Return to China -- Part 29. Tiger Leaping Gorge

After lunch we traveled higher into the mountains to visit the famous Tiger Leaping Gorge. Supposedly it got its name when local peasants saw a tiger cross from one side of the Yangtze River to the other in a single bound.

Approaching the gorge from the East.

Paths carved into the side of the cliff.

Uh..., driver..., we're getting a little close to the edge here. That's the Yangtze River below. 

That's where the tiger supposedly made his leap. It is possible to walk all the way down on hundreds of steps. I was still a bit under the weather and declined.

The "first bend" of the Yangtze. It's just a little stream here. Further East it is a mighty force [here].

Getting down to water level isn't that much of a problem -- the difficulty is getting back. That's where these guys come in. For a fee they will carry you back up to the top of the stairs.


It was just a short visit. Then we got back on the bus to travel through the high plateau heading ever higher into the mountains.