Tiger Leaping Gorge (虎跳峡 hu tiao xia) is a scenic canyon along the Jinsha River, a primary tributary of the upper Yangtze River. It is located 60km north of Ljiang City and is part of the ‘Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan’ protected area, a UNESCO world heritage site.

Some of the most beautiful scenery in Yunnan can be found here, where the powerful river is flanked by Jade Dragon Snow Mountain on one side and Haba Snow Mountain on the other. Soaring peaks form the backdrop for the roaring river that swells with water as the glaciers melt in summer.

At a maximum depth of around 3,790m, Tiger Leaping Gorge is also one of the deepest river canyons in the world. The Gorge consists of three parts – Lower, Middle and Upper Gorge and apart from regular sightseeing there are various adventure hiking trails here.

Related: Hike one of the world’s deepest gorges