Tiger Leaping Gorge: Choose a Gorge Visit or High Trail Hike
Compare Upper, Middle and Lower Gorge with the separate High Trail, with durations, bus fares from Lijiang and Shangri-La and what to confirm before you go.
Contents
Tiger Leaping Gorge is the 23 km canyon where the Jinsha River squeezes between Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain, in places only about 20 m wide. It is not one single walk. The Shangri-La side, open to visitors since 1992, offers three gorge sections, Upper, Middle and Lower, and a separate High Trail.[1] Choose the experience first, then plan the access and return for that section.
Choose the experience that fits your day
| If you want | Start with | What you will see |
|---|---|---|
| The famous river narrows | Upper Gorge | The narrowest stretch, with the river barely 20 m wide and a rock about 13 m high splitting the current. Legend says a tiger leapt across on it, which gave the gorge its name.[1] |
| Steep canyon scenery and rapids | Middle Gorge | Boulders in the river and 18 rapids as the Jinsha drops more than 100 m in under 5 km, between cliffs that look cut with an axe.[1] |
| A broader, calmer river landscape | Lower Gorge | The river slows and the canyon opens up, with fields and views of Haba and Jade Dragon Snow Mountains.[1] |
| A longer mountain walk with guesthouse stops | High Trail | A high walking route from Lengdu Village in Tiger Leaping Gorge Town, with the two snow mountains facing each other across the river and mountain guesthouses on the way.[1] |
These are different ways to see the gorge, not one continuous path. Weigh your time, the walking effort you want and how you will get back.
Things to Do
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GetYourGuide partner offers. GoAsia may earn a commission if you book through these offers. Check whether tickets or transfers are included, and follow the attraction's official booking and admission rules.
How long to allow
The High Trail usually takes two days, the Middle Gorge about a day and the Lower Gorge half a day.[2] Your pace, stops, weather and transfers can stretch that.
Keep the High Trail separate from a viewpoint visit
The High Trail starts at Lengdu Village in Tiger Leaping Gorge Town and passes between Haba and Jade Dragon Snow Mountains, with the Jinsha River far below.[1] A multi-day walk needs its own plan for overnight stops, luggage, food, water and the way out at the end, so agree the guesthouse and the endpoint pickup before you start.
If you are torn between a river viewpoint and the High Trail, ask which entrance serves the exact section you want and how you will return to your accommodation. A ticket for one section does not automatically cover the others.
Plan the connection from Lijiang or Shangri-La
Tiger Leaping Gorge lies between Lijiang and Shangri-La, so it fits an overland route through northwest Yunnan. The intercity buses between Shangri-La and Lijiang, Xiaguan and Kunming all stop in Tiger Leaping Gorge Town. The Shangri-La to Lijiang buses start at 07:10 and then run every half hour until 17:40, and the Shangri-La to Xiaguan buses start at 07:00 and run every half hour until 19:30.[1] The bus fare from Lijiang to the gorge is 30 to 50 yuan per person and from Shangri-La 35 to 50 yuan. A shared car from Lijiang costs about 35 to 50 yuan per person, and a chartered car 300 to 800 yuan depending on the vehicle.[3] Leave time for the return leg, because the last buses leave in the late afternoon or early evening.
Before you go
Check the sections open on your date, the entry and booking process, and the return transport from where you finish your walk. For the High Trail, confirm the guesthouse and the trail conditions directly.
- Pick Upper, Middle or Lower Gorge for a section visit, or the High Trail for a longer walk.
- Confirm the start and end points and the route condition for your date.
- Book your admission and payment details with the scenic area.
- Arrange onward transport and guesthouses separately.
- Follow the posted restrictions around the river.
For the wider itinerary, see our China travel overview.
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] Shangri-La Tiger Leaping Gorge tourism operating company (Diqing), official website: Tiger Leaping Gorge: Middle Gorge page with scenic area overview, sections and bus times. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
- [2] Xinhua News: Xinhua feature: Why Tiger Leaping Gorge hiking became popular overseas. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
- [3] Shangri-La Tiger Leaping Gorge tourism operating company (Diqing), official website: Traffic guide (bus fares, shared and chartered cars to Tiger Leaping Gorge). Retrieved October 21, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Shangri-La side has three gorge sections and a separate High Trail. Upper Gorge is the narrowest stretch around Tiger Leaping Stone, Middle Gorge has boulders and 18 rapids, Lower Gorge is wider and calmer, and the High Trail is a longer mountain walk.
The High Trail usually takes two days, the Middle Gorge about a day and the Lower Gorge half a day. Your pace, stops and return transport can change the time you need.
No. The High Trail is a separate walking route from Lengdu Village with mountain scenery and guesthouses on the way. A visit to the Upper, Middle or Lower Gorge is a different choice, so confirm the start, access and endpoint before you set out.
It begins at Lengdu Village in Tiger Leaping Gorge Town and passes between Haba and Jade Dragon Snow Mountains.
Yes. The gorge lies between them, and the intercity buses between Shangri-La and Lijiang stop in Tiger Leaping Gorge Town. The bus fare from Lijiang is 30 to 50 yuan and from Shangri-La 35 to 50 yuan per person.
Ask whether your section or trail is open, where the access point is, what entry or booking applies and how you will return from the route endpoint. For the High Trail, confirm overnight plans and guesthouse availability directly, and follow posted restrictions and weather advice.
From Lijiang a shared car costs about 35 to 50 yuan per person, and a chartered car costs 300 to 800 yuan depending on the vehicle.
