Code: LIJIANG06
6 Days Lijiang Hiking Route to Tiger Leaping Gorge
► Route: Lijiang → Wenhai → Lashi Lake → Tiger Leaping Gorge → Walnut Grove → Jingsha River → Daju → Lijiang
Day 1 Lijiang to Wenhai Village
On the first day, take bus or hire a taxi to visit Yufeng Temple, which is one of the five lama temples in Lijiang.
► How to get there: It takes 1.5 hours and costs CNY 4 by bus from Lijiang Old Town to Yufeng Temple. Take bus line 8 from Qixingjie to Shangri-La Avenue first, transfer to bus line 6, and finally get off at Yufeng Temple. It takes 40 minutes and costs CNY 50 by taxi.
► Opening Hours: 8:00 – 18:00
► Recommended Time for a Visit: 1 to 2 hours
► Ticket Price: CNY 20
After visiting, hike to Wenhai Village. It is a xanadu where travelers seldom reach. You can enjoy the marvelous landscape of the lake and the pasture near the village.
► Hiking Time: 5 to 6 hours
► Distance: 25 km (16 mi)
► Altitude: 2,622 to 3,088 meters (8,602 to 10,131 feet)
► Accommodation Suggestion: Stay overnight at the eco lodge jointly operated by the local 56 families.
► How to get there: It takes 1.5 hours and costs CNY 4 by bus from Lijiang Old Town to Yufeng Temple. Take bus line 8 from Qixingjie to Shangri-La Avenue first, transfer to bus line 6, and finally get off at Yufeng Temple. It takes 40 minutes and costs CNY 50 by taxi.
► Opening Hours: 8:00 – 18:00
► Recommended Time for a Visit: 1 to 2 hours
► Ticket Price: CNY 20
After visiting, hike to Wenhai Village. It is a xanadu where travelers seldom reach. You can enjoy the marvelous landscape of the lake and the pasture near the village.
► Hiking Time: 5 to 6 hours
► Distance: 25 km (16 mi)
► Altitude: 2,622 to 3,088 meters (8,602 to 10,131 feet)
► Accommodation Suggestion: Stay overnight at the eco lodge jointly operated by the local 56 families.
Day 2 Wenhai Village to Lashi Lake
On the second day, start a long hike early in the morning from Wenhai Village to Meiquan Village which is located on the north side of Lashi Lake. Lashi Lake is the first wetland natural reserve in Yunnan Province.
► Opening Hours: 9:00 – 19:00
► Recommended Time for a Visit: 2 to 3 hours
► Ticket Price: CNY 30; extra fees for boating and horse riding.
Here you can ride a horse to visit the Old Forest, the headstream of the Holy Spring and the headstream of Lashi Lake at the Seven Fairies Lake. Ride across the ancient Tea-Horse Road and the alp pastures, and then return to the lakeside.
► Hiking Time: 8 to 10 hours
► Distance: 33 km (21 mi)
► Altitude: 2,438 to 3,088 meters (7,999 to 10,131 feet)
► Accommodation Suggestion: Stay overnight in the camp near Lashi Lake.
► Opening Hours: 9:00 – 19:00
► Recommended Time for a Visit: 2 to 3 hours
► Ticket Price: CNY 30; extra fees for boating and horse riding.
Here you can ride a horse to visit the Old Forest, the headstream of the Holy Spring and the headstream of Lashi Lake at the Seven Fairies Lake. Ride across the ancient Tea-Horse Road and the alp pastures, and then return to the lakeside.
► Hiking Time: 8 to 10 hours
► Distance: 33 km (21 mi)
► Altitude: 2,438 to 3,088 meters (7,999 to 10,131 feet)
► Accommodation Suggestion: Stay overnight in the camp near Lashi Lake.
Day 3 Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge
In the morning, hire a taxi and drive about one hour to visit the Stone Drum Town and the First Bend of the Yangtze River, which are all free of charge. Continue to drive one hour to Qiaotou Village and start hiking along the Tiger Leaping Gorge.
► Opening Hours: 8:00 – 18:00
► Recommended Time for a Visit: 1 to 2 days
► Ticket Price: CNY 65 for entry from Lijiang; CNY 45 for entry from Shangri-La
After entry, walk about 1.5 hours along the north bank of the Jinsha River to reach the Naxi Family. Take a rest there, and then hike for 1.5 hours to arrive at the "28 Bends". The "28 Bends" is a section of winding ascent. It takes more than half an hour to finish hiking the "28 Bends" and reach the summit. Overlook the Tiger Leaping Gorge, climb down the mountain, and hike 2 hours northeast to reach the Bendiwan Village.
► Hiking Time: 4 to 6 hours
► Distance: 20 km (12 mi)
► Altitude: 1,812 to 2,670 meters (5,945 to 8,760 feet)
► Accommodation Suggestion: Stay overnight at the Halfway Guesthouse or other hostels along the river.
► Opening Hours: 8:00 – 18:00
► Recommended Time for a Visit: 1 to 2 days
► Ticket Price: CNY 65 for entry from Lijiang; CNY 45 for entry from Shangri-La
After entry, walk about 1.5 hours along the north bank of the Jinsha River to reach the Naxi Family. Take a rest there, and then hike for 1.5 hours to arrive at the "28 Bends". The "28 Bends" is a section of winding ascent. It takes more than half an hour to finish hiking the "28 Bends" and reach the summit. Overlook the Tiger Leaping Gorge, climb down the mountain, and hike 2 hours northeast to reach the Bendiwan Village.
► Hiking Time: 4 to 6 hours
► Distance: 20 km (12 mi)
► Altitude: 1,812 to 2,670 meters (5,945 to 8,760 feet)
► Accommodation Suggestion: Stay overnight at the Halfway Guesthouse or other hostels along the river.
Day 4 Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge
Today, continue to hike to the Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge. About 1.5 hours later, you will arrive at the Tina's, a famous local guesthouse. Have a rest and an early lunch there, and then you can walk down to the bottom of the gorge. The road to the bottom of the gorge is a little steep, so it takes about 45 minutes. There, you can see the torrents and the stone of the Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge in a close distance.
When you finish visiting the Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge, you can return to the Tina's by the way you came. Or you can walk through the sky ladder. From the bottom of the gorge, you will pass the Tiger Leaping Stele first. Then walk for 30 minutes, you will reach the sky ladder. The sky ladder is divided into three sections. The second section is the longest, measuring 10 meters (33 feet) and having 29 steps. It sticks to the rock with an angle of almost 90 degrees. Passing the sky ladder, you have to walk on a short section of winding mountain road, and then walk on the flat road leading back to the Tina's.
► Hiking Time: 4 hours
► Distance: 12 km (7 mi)
► Altitude: 1,800 to 2,175 meters (5,906 to 7,136 feet)
► Accommodation Suggestion: Stay at the Tina’s for a night.
When you finish visiting the Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge, you can return to the Tina's by the way you came. Or you can walk through the sky ladder. From the bottom of the gorge, you will pass the Tiger Leaping Stele first. Then walk for 30 minutes, you will reach the sky ladder. The sky ladder is divided into three sections. The second section is the longest, measuring 10 meters (33 feet) and having 29 steps. It sticks to the rock with an angle of almost 90 degrees. Passing the sky ladder, you have to walk on a short section of winding mountain road, and then walk on the flat road leading back to the Tina's.
► Hiking Time: 4 hours
► Distance: 12 km (7 mi)
► Altitude: 1,800 to 2,175 meters (5,906 to 7,136 feet)
► Accommodation Suggestion: Stay at the Tina’s for a night.
Day 5 Lower Tiger Leaping Gorge to Daju
Hike further northwest along the Tiger Leaping Gorge, pass the Yixiantian and arrive at the Walnut Grove at noon. You can take a rest and have lunch at Woody Hostel or Shanquan Hostel. Then go ahead to hike for 2 hours to arrive at Laodukou Port. Take a ferry to the other side of the Jingsha River. Walk about 4 km (2.5 mi) to Daju Village.
► Hiking Time: 5 hours
► Distance: 20 km (12 mi)
► Altitude: 1,630 to 1,754 meters (5,348 to 5,755 feet)
► Accommodation Suggestion: Stay overnight in a hostel in Daju Village.
► Want to avoid the troubles in trip planning? You can book our 2 Days Guided Tiger Leaping Gorge Tour.
► Hiking Time: 5 hours
► Distance: 20 km (12 mi)
► Altitude: 1,630 to 1,754 meters (5,348 to 5,755 feet)
► Accommodation Suggestion: Stay overnight in a hostel in Daju Village.
► Want to avoid the troubles in trip planning? You can book our 2 Days Guided Tiger Leaping Gorge Tour.
Day 6 Get Back to Lijiang
On the last day, take a bus back to Lijiang. The 90 km (56 mi) long way takes 2.5 hours.
If you want to visit the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, you can get off the bus at the Yak Meadow, from where you can go to the Spruce Plateau or the Dry Sea, and take the grand cable car to visit the snow mountain.
Facts of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain for Your Reference:
► Opening Hours: 8:30 – 17:30
► Recommended Time for a Visit: half or one day
► Ticket Price: CNY 150, including the entrance fee, sightseeing bus, and battery car at Blue Moon Valley.
From the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, you can take bus No. 203 back to Lijiang Old Town in 70 minutes at a cost of CNY 9, or hire a taxi to reach Lijiang in 40 minutes at a cost around CNY 80.
If you want to visit the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, you can get off the bus at the Yak Meadow, from where you can go to the Spruce Plateau or the Dry Sea, and take the grand cable car to visit the snow mountain.
Facts of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain for Your Reference:
► Opening Hours: 8:30 – 17:30
► Recommended Time for a Visit: half or one day
► Ticket Price: CNY 150, including the entrance fee, sightseeing bus, and battery car at Blue Moon Valley.
From the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, you can take bus No. 203 back to Lijiang Old Town in 70 minutes at a cost of CNY 9, or hire a taxi to reach Lijiang in 40 minutes at a cost around CNY 80.
More Lijiang Hiking Tours:
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Unique Ethnic Customs: hiking in Jinghong, Manbeng, Manla and Medeng Villages… to experience the ethnic customs
Recommended Cheap Lijiang Tour:
Lijiang Tour Package: 4 Days to visit highlight attractions in Lijiang including Tiger Leaping Gorge, Lijiang Old Town and more