2021 Lijiang | 3 Days Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour

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2021 Lijiang | 3 Days Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour

Hike above the Cloud

About 100 kilometers (62 miles) northwest of Lijiang Old Town lying between Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (Yulong Xueshan) and Haba Snow Mountain (Haba Xueshan) is Tiger Leaping Gorge (Hutiao Gorge), which is one of the deepest gorges in the world. From the top of the gorge you look down the steeply angled (70-90 degrees) mountain sides to the rushing Golden Sands (Jinsha) River with its 18 frothing rapids more than 200 meters (about 700 feet) below.
 

Naturally divided into three sections, the first section, which is the narrowest and uppermost section, is the mouth of the fast flowing Jingsha River. In the midst of the river's mouth is a large rock that is positioned at the gorge's narrowest section-only 30 meters (33 yards) wide. The altitude of the mouth of the Tiger Leaping Gorge is 1,800m (984 fathoms).

Legend says that in order to escape from a hunter, a tiger jumped across the river from one side of the gorge to the other at the narrowest point,  hence named Tiger Leaping Gorge and the stone called Tiger Leaping Rock. 

As the river enters the middle section, it drops another 100 meters (330 feet) and its flow rate increases to an amazing speed. Here the thunderous rushing waters slam into sharp, large rocks and crash down into the river forming swirling whirlpools. Can it get more exciting? Yes, it can as the third and lowest section is acclaimed for being the wildest attraction of all!

The cliffs over-looking this section are even steeper and much more dangerous. Here, the river twists and turns and the river vigorously surges  forward creating high waves and a frothy spew as it collides with the mountainsides. This is a view that inspires a sense of adventure and satisfies the deepest yearnings for magnificent scenery.

It offers one of the best hiking trails through some of the most naturally beautiful and diverse landscapes China has to offer. No matter you have short time or with about 2 days, you can have exciting hiking experience in Tiger Leaping Gorge.

Highlights of this tour

Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the deepest gorges in the world, making it one of the top 10 world famous hiking trails. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain stand on each side, offering beautiful and diverse landscapes. It is divided into three parts: Upper Gorge, Middle Gorge and Lower Gorge.

• Have a nice stroll in Lijiang Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a center of the Naxi people, where you’ll see stunning panorama scenery;

• Trek one of the deepest gorges in the world and get up close to minority villages, rocky canyons, raging rivers, sandstone cliffs, and delicate waterfalls;

• Travel along the tracks of old tea caravans of Tea Horse Road and seek for the old stories;

• Follow the footsteps of Joseph Rock, a famous Austrian-American explorer and National Geographic reporter.
  

No matter you visit Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge or Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge, you can catch the best sight of the two snow mountains.

Trip Overview

This tour will take you embark on a trek of the legendary trail of one of the world’s deepest gorges - Tiger Leaping Gorge! You will find yourself lost in a world full of cliffs, steep lifts and drops, loose and rocky earth, raging river and epic towering snow mountains. 

• Day1 Arrive at Lijiang,  Live in Lijiang Ancient Town and then it is your own time to explore this city.

• Day2Lijiang-First Bend of Yangtze River-Qiaotou-Naxi Family Guesthouse-24 Bends-Tea Horse Guesthouse About 

• Day3 Tea Horse Guesthouse - Halfway Guesthouse - Tina’s Guesthouse - Teacher Zhang’s Guesthouse - Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge - Teacher Zhang’s Guesthouse - Lijiang

With rhythmic sheep bleating and clip-clop of horses, stories of Ancient Tea Horse Road will also emerge in front of you. The level is intermediate, thus all the hiking lovers slightly above average physical condition will be welcomed.

FYI：In case of rain, traffic jam or any other unpredictable situations, CET reserves the rights to adjust the schedule.

Basic Tour Information

Activity Place: Lijiang City Yunnan Province

Activity Date:  2021 Group Tour Dates

• Every Wednesday/Saturday (Holiday price is different)
  

Trip Length: 3D/2N

Meeting point: Lijiang Hotel(Pick up and drop off service is available)

Group Trip fee: Local Traveling bus+Meals+Accommondations+Guide+Insurance

• Normal Price: 1185RMB/pax, pay the deposit 585RMB/pax when you book the trip.

• Group Discount: 1135RMB/pax if 3 or more than 3 seats booked together, pay the deposite 535RMB/pax when you book the trip.

• VIP Price: 1135RMB  ( Buy CET VIP on our wechat offical Menu ),pay the deposit fee 535RMB/pax when you book the trip.

• Kid Price: Children are less than 1.2m and the kids doesnt need beds which is 685RMB. Children above 1.2m are the same as adult.

• Single Supplement: 360RMB for the Singleroom supplement if you live alone.

Participants: The Group trip fee is for at least 4 people, if only two people the price will 280RMB/pax more to make the trip confirmed.

Driver and Vehicle: Drivers are local, polite, friendly and helpful, taking you to your tourist sites, hotels, airport/train stations in safety. All kinds of vehicle are offered, and yours depends on the size of the group. Usually, we offer sedan cars, SUVs, business vans (MPV) and different types of buses.

Travel Advisor:  Monica 18514204169 (English & Mandarin) if you have any question, please call us.

Please Note: If you are interested in our trip but not in beijing,  please feel free to contact our travel advisor

Book Your Tickets Online

Press this QR Code and Extract it to book your seat.

Recent News: The Upper one is Tiger Leaping Gorge Tourist Area which is going to be closed from November 1st, 2020 to April 30th 2021 due to the road construction. 

Statement about the Trip Fee

What is includes in the cost?

• Guide for the whole trip.
  

• Traveling bus with experienced driver.

• Pick up and drop off service

• Drivers' accommadations and meals for the whole trip.

• Accommodation: 2 Nights Hotel, one nights in Tiger Leaping Gorge, 1 Nights in Lijiang Ancient Town

• Meals: D2 Breakfast; D3 Breakfast,

• 3 Days outdoor insurance.

What is not included in the cost?(The trip fee doesnt include the tickets fee)

• About Lijiang old town maintenance fee: 50RMB

• About Tiger Leaping Gorge(Upper): 35RMB(middle tiger leaping gorge may charge 10-30RMB)

Please Note: We want to have a positive effect everywhere we go, we don’t take commissions or kickbacks, and we don’t take you on detours for shopping.

Statement about the Refund

• If you cancel this trip more than 7 days before depature, we will fully refund

• If you cancel this trip within 7 days before depature, no refund of the deposit fee

About Insurance: Our trip leader will collect your insurance information 3 days before this trip happens, if you didnt fill the form when he collects the informations or gave the wrong information, it means you give up this trip's insurance and the accident compensation.

Full Itinerary Day by Day

Day1 Arrive at Lijiang,  Live in Lijiang Ancient Town and then it is your own time to explore this city.

Transfer: By Flight or train, it is up to you. Berth train tickets is really difficulty to buy.

Accommodation: Overnight in Lijiang Ancient Town, 3-Star Hotel.

Please Note: The rest day is your own time to explore the lijiang ancient town.

Ni Hao! Welcome to Lijiang, a very impressive ancient city! Upon arrival at the airport or railway station, your guide will meet you at the arrival hall and transfer you to the hotel in ancient town area with a private car, then we will help you check in the hotel. Then the rest day is your time to explore this wonderful city!

Early Arrival Option: You can start a memorable tour in Lijiang Ancient Town (Dayan Ancient Town). Established in the Ming dynasty as a commercial center, Lijiang Old Town is a well-preserved 800-year-old town for Naxi ethnic group, listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. 

Walk to the central area of the old town and visit Mufu Palace. A saying goes “there is Forbidden City in the North, Mu’s Residence in the South”. Mu’s Residence was called the miniature Forbidden City. 

Looked from a far distance, it likes a grand imperial palace and it is famous for the grandness and architectural buildings. Getting into the palace, you can know Tusi’s ruling history and appreciate Naxi people’s brilliant culture and fine arts. 

Then, wander through the old alleys, old bridges, featured shops and bars to Sifang Street Square, a mingling ground to enjoy lively atmosphere and unwind yourself. If time permits, join the Naxi people and tourists to dance happily in a round. 

Take a leisure walk up to the Lion Hill and climb up the 33-meter-tall Wanggu Tower - the landmark building of Lijiang to enjoy a panoramic view of the whole old town and overlook the magnificent Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the distance.

Arrival Ideas: There’re direct flights from Kunming, Chengdu, Chongqing, Lhasa, Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Guiyang, etc to Lijiang Sanyi Airport. Trains are available from Kunming (about 3-3.5 hours), Dali (about 2-3 hours) to Lijiang Railway Station. 

Day2Lijiang - First Bend of Yangtze River - Qiaotou - Naxi Family Guesthouse - 24 Bends - Tea Horse Guesthouse

This day, get ready to start your breathtaking in-depth Tiger Leaping Gorge trekking tour!

After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel. First, drive about 52 kilometers from Lijiang to view the First Bend of Yangtze River. The upper reach of the Yangtze River is Jinsha River coming down from Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and when it arrives at Shigu Town, it is obstructed by Hailuo Mountain and forms a V-shape turn. Then it changes the direction and goes to the northeast. 

You’ll reach the observation deck to catch a panoramic view of the bend, an extraordinary turn nearly about 180 degrees with beautiful and marvelous views like a wonderful landscape painting unfolding before your eyes. You’ll have a look at local market and Red Army’s Long March Memorial Monument in Shigu Town.

Then drive further north for about 50km (1 hour) to Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the deepest and most spectacular river canyon in the world and a part of UNESCO World Heritage Site called Three Parallel of Yunnan Protected Areas. 

For the rest of the day, you will trek this great gorge along its Upper Trekking Route, one of the top 10 classic hiking trails in the world that famed among worldwide backpackers.

Your amazing trekking tour starts from paths near a local primary school of Qiaotou Town (Hutiaoxia Town). The following part of trails will lead you to several rural villages and farms of the Naxi minority people first. And then you will arrive at Naxi Family Guesthouse in the early afternoon. 

Treat yourself one cup of cold beer or coffee there if you like before continuing your tour for some trail miles in the warm afternoon sun. The walk will then wind through pine forests, past waterfalls and snaking along the cliff edge with spectacular views of the muddy churning Yangtze River below and the looming ridges above. 

Later you will pass by the famous 24 Bends, where trails ascend with 24 swirling twists await your challenge. With every step upwards, the rugged terrain will introduce you a new perspective of the depths that make up the Tiger Leaping Gorge. 

Once complete the 24 Bends, you will be rewarded with the broadest view of the gorge. Look up to see the awe-inspiring Haba Snow Mountain and Jade Snow Mountain, then down to see the lingering rays dancing on the rippling waters a thousand meters below, congratulations, you are embracing Tiger Leaping Gorge on the highest point of this route! 

Take plenty of breaks to enjoy the gorgeous views. And then continue on for an hour or so, you’ll descend a few hundred meters in altitude to Tea Horse Guesthouse for your night stay.

Today’s trekking ends. Before going to bed, you can share today’s memorable hiking trip with your partners while appreciating the beautiful sparkling starry sky.

Day3 Tea Horse Guesthouse - Halfway Guesthouse - Tina’s Guesthouse - Teacher Zhang’s Guesthouse - Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge - Teacher Zhang’s Guesthouse - Lijiang

After breakfast, you’ll set off for descend. For about 2 hours later, you will arrive at your first stop - Halfway Guesthouse, which marks the halfway point of the entire journey. Make a short stop at their top deck of “Star Lavatories”, where you will feast your eyes with an unbeatable view of surrounding towering snow-capped mountains. 

Next, wind the path hewed out of cliffs down while taking in the sensational vistas and hugging small waterfalls until you arrive at Tina’s Guesthouse on the main driving road. Then trek the main road for about 1.5km more to Teacher Zhang’s Guesthouse, the vital starting point of goat paths leading down to Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge at the bottom. 

As you approach the bottom, you will hear a loud sound of the Jinsha River relentlessly pounding giant boulders in its path. The churning river splits the mountain into two towering cliffs, forming a giant gate that seems to welcome you. And finally, you will stand just steps from the raging river with a huge rock in its center. 

According to legends, there was once a tiger leaping from one side of the gorge to the other side via this rock, thus the locals called it Tiger Leaping Rock and started to call the gorge Tiger Leaping Gorge.

After your Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge visit, trek back to Teacher Zhang’s Guesthouse, where you’ll met by your driver who will escort your to Lijiang to catch your flight or bullet train to next destination. Service ends!

Departure idea: Your trekking tour will be finished at about 15:00pm. However, considering the long drive from Tiger Leaping Gorge to the airport (at least 2 hours to Lijiang Sanyi International Airport), you are suggested to book a flight departing after 20:00pm.

Additional Information:

• Please be advised that there will be approximately 10-45 travelers per group

• The above itinerary is for reference only, and is subject to change due to the weather conditions

• Please inform us of any dietary restrictions and allergies if you booked our tour. Please remember to bring any medication that you need with you

• Pregnant women, guests with heart attacks, high blood pressure, respiratory diseases, severe colds, and those who are not suitable for outdoor hiking are advised to carefully decide whether or not to travel according to their own conditions or doctor's advice

• We will contact you between 8:00pmto10:00pm a day before you travel to reconfirm the pick up time and place. Please keep your contact lines or channels available. If you have not received any confirmation after 10:00pm, please contact customer service.

• In case of severe inclement weather or other environmental problems beyond control that causes the tour to be unable to proceed, participants can opt for a reschedule.

CET (Culture Exchange Trip) is a student self-organized service platform focusing on intercultural communication and aimed to create more opportunities for young people from all over the world to have more chances to communicate in more fantastic way like outdoor activities.

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