Tiger Leaping Gorge closed? No problem!

If you're heading to Yunnan and planning to do the fantastic mini-trek at Tiger Leaping Gorge (from the jumping off point of Lijiang), you are likely to hear many differing reports regarding the route's condition, and whether it is open to tourists. The truth is, it is unlikely that anybody in Lijiang really knows. Many just want you to stay in town longer and spend money there, and the government is terrified of an 'incident' involving tourists. They therefore often close the route to foreigners, but not to chinese. An inconsistent safety precaution?

To overcome the problem of police sentries forbidding access, get the bus from Lijjiang to Qiaotou and stay overnight at "Jane's Tibetan Guesthouse", which is just past the sentry house. From there you can set off the next morning before the police start work.

Don't be put off by the safety warnings. Whilst landslides do occur, the real danger is not on the high path that the route takes - it is lower down the mountain. We found all the fear-mongering to be unfounded, as long as you don't linger in certain spots such as under areas of loose-looking rock.

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