This post contains three photos.
Tiger Leaping Gorge 虎跳峽 is a scenic canyon on the Jinsha River (Golden Sands River; 金沙江; Jīnshā Jiāng), a primary tributary of the upper Yangtze River. It is located 60 kilometres north of Lijiang City, Yunnan in southwestern China. It is part of the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas World Heritage Site.
At a maximum depth of approximately 3790 meters from river to mountain peak, Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the deepest and most spectacular river canyons in the world.
Around 15 kilometres in length, the gorge is located where the river passes between the 5,596 metres high Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and the 5,396 metres high Haba Snow Mountain in a series of rapids under steep 2,000 metres cliffs.
Legend says that in order to escape from a hunter, a tiger jumped across the river at the narrowest point (still 25 metres (82 ft) wide), hence the name.
To get a feel of the scale of the place, one has to compare the steps that lead down to a viewing platform and the gigantic boulders on the side of the river.
We were there in the Winter time, the scenery was a bit bleak and the water was not very torrential.
In fact, once passed the narrowest point, the water can be quite calm and peaceful.
We are glad to have visited such an immense and awesome place and enjoyed walking along one side of the gorge for a fair distance!
retireediary 