The Best Hike in China | Tiger Leaping Gorge

Named after the legend of a tiger leaping over the Jinsha river, 虎跳峡 Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the most famous hiking routes in China. Located between the Yulong and Haba Snow Mountains, this hike offers some of the most stunning views in the country. The best part is, there are very few tourists. Join me on this two day hike across Shangri-La County in Yunnan Province.
Hiking shot using the new Insta360 X3.
FILMED BY:
Jeffrey: / jhmedium
Rika: / rikasplanet
OUR ITINERARY:
Day 1:
🚌 Lijiang Bus Station 丽江客运站 → Hutiaoxia 虎跳峡镇 (3hrs)
🚙 Cab from Hutiaoxia Village → Naxiyage GH (10mins car or 1hr trek)
🥾 Hike from Naxiyage GH → Tea Horse GH (4hrs)
☕️ Rest and food break at Tea Horse GH (1hr)
🥾 Hike from Tea Horse GH → Judy’s GH (2hrs)
🛌 Dinner and overnight stay at Judy’s GH
Total Hiking Distance: 12km
Day 2:
🍜 Breakfast at Halfway GH
🥾 Hike from Halfway GH → Tina’s GH (4hrs)
🍚 Lunch at Tina’s GH (1hr)
🥾 Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge Roundtrip hike (3hrs)
🚌 Bus from Tina’s GH → Lijiang (3hrs)
Total Hiking Distance: 10km
GEAR:
Main camera: Insta360 X3
B-Roll camera: Fujifilm XT4, Sony ZVE10, Insta360 ONE RS
Sound: DJI Mic

[@lisachu376]

This is one of the best x3 videos I've seen. Not some sponsored review or crazy action sports that I will never be able to shoot myself. This makes me want to buy it because it's exactly how regular person like me will use a 360 camera! Great job!

[@JHMedium]

Thank you so much, this means a lot 🙏🙏 I’m not much of an action sport person either, but the X3 is perfect for hiking shots!

[@pragyanbezbo]

I was just going to say this and saw this pinned comment. I loved how raw and simple this video was - for normal folks like us! I got this camera today and can't wait to try random things out with this.

[@pragyanbezbo]

@jhmedia Is the audio from the Insta itself or did you use any external microphone? The description said DJI Mic. Is that is so, which one is that?

[@JHMedium]

@@pragyanbezbo I did use an external mic (DJI wireless mic) to record all the audio. Usually I feel the x3 audio is pretty good, but it was too windy on the hike, so an external mic with a wind guard is better.

[@pragyanbezbo]

@@JHMedium thank you for clarifying. Yeah, I was trying out the audio and found it pretty nice but to push it to the next level, an external mic would be great. I might invest in one.

[@melissawilliams7238]

Im watching this video from Washington State USA because I had a totally random vivid dream this morning that I was hiking up a mountain in China! Ive never even traveled outside the continental United States!!! I woke up mindblown feeling like I had literally just teleport vacationed in the mountains of China! It was so incredible and the views were amazing! I woke up and told my mother and my husband all about my adventures in China last night. 😄

[@Ozpeter]

Excellent content, and a great example of what the X3 can do in the right hands!

[@JHMedium]

Thank you 🙏 X3 is definitely a great camera to shoot hiking with!

[@jonashill4127]

Beautifully shot and edited JHMedium! Can’t wait to see what you cook up next!

[@JHMedium]

Another Yunnan vlog coming soon!!

[@DeGuoTaiKe]

Tiger Leaping George is one of my favorite hikes too - Hiking Jade Buddha Snow Mountain (the one to the right of the hiking path was even better. There is a touristic area with cable car, but there is at least one other way up where I encountered exactly 0 other people for the whole day. From 2000m to 3800m. It was one of the best experiences in my life.

[@JHMedium]

Sounds incredible. But 0 people, maybe also a tad scary haha

[@gruesomevids6655]

Great video. I'll be coming here for sure when i go to China. At the end of the video you said that you don't think you're ready for your "dream hike", Trolltunga. I live by Trolltunga and go there every summer. I see all kinds of people taking on the challenge, so don't be afraid. It's a tough route, but you can do it 100%!

[@jmzbondm]

This looks so amazing! Probably the best hiking KZbin video I've seen of China.

[@lukesook9320]

I hiked this in 2017, so glad to see Tina’s still doing well. Love this video

[@208_treasure6]

I totally agree that hiking downhill is torture on the knees 😖😵😵‍💫 I much prefer going up than down.

[@MissaJustine]

Great video. China is stunning. One day wish to travel to this special place on earth

[@SodaStudioCo]

By far the best video about tiger leaping gorge hike🎉

[@JHMedium]

Thank you so much 😊

[@rosaweronikaanna5038]

Thank you for shearing your experience. Your videos are absolutely great!

[@惠玲黄-u3k]

Nice shooting and beautiful scenary!!

[@Rikasplanet]

Can’t wait for the next challenge 🤛

[@JHMedium]

Trolltunga here I come!! 🇳🇴

[@joachimtextor709]

Great documentary indeed, bravo, I had visited Lijiang and Shangri - La also, amazing places indeed especially Lijiang with its tea and horse road history,unique in the world

[@rosniirwan2316]

Well done....i love the views...thanks for sharing

[@kingandkongo]

So many reasons to love this video!

[@stehume]

it was the 360 cam that lead me to your channel but i also do hiking to, i have only made two videos as i damaged my ankle, that was 11 months ago. Im know back in y hiking boots and out again from this year (2023). that looks a lovely walk, scary in some parts. loved the video and th quality of it. have subbed to hopefully see more similar content and i will be browsing your other videos. when you said you wanted to work towards your all time walk i did think you were going to say the camino da santiago, which is something that i want to do. thank you for a great video

[@BeijingBuzzz-China-Travel]

Lovely film : )

[@xiaobei9401]

Thank you so much!!!!!

[@sultanularifin741]

Waiting for the next one! From BANGLADESH!❤️

[@cinnamomumcamphora8943]

Great video! Subscribed! ❤👍

[@sadako2009]

nice...i have x3...they do well when you are at very wide open spaces :)

[@sprl2449]

Very nice video! You want to visit Trollstunga? Cool - we want to go to Norway this summer but I am not sure we are fit enough to walk 28km on one day in the Fjordland.

[@JHMedium]

Yea, 28 km seems very tough 😅 I don't think I'm prepared for that either. But my friends who went camped overnight, and it was more doable for them split into two days.

[@vipschop]

beautiful shots man. Makes me wanna get the insta360

[@jim.pearsall]

Spectacular!!!

[@ponyrang]

Wow! Nice one video. Love for you also best wishes to you, Carry on dear. I'm rooting for you every day.

[@JB_FLYA69669]

Great video you have inspired me to go here

[@alpencams]

Really cool! 😊

[@bigfoothollie]

拍得太好了！！從你的拍攝裏我學到很多。 關於膝蓋疼， it's not your fault， 因爲你只有一隻登山杖（另一隻手要拿拍攝設備），受力不均就會膝蓋痛。這種情況也會發生在久坐的上班族，總的來説就是缺少鍛煉吧。 下次Hiking可以戴上護膝，會很有幫助的。

[@Sheety33]

Nice job - enjoyed🤠

[@alexgang408]

You should try “雨崩” or Yubeng trail. That’s the best trail of all in Yunnan recommended by locals.

[@JHMedium]

Yeah! I came across Yubeng as well when doing research on the area, though it seemed way more difficult to reach without a car… but that’s definitely next on the list.

[@DerekThom]

Great video, wonderful views! I have found going down is always more painful than going up haha

[@shinertom142]

Great review on insta ✌️🙏… I done Trolltunga a few years back …. Was Fanta.. the adrenaline kept me going

[@JHMedium]

Thanks 🙏 .. Can’t wait to tackle Trolltunga, hopefully summer next year.

[@nabayan3897]

Really enjoyed the video. I'm a foreigner studying in China for the last 4 years. Since covid has eased out I think it is the right time to explore this amazing country. I've got few questions. 1. What is the best time of the year to hike? (Is July-August a good time?) 2. How can I book a room at the hotel where you stayed? 3. Are drones allowed?

[@JHMedium]

It’s usually rainy season in the summer, so it will be harder to find good weather days. I’d suggest winter or spring. You can search “Halfway Guesthouse” or “Half Mountain Residence Inn” on Trip or any other booking site. These two are the main overnight accommodations for a two day hike. I saw many people flying drones there, I didn’t bring mine because it’s too heavy…

[@s1u8n]

spectacular, thanks for the inspiration

[@simonkew4980]

Just returned from Yunnan. You make the hike look so easy 😂

[@JHMedium]

It was not easy for me either … the tough bits were just too hard to film 😂😅

[@kongwwcc6002]

视频很棒啊，拍摄和后期都很用心了，为啥播放量这么少？

[@JHMedium]

谢谢！会继续努力做更好的视频💪

[@CADventures2024]

Nice hike and how to use different angles of insta360 in your journey

[@JHMedium]

The perfect hiking camera 😂

[@CADventures2024]

@@JHMedium haha

[@dreamer5606]

May I know which month was it....great video !

[@JHMedium]

Thanks! We went in October last year.

[@lovemusa8040]

Thank you for sharing experience, which month did you visit there? This is so beautiful scenery. I also have plan to there but still can not make decision to go in June or the end of the year😂.

[@JHMedium]

We went in October. Definitely go at the end of the year, there will be less chance of rain.

[@brooktown43]

Great video! Can you also get a bus from Tina's Guest House (or somewhere else) to Shangri-La? Instead of having to go back to Lijiang? Thanks!

[@JHMedium]

There are buses from Tina to Lijiang and Shangrila

[@brooktown43]

@@JHMedium thanks!

[@davidpeterson8113]

If we can just do a single day hike and based in Lijiang, what would be best to do?

[@CeeesS]

beautiful trek, nice presentation and overall a good video, too bad it has a low viewership.... Best of luck 👍

[@xiaobei9401]

Hello! How did you arrange your hike? Did you book from a travel agency or a tour guider, Im planning to go there alone this year. Your answer will be so much appreciated 🫶🏻

[@JHMedium]

We went ourselves, no guide or agency. It’s easy enough to navigate without any. But if you want one, I think you can find options if you search online since it’s a popular destination.

[@davidtriyadi]

You have a SUPER great video. Do you know if we can get a day trip to the gorge only without hike from LiJiang then leaving to Shangrila from Tina GH ? We dont have much time in LiJiang, Shangrila and Dali. Either way, my wife doesnt like to trek. Thanks for sharing the beauty of China.

[@JHMedium]

Yes you can still take a bus from Lijiang Bus Terminal to the Upper Gorge, which is the main tourist area if you do no want to go on the trek. This is where you can be up close to the Jinsha River. But it's actually a completely different section from where we visited. We visited the Middle Gorge. You will have to hike at least one hour to see any sites here, so it might not be recommended if you want to avoid hiking.

[@davidtriyadi]

@@JHMedium it's okay for 1 hr trekking. So, if I come from liJiang, Can I have a bus straight to the Tina GH ? or Do I need to change to any small taxi ? and I wonder if you have any suggestion Hotel in liJiang & Shangrila. Im going there this end of November.

[@mariarak8328]

Is this hike easy to navigate or is it easy to get lost? Were there lots of signs along the trail or did you use navigation software to navigate??

[@JHMedium]

Very easy to navigate, pretty much only one path. There are some signs telling you how many km left until certain landmarks. I did not use any maps because the signal is quite bad at most places.

[@mariarak8328]

@@JHMedium Thank you for your reply, in which month did you complete the hike?

[@HCamChannel]

How did you get the X3 to look so good even in cloudy days? I have the X2 and I barely want to use it unless the weather is sunny. Any specific setting you used?

[@JHMedium]

It wasn’t all that cloudy actually, except for the morning. Most of it was just in the shade. The HDR does help a little, and some color correction. But yea I think these 360 cams are the best in sunny weather.

[@曹县六环居民]

肯定还是中国人多，不过上次去的时候路上确实有一些外国人

[@Benchong12]

Great video. Do you engage any guide ? Anyone help you on the booking ?

[@JHMedium]

We booked and planned everything ourselves, no guide.

[@toommeang6730]

What month is in the video?

[@JHMedium]

October

[@toommeang6730]

The view is very beautiful.

[@rgb1586]

insta360 x3 all clip?

[@JHMedium]

Not all, around 75%. All the hiking shots of myself were X3.

[@joellapaz6724]

Suǒyǒu zhòng guó dìngyuè zhě Xiàwǔ hǎo

[@beatpirate8]

maybe i can take my parents to the first point only.

[@YULI-t1s]

Holy shit!! Now they put concrete road everywhere Now?? 😹😿 when we were hiking there 15 Years ago it was all absolutely nature and rocky path.