Lijiang Day Trip: Tiger Leaping Gorge & Black Dragon Pond

Four stops across 60 kilometers: gorge, river, pond and museum in one morning and afternoon

A private day tour of Lijiang's main sights (First Bend on the Yangtze River, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Black Dragon Pond Park and the Museum of Naxi Dongba Culture) with hotel pickup, a professional guide in English or Chinese, lunch and all entrance tickets. The tour runs nine hours including driving, meals and time at each site. A walk of about 2.6 kilometers along the Jinsha River and marble trail leads to Tiger Leaping Rock inside the gorge.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Lijiang highlights and attractions

• Pick up from hotel in Lijiang
• Drive 60km to First Bend on Yangtze River
• See Iron Chain Bridge and Stone Drum village
• Enjoy authentic Chinese lunch
• Drive 40km to Tiger Leaping Gorge
• Walk 2.6km to Tiger Leaping Rock
• Visit Black Dragon Pond Park
• Explore Museum of Naxi Dongba Culture
• Return to hotel in Lijiang

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Lijiang hotel and a 60-kilometer drive to First Bend on the Yangtze River. The road runs through the Lijiang valley past wheat fields and drying haystacks, then opens onto the gorge scenery and the Iron Chain Bridge in Stone Drum town: a village named after a large cylindrical marble tablet. After that stop, you'll have an authentic Chinese lunch at a restaurant along the route.

From there, the tour continues another 40 kilometers to Tiger Leaping Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world. The Yangtze River here is called the Jinsha because of an old rumor that gold can be found in it. The river runs through 34 rapids. In the upper part of the gorge, you walk about 2.6 kilometers along the Jinsha River and a marble trail to reach Tiger Leaping Rock, a walk that takes you through the gorge itself rather than above it.

In the afternoon, the tour heads to Black Dragon Pond Park, a famous pond built in 1737 during the Qing dynasty at the foot of Elephant Hill, a short walk north of Lijiang's Old Town. The pond sits in Jade Spring Park and frames a view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the region's tallest peak, over a white marble bridge. The final stop is the Museum of Naxi Dongba Culture, where you can learn about Naxi pictograph characters and explore the minority culture on display. If you want to attend the Naxi Orchestral Show in Dongba Palace, that costs extra and is your choice. The tour ends with drop-off at your hotel.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Lijiang.
• a professional guide speaking English or Chinese.
• lunch at a restaurant.
• entrance tickets to First Bend on the Yangtze River, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Black Dragon Pond Park and the Museum of Naxi Dongba Culture.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00, 08:30 and 09:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (11 to 75 years) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Yunnan Adventure Travel

Is this one for you?This is a private tour, so the guide and driver work for your group alone and the pace follows your interests. If you want longer at the gorge or the museum, the schedule adjusts. Choose it if you prefer not to drive yourself in unfamiliar terrain and want someone who knows the sites and the roads to handle both.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 10 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How far is Tiger Leaping Gorge from Lijiang, and what's the walk like once I get there?

Tiger Leaping Gorge is 40 kilometers from First Bend on the Yangtze River, the first stop of the day. Once you arrive, you walk about 2.6 kilometers along the Jinsha River and marble trail to reach Tiger Leaping Rock, moving through the gorge itself and taking in the river and the 34 rapids.

What's included in this tour, and what costs extra?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, a professional guide in English or Chinese, lunch at a restaurant, and entrance tickets to all four sites are included. The Naxi Orchestral Show at Dongba Palace is optional and costs extra if you choose to attend.

How long does this tour take, and what does that time cover?

The tour runs nine hours total, which includes all driving time between sites, lunch, and time spent at each attraction. You'll spend the morning at First Bend and Tiger Leaping Gorge, have lunch in between, and visit Black Dragon Pond Park and the museum in the afternoon.

What is Black Dragon Pond Park, and why is it worth seeing?

Black Dragon Pond Park is a historic pond built in 1737 during the Qing dynasty, located at the foot of Elephant Hill just north of Lijiang's Old Town. It frames a view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the region's tallest mountain, over a white marble bridge, and sits within the larger Jade Spring Park.

What can I learn at the Museum of Naxi Dongba Culture?

The museum teaches visitors about Naxi pictograph characters and the culture of the Naxi minority people. You explore the exhibits at your own pace as part of the tour's afternoon stops.