Tiger Leaping Gorge is a deep, narrow cleft on the upper Yangtze, known here as the Jinsha River, in northwest Yunnan. Snow mountains stand on both sides, and a famous high trail runs along the north wall. It’s an easy day trip from Lijiang or a two-day hike.
| Length | about 16 km |
|---|---|
| Depth | 3,790 m from river to summits |
| Width | 60 to 80 m, about 30 m at the narrowest |
| Drop | more than 200 m |
| Sections | Upper, Middle, Lower |
The gorge
The gorge lies on the Jinsha River between Lijiang’s Yulong district and Shangri-La. It’s about 16 kilometers long, in three sections, Upper, Middle and Lower, and it starts near Qiaotou in the Shangri-La area, where the Jinsha meets a tributary, and ends near Daju. Haba Snow Mountain stands on the west bank and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain on the east, and from the river to the summits is a difference of 3,790 meters.
The gorge walls are schist and marble. The river is 60 to 80 meters wide for most of the gorge and just over 30 meters at its narrowest point, with a drop of more than 200 meters along its length. The water is fast and loud. According to legend, a tiger once came down from the mountain and leaped across the river using a rock in the middle of the stream in the low-water season, which gave the gorge, and the rock, their names.
The high trail
Many visitors walk the high trail along the north side, a one-night, two-day hike with guesthouses along the route and views across the gorge to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. It’s steep in places, with narrow ledges and long drops, and the weather can turn quickly. If you’d rather not hike, you can see the gorge from the road and from lower viewpoints. Ask your guide about the current state of the trail, since landslides and the rainy season can close sections.
When to go
Spring and autumn offer the best conditions. In summer, heavy rain makes the trail slippery and the river muddy and loud. Winter is cold at height but often clear. Check current conditions before you go, and allow extra time after heavy rain.
How long to stay
A day trip from Lijiang takes in the road viewpoints. For the high trail, allow two days and a night on the way. Many travelers combine the gorge with Lijiang and Shangri-La. See our guides to Lijiang, Shangri-La and Kunming, and our China tours.
Planning Tiger Leaping Gorge with Absolute Asia Tours
Absolute Asia Tours has planned private trips in Asia since 1989. For the gorge that means a guide who knows the trail and its conditions, a luggage transfer arranged so you can walk light, and a fallback plan for the road if the weather turns. We’re rated 4.8 out of 5 across about 900 traveler reviews. Tell us your dates and we’ll plan from there.
Sources (read in Chinese, Chinese Wikipedia): 虎跳峡, 金沙江, 玉龙雪山. Last checked November 2026.
Tiger Leaping Gorge: FAQ
How long is Tiger Leaping Gorge?
About 16 kilometers, in three sections: Upper, Middle and Lower.
How deep is Tiger Leaping Gorge?
There are 3,790 meters from the river to the summits of the snow mountains on either side.
Why is it called Tiger Leaping Gorge?
Legend says a tiger leaped across the river from a rock in the middle of the stream in the low-water season.
How many days do you need for the high trail?
Two days, with one night in a guesthouse on the way.
What is the best time to go?
Spring and autumn. Heavy summer rain can make the trail slippery and unsafe.
How do you get there from Lijiang?
By road, as a day trip or as the start of a longer route to Shangri-La.
Photo: BrokenSphere, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0.
