Tiger Leaping Gorge & Stone Town Trek — Wild Landscapes of Yunnan (Level 2.5/5)

Arrive in Lijiang and transfer to the confirmed hotel. Use the afternoon to settle in, inspect personal hiking equipment, and take a short orientation walk through Lijiang Old Town.

In the evening, share a Naxi-style hearth dinner and attend the route briefing. The session reviews trail conditions, luggage, water, footwear, and the walking distances planned for the next five days.

Drive from Lijiang to the Tiger Leaping Gorge trailhead and complete a safety briefing before beginning the High Trail. The opening climb rises steadily above the Jinsha River, with broad views toward Jade Dragon Snow Mountain as the path crosses the mountainside.

Pause at Naxi Family Guesthouse for lunch and a short rest, then tackle the steep sequence known as the 28 Bends. The climb reaches one of the trail’s highest viewpoints, where the gorge, river, and snow peaks can be seen together.

Continue past Tea Horse Guesthouse to the confirmed lodge on the High Trail. The day covers approximately 11 kilometres over six to seven hours, with about 780 metres of ascent and 490 metres of descent.

Leave the High Trail lodge and continue across a series of exposed traverses above Tiger Leaping Gorge. Walk carefully beneath Guanyin Waterfall, where water descends directly across the cliffside path, then pass Guanyin Temple on the way toward the lower trail.

Descend the stone path to Zhang’s Guesthouse and pause before continuing to Middle Tiger Leaping Rock. Here the Jinsha River is compressed between steep cliffs, creating the most forceful section of the gorge.

Return to Zhang’s Guesthouse for the night after approximately 15 kilometres and six to seven hours of walking. The day includes about 760 metres of ascent and 920 metres of descent, reaching roughly 2,450 metres near Guanyin Waterfall.

Leave Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge by road and continue for approximately three and a half hours to the next trailhead. After a warm-up and safety check, begin the descent toward Shangliuqing Village through a quieter section of the mountain landscape.

The day’s walk covers approximately eight kilometres over four to five hours, descending through forest and village terrain. Arrive in Shangliuqing in the afternoon and settle into the basic local lodging confirmed for the route.

The route ends in Shangliuqing with time to rest and prepare for the longer crossing toward Baoshan Stone Town on the following day.

Set out from Shangliuqing Village and follow the trail across Taizi Pass. Continue through the 90-metre and 60-metre tunnels, then pass Yanshuangluo Village as the path alternates between descent and short climbing sections.

The full walking distance is approximately fifteen kilometres before the trail reaches Baoshan Stone Town. Enter the settlement on foot and observe how Naxi homes occupy the steep rock above the Jinsha River.

Settle into the confirmed local lodging after entering the stone-built village, with the evening reserved for rest after the full walking day.

Leave Baoshan Stone Town on foot and follow the old Tea Horse Road toward Yanke Village. The approximately nine-kilometre route passes traditional hamlets and descends toward the Jinsha River, with several short climbs interrupting the overall downhill profile.

Continue to Yanke Pier and cross the river by boat to Ahai Pier. The crossing provides a final close view of the river and the steep gorge landscape through which the route has travelled.

Meet the road transfer at Ahai Pier and return to Lijiang, arriving in the late afternoon. The day involves approximately four to five hours of walking, about 225 metres of ascent, and 495 metres of descent before the journey concludes.