D1: Lijiang – Tiger Leaping Gorge Trek to Halfway Guesthouse
Meal: Lunch
Your private guide and driver will meet you at your hotel in Lijiang in the morning and drive approximately 2.5 hours to Qiaotou Town, the starting point of the classic Tiger Leaping Gorge trekking route.
On the way, stop at a viewpoint overlooking the First Bend of the Yangtze River, where the Jinsha River makes a dramatic turn through the mountainous landscape.
Continue to Changsheng Village near Qiaotou, where your trek into Tiger Leaping Gorge begins.
Today’s hike covers approximately 17 km and takes around 7 hours, depending on your pace and trail conditions. The route features steep mountain paths, dramatic cliffs and spectacular views over the Jinsha River Valley.
The first section takes approximately two hours to reach the Naxi Family Guesthouse, where you will stop for lunch and enjoy a short rest.
After lunch, continue uphill toward the famous 28 Bends, one of the most challenging sections of the trail. The steep switchbacks require a steady pace, but the higher you climb, the more impressive the views become.
Continue trekking for another 2–3 hours toward the Halfway Guesthouse. Located high above the gorge, the guesthouse offers spectacular views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and the Jinsha River Valley.
Enjoy dinner and relax after your long day of hiking.
Overnight: Halfway Guesthouse
D2: Halfway Guesthouse – Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge – Lijiang
Meal: Lunch
Rise early this morning to enjoy the mountain scenery before beginning the next section of your trek.
Hike downhill for approximately two hours toward Tina’s Guesthouse, passing through mountain scenery, waterfalls and dramatic canyon landscapes along the way.
After lunch at Tina’s Guesthouse, continue with a shorter but steep descent toward the Jinsha River and the Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge.
Follow the trail deeper into the gorge to reach Tiger Leaping Stone, the narrowest and most dramatic section of the canyon. According to local legend, a tiger once leaped across the river here to escape from hunters, giving the gorge its famous name.
After exploring the riverside area, hike back uphill to Tina’s Guesthouse, taking approximately one hour.
Then drive for about 30 minutes to Xincun Village Pier. From here, take a ferry across the Jinsha River to Daju Pier, enjoying views of the dramatic gorge from the river. The boat journey usually takes around 1.5–2 hours, depending on local conditions.
After arriving at Daju, continue by road to Lijiang, with a driving time of approximately 2.5 hours.
Overnight: Lijiang
D3: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain – Impression Lijiang – Baisha Ancient Town – Yufeng Temple
Meal: Lunch
After breakfast, travel to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the spectacular mountain massif that rises on the opposite side of Tiger Leaping Gorge.
The massif stretches for approximately 32 km from north to south and includes 13 major peaks. Its highest peak, Shanzidou, reaches 5,596 meters above sea level, while several other peaks rise above 4,000 meters.
Take the designated sightseeing bus and cable car according to the day’s arrangements to explore the mountain area.
Later, enjoy Impression Lijiang, an outdoor cultural performance staged against the dramatic backdrop of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The performance features music, singing and dancing inspired by the traditions of the Naxi people and other ethnic communities of Yunnan.
Rather than following a conventional storyline, the show presents a large-scale celebration of local culture, music and traditional life.
After the performance, continue to Baisha Ancient Town, one of the oldest settlements in the Lijiang area and an important center of Naxi culture.
Visit the famous Baisha Murals, a remarkable collection of historic religious paintings created over several centuries. The murals reflect a mixture of Buddhist, Taoist and other artistic influences and provide an insight into the cultural exchanges that took place in Lijiang.
In the afternoon, visit Yufeng Temple, a historic Tibetan Buddhist temple located at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
After sightseeing, return to your hotel in Lijiang.
End of your 3-day Tiger Leaping Gorge trekking and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain tour.