Located at the junction  of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau stands one of Yunnan’s more famous spots, Tiger Leaping Gorge. The gorge itself is tucked neatly between the Yulong Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain, which surround its two sides.

The 17-km-long gorge is divided into three segments with an aggregate fall of 210 meters.  At the opening of the gorge, which is also the mouth of the Jinsha River, a Herculean pebble, about 30 meters wide, seems to be stranded amidst the billowing waves. Legend has it that in ancient times, a tiger frequently used this pebble as a stepping stone to leap across the gorge. Most visitors take in the most famous first segment of the gorge to observe the narrowest part of the river and see the Tiger Leaping Pebble.

Transportation: From Lijiang, the First Bend of the Yangtze River and Tiger Leaping Village can be seen as part of a one day tour. The trip costs about RMB160 and the price includes all the admission costs, bus fares, guide and lunch. If you don’t go with the one day tour, you can take buses from the bus stations around town to Tiger Leaping Town, which is about 90km from Lijiang. From here, there are pedicabs or minibuses to transfer you 9km further to the Upper Rapids of the gorge.
Cost:RMB35