Day 1 Lijiang – Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking – Halfway Guesthouse
In the morning, drive about 2 hours from Lijiang to Changsheng Village in Qiaotou Town, the starting point of your Tiger Leaping Gorge hiking tour. Along the way, enjoy a view of the First Bend of the Yangtze River, where the river makes a dramatic turn through the surrounding mountains.
Today’s hike covers approximately 17 km and takes around 7 hours. Start by hiking for about 2 hours to Naxi Family Guesthouse, where you will stop for lunch and take a short break.
After lunch, continue uphill toward the famous 28 Bends, one of the most challenging sections of the Tiger Leaping Gorge trail. The steep switchbacks require some effort, but the spectacular mountain scenery makes the climb worthwhile. From the higher sections of the trail, enjoy impressive views of the surrounding mountains and the deep Jinsha River Valley.
Continue hiking for another 2–3 hours to reach Halfway Guesthouse, a popular overnight stop for hikers. From the guesthouse, you can enjoy panoramic views of Yulong Snow Mountain and the dramatic Jinsha River Valley.
Stay overnight at Halfway Guesthouse.

Day 2 Halfway Guesthouse – Tina’s Guesthouse – Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge – Lijiang
Rise early and begin your hike from Halfway Guesthouse toward Tina’s Guesthouse, which takes approximately 2 hours. The trail passes through dramatic canyons and along the famous Guanyin Waterfall, with spectacular views of the gorge along the way.
After lunch at Tina’s Guesthouse, continue to the Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge. Follow a steep trail for about 1 hour down toward the Jinsha River. At the riverbank, you will reach Tiger Leaping Stone, one of the narrowest and most dramatic sections of the gorge. According to local legend, a tiger could leap across the river here, giving Tiger Leaping Gorge its name.
After exploring the riverbank, hike back up to Tina’s Guesthouse, taking approximately 1 hour.
From Tina’s, drive for about 30 minutes to Xincun Village Pier in the lower section of the gorge. Take a local ferry across the Jinsha River to Daju Pier. The ferry crossing usually takes around 1.5–2 hours, depending on river and operating conditions.
After arriving at Daju, continue by vehicle for approximately 2 hours back to Lijiang, where your Tiger Leaping Gorge hiking tour ends.