Tiger Leaping Gorge
The deepest gorge in the world, the rushing headwaters of the Yangtze, quaint Naxi villages appearing seemingly as they were 1000 years ago: what more could you ask for? Tiger Leaping Gorge lives up to its reputation. The seasonal climate of Yunnan makes this 2-4 day hike enjoyable throughout the year. Package tourists barely venture into the gorge, snap a few photos and hop back on the bus for their next destination. For this reason, we only recommend this excursion for experienced hikers in good physical condition. We will take you on the secluded route, with a 3 mile high façade of the Jade Dragon Mountain range staring back at you, reaching towards the heavens.
Just a few kilometers upstream from the gorge the Yangtze River makes an improbable 180 degree turn at Shigu. From here the waters head northeast crashing through the narrow crevice of Tiger Leaping Gorge, which takes its name from a Naxi myth which tells of a tiger that leapt across the gorge to escape from a predator.
Despite the best efforts of UNESCO and the opposition of China’s central government, the Yunnan Provincial Government hopes to build a hydroelectric dam just before the start of the gorge. The dam would effectively destroy the natural beauty of the gorge, and displace many locals whose families have called the area home for centuries. While construction of the dam is far from a certainty, visiting the gorge sooner rather than later is imperative.
