Tiger Leaping Gorge



Tiger Leaping Gorge begins at Qiaotou village, Zhongdian County and ends at Daju village,
Lijiang. The gorge is 18 kilometers long at the upper reaches of the Jinsha River.

Legend says that in order to escape from a hunter, a tiger jumped across the river at the
narrowest point, hence the name. The water here makes violent whirlpools and hits the banks so
powerfully that soaring breakers are created. The high waves, soaring water and the mountains
shrouded with clouds and mist constitute the most magnificent scene of the gorges.

It is divided into three segments, the upper gorge, the middle gorge and the lower gorge. The first
section, which is the narrowest and uppermost section, is the mouth of the fast flowing Yangtze
River. In the midst of the river's mouth is a large rock that is positioned at the gorge's narrowest
section - only 30 meters wide.

Walking down the narrow path to the rapids, views change from time to time. Once you get close enough, the roaring and mighty rapids will leave
an indelible impression in your mind. As the river enters the middle section, it drops another 100 meters and its flow rate increases to an amazing
speed. Here the thunderous rushing water slams into sharp, large rocks and crash down into the river forming swirling whirlpools.

Tiger Leaping Gorge is a contender for the world's deepest river canyon, depending on the exact definition used. The inhabitants of the gorge are
primarily the indigenous Naxi people, who live in a handful of small hamlets.

Tiger Leaping Gorge is not only a scenic area but also a place with plentiful natural resources. According to experts' prospecting, it is feasible to
build a hydroelectric dam at Tiger Leaping Gorge, the highest gorge in Asia. In addition, Tiger Leaping Gorge is the birthplace of the ancient Lijing
culture, whose people lived in the many caves, big and small, in he Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. These caves were naturally formed houses. In
some caves, rock paintings about the life and products of primitive peoples were found. The rock paintings have now become another attraction of
Tiger Leaping Gorge.