge (TLG) can be divided into three sections – the upper TLG, the middle TLG, and the lower TLG:
- The upper TLG, where the developed scenic area is located, is the entrance point for most visitors and receives many tourists daily. This is also where you purchase the admission ticket for 45 yuan. If you decide to hike the high trail, you will be required to purchase the entrance ticket as well and there are personnel who check for your ticket stub.
- The middle TLG is popular among hikers for its stunning landscape.
- The lower TLG is known to have plainer scenery. As it also requires additional admission tickets for the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, it is less popular among hikers.
The hiking path, known as the high trail, is well-marked and navigable without hiring a guide.
This post will run through a 2-day 1-night itinerary for a hiking trip to Tiger Leaping Gorge.
Getting to the Tiger Leaping Gorge via public transport
There is direct transportation from both Lijiang and Shangri-la to the Tiger Leaping Gorge.
- Intending to visit only the scenic area as a day trip? Alight at the Tiger Leaping Gorge scenic area.
- Is game enough to hike from the start of the high trail? Alight at HuTiaoXia town (also called Qiaotou)
- Rather start the hike along the high trail? Alight at the Tiger Leaping Gorge scenic area. From there, the driver will assist with coordinating a shared van transport for you to your desired destination along the trail. You may have to foot a higher bill if there is only one or two of you and no one else around to share the ride with. Always ask and agree on the price before starting the trip.
From Lijiang
As of December 2023, two daily buses bound for Hu Tiao Xia town (also called Qiaotou) depart from Lijiang Bus Terminal at 8 am and 9.30 am. Tickets are between 35 yuan to 44 yuan.
From Shangri-la
As of December 2023, 4 buses depart from Shangri-la Bus Terminal daily at 8 am, 8.40 am, 1 pm, and 2 pm for Hu Tiao Xia town. The departures at 8 am and 8.40 am also stop at the Tiger Leaping Gorge scenic area. Tickets to Hu Tiao Xia town costs 38 yuan while those to the scenic area costs 44 yuan. The journey takes 1 – 2 hours.
Itinerary
The essential 2D 1N Tiger Leaping Gorge hiking itinerary
Day 1: Naxi Yage to Halfway
🚌 Travel from Lijiang or Shangri-la to Tiger Leaping Gorge Scenic Area
🚙 Travel from Tiger Leaping Gorge Scenic Area to Naxi Yage Guesthouse 纳西雅阁
- We paid 20 yuan each for a shared mini-van
🚶♀️Hike from Naxi Yage Guesthouse to Halfway Guesthouse
- Distance: 10.6km
- Elevation Gain: 571m
- Time taken: <5 hours
- The hike started with a tiring ascent and after clearing the 28 bends, you will be rewarded with stunning views of the gorge. This is also a great photo opportunity! Throughout the trail, you will be able to see the magnificent peaks of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
- We stayed at another guesthouse but visited the Halfway Guesthouse for some photos (anyone can enter the deck at Halfway Guesthouse)
- Apart from the persistent views of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, nothing exceptionally spectacular about this hike from Naxi Yage to Halfway — in my opinion, can be omitted if you’re out of time.
🏡 Stay around Halfway guesthouse — there are several options around the area!
- We paid 60 yuan for a night for a shared room at one of the guesthouses around the area.
Day 2: Halfway to Tina’s & YiXianTian to TianTi
🚶♀️ Hike from Halfway Guesthouse to Tina’s Guesthouse
- Distance: 4.5 km
- Elevation Loss: 350m
- Time taken: <2h
- Scenic waterfall along the way
🚙 Travel from Tina’s Guesthouse to YiXianTian trailhead (~1km)
- They provide this as a service at Tina’s guesthouse; you pay the admission of 15 yuan for the YiXianTian path.
🚶♀️ Hike from YiXianTian trailhead to TianTi
- Distance: 6.7 km
- Elevation Loss: 614m
- Elevation Gain: 593m
- Time taken: 2.5h
- This is the closest you’ll get to the mighty waters on this itinerary. Unfortunately, as the paths here are privately constructed and maintained, it is not covered by the scenic area admission ticket and you will have to pay an additional charge to enter. As of December 2023, the villagers charge 15 yuan per section. So that’s a total of 30 yuan per person for both the TianTi and the YiXianTian trails.
- YiXianTian is a viewpoint where the gorge, sky, and water form a line from the angle. The pathway to the angle viewpoint is pretty cool as it is carved out of the cliff. The path down to YiXianTian is a steep descent so trekking poles are highly encouraged.
- TianTi, also called Heaven’s Ladder, is a path consisting of a metal ladder laid vertically to the cliff (picture). It is an ascent-only path and there is another “normal” path for those hikers descending and those who do not wish to ascend via the metal ladder. I tried it and it felt unnecessarily risky and too dangerous for my liking. Along the TianTi section, there is a rock in the middle of the gorge connected by a wooden bridge for those who want a cooler picture – they charge an additional 5 to 10 yuan for this. I chose not to enter.
🚌 Travel from Tina’s Guesthouse to Shangri-la / Lijiang
- From Tina’s, the bus departs for Lijiang at 2.30 pm and 3.30 pm daily. Tickets cost 50 yuan each and can be bought via WeChat (ID: Tina660303) or at Tina’s Guesthouse itself.
- There are also departures for Shangri-la, at 3 pm. Tickets cost around 55 yuan each.
- A private charter (包车) can be arranged at Tina’s as well
The classic 2D 1N Tiger Leaping Gorge hiking itinerary
Day 1: Hutiaoxia town to Tea-horse Guesthouse / Halfway Guesthouse
🚌 Travel from Lijiang or Shangri-la to Tiger Leaping Gorge town
🚶♀️Hike from Naxi Yage guesthouse to Tea-horse guesthouse / Halfway guesthouse depending on your speed
🏡 Stay around Tea-horse Guesthouse / Halfway Guesthouse — there are several options around the area!
Day 2: Tea-horse / Halfway Guesthouse to Tina’s Guesthouse & YiXianTian to TianTi
🚶♀️ Hike from Tea-horse Guesthouse / Halfway Guesthouse to Tina’s Guesthouse
🚙 Travel from Tina’s Guesthouse to YiXianTian trailhead (~1km)
🚶♀️ Hike from YiXianTian trailhead to TianTi
🚌 Travel from Tina’s guesthouse to Shangri-la / Lijiang
The 1D Tiger Leaping Gorge hiking itinerary
🚌 Travel from Lijiang or Shangri-la to Tiger Leaping Gorge Scenic Area
🚙 Travel from Tiger Leaping Gorge Scenic Area to Halfway Guesthouse
🚶♀️ Hike from Halfway Guesthouse to Tina’s Guesthouse
🚌 Travel from Tina’s guesthouse to Shangri-la / Lijiang
Food and Accommodation
There are plenty of pit stops, and accommodations along the way and it is easy to find food and water should you run out of it. There is no need to carry heavy gear and we even saw a hiker carrying nothing but a plastic bag with a bottle of water and some change of clothes! We paid 60 yuan for a night for a shared room at one of the guesthouses around the area.
Cellular connection
The cellular connection is available along the trail.
Tips
- Do check the official website to keep updated on any temporary closure dates. Recommended to view the site in Chinese language and Google translate the page if required as the official English language version of the site does not seem to be updated with the latest news.
- You can request to store your luggage and heavy backpacks at Tina’s, just let the driver know about it and he will transport them there for you. This is free of charge!
Game for more hikes around Shangri-la? Check out my post on Abujicuo.
More photos
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