Shangri-La - Lijiang

April 21 2013: Through Tiger Leaping Gorge

Another exciting day beckoned, so I tore myself away from Shangri-La with the promise of Tiger Leaping Gorge ahead. I was a bit concerned about the roads, but they were only terrifying for a little bit!!!

The day began with a pleasant drive through Pine Forests scattered with masses of colourful rhodedendrons..

Naxi woman appears to be smoking a gigantic joint

We arrived after a pleasant drive through more pine forest in time for lunch in the steepest part of the gorge. I found it more impressive that the actual “viewing point” where the tiger is reputed to have leapt!  It’s certainly a lunch I won’t forget for its sheer and splendid setting and its loo with a view.

The original tea horse trail can be seen on the the other side of the road down to the alleged tiger leaping spot.












The road would have struggled to pass general elf and safety conditions but did provide a dramatic drive down to the viewpoint



The Viewing Point proved our exercise for the day – 600 odd steps down, a quick photo-shoot trying to avoid the hoards of mainland tourists and yes, 600 steps up again!  Fun though, and a splendid statue of a ferocious tiger made it worth the trek!  I should mention at this point that on the whole trip we scarcely saw any other “foreigners”, and I had my photo taken on several occasions by young mainlander tourists who had not seen  “old lady with red hair” before !! 

There is another tiger poised to leap from the opposite bank

...on to this rock.

Quick snorter at the bar

I was sorry to leave the gorge, as I felt that meant the best parts of the trip were behind us. I feared Lijiang would be a disappointment after S-L, but am happy to report it was not. We pulled in to the Crowne Plaza on the brink of the old town, and it was not the awful high-rise we expected. Yes, it was a “chain” hotel, but beautiful décor, little cottages of accommodation, comfortable and well-equipped.  And the back gate led straight into the back part of the old town, away from the super-crowded areas we would find when we returned from our last section of the trip at Lugu Lake.  We just walked a few yards to a nice restaurant, then Home James, as it had been a long drive.

before meal in old town Lijiang

yummy grub