1. Overview of the Scenic Area

　　The Jinsha River flows from north to south, descending straight down, parallel to the Lancang River and Nu River, hence it is called "Three Rivers Converging." At the "First Bend of the Yangtze River" in Shigu, Lijiang, the Jinsha River turns left and flows east, passing between Yulong Snow Mountain (elevation 5596 meters) and Haba Snow Mountain (elevation 5396 meters), forming a huge canyon, which is the world-famous Tiger Leaping Gorge.

　　Shangri-La's Tiger Leaping Gorge is famous for its grandeur, uniqueness, danger, and steepness. The gorge is 23 kilometers long, with the narrowest part of the river surface being over 20 meters wide, an average flow of 1800 cubic meters per second, a drop of 213 meters, and an elevation difference of 3900 meters. It is on par with the Grand Canyon and the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon, ranking as the fourth largest canyon in the world and the second largest in China, and is the largest canyon of the Yangtze River, classified as a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

　　Before the Yuan Dynasty, Tiger Leaping Gorge was known as Yuemiegenguan, during the Yuan Dynasty it was called Xueshanmen Pass, during the Ming and Qing Dynasties it was called Hujiao Gorge, and during the Republic of China it was called Hujiao Beach. In 1958, when the People's Commune was established, it was renamed Tiger Leaping Gorge and has been used ever since.

　　Shangri-La's Tiger Leaping Gorge consists of the Upper, Middle, and Lower Tiger Leaping Gorges and one of the world's top ten classic hiking routes—the High Road Hiking Trail, which opened to the public in 1992.

　　Upper Tiger Leaping

　　Upper Tiger Leaping is the narrowest section of the entire gorge, with a river surface width of only over 20 meters. A giant rock stands majestically in the middle of the river, about 13 meters high. It is said that a fierce tiger once jumped to the opposite bank using this rock, hence the name Tiger Leaping Stone, and the gorge got its name from this. This giant rock splits the rushing water into two, with roaring waves crashing, the water and rocks clashing like a roaring tiger, deafening; the mist sprays onto the face, allowing one to feel the coolness of the water and the vitality of life.

　　Middle Tiger Leaping

　　Here, the river is filled with rocky reefs, and the water drops over a hundred meters within less than 5 kilometers. The Jinsha River flows like a dragon breaking through a pass, crashing and roaring, with muddy waves surging, forming 18 dangerous rapids, famously known as "Stars in the Sky." The cliffs on both sides are like they were cut with a knife, steep and locked in, as poet Sun Ranweng wrote: "The axe leaves no trace in the barbarian city, flowing out like an ox towards Lijiang. Every day a trench is dug in the line of sight, with two mountains clashing like a stone gate."

　　Lower Tiger Leaping

　　In the Lower Tiger Leaping section, the Jinsha River becomes much gentler, and the thrilling nature of the gorge gradually disappears, with less danger and more elegance and openness. The view is broad, with fields and farmland as far as the eye can see, and the rolling river flows vigorously forward. Here, one can appreciate the graceful dance of the Jinsha River girl, the twists and turns of the river, and the joy of breaking through the stone gate; one can also gaze at the beauty of Haba Snow Mountain and Yulong Snow Mountain.

　　Tiger Leaping Gorge High Road Hiking Trail

　　The Tiger Leaping Gorge High Road Hiking Trail is known as "one of the world's top ten classic hiking routes" and is a world-class hiking paradise. This route starts from Lengdu Village in Tiger Leaping Gorge Town, Shangri-La, where the Haba and Yulong mountains face each other, and the Jinsha River, with its roaring waves, winds eastward, offering a panoramic view. Along the way, the grandeur, uniqueness, danger, and steepness of Tiger Leaping Gorge are presented one by one. Moreover, you can enjoy a tranquil time in the mountain inns along the way, experiencing the unique cultural features of ethnic minorities.

　　2. Geographic Location and Transportation Conditions of the Scenic Area

　　Shangri-La's Tiger Leaping Gorge is located in Tiger Leaping Gorge Town, Shangri-La City, Diqing Prefecture, serving as the southern gateway of Diqing Prefecture and a fortress connecting Diqing Prefecture with the outside world, with a very advantageous geographical location.

　　Passenger Bus Information:

　　1. Round-trip buses from Shangri-La City and Lijiang City: The first bus departs at 7:10 AM every day, followed by a bus every half hour until the last bus at 5:40 PM.

　　2. Round-trip buses from Shangri-La City and Xiaguan City: The first bus departs at 7:00 AM every day, followed by a bus every half hour until the last bus at 7:30 PM.

　　3. Round-trip buses from Shangri-La City and Kunming City: The first bus departs at 1:00 PM every day, followed by a bus every hour until the last bus at 7:30 PM; additionally, there is a fast bus that departs at 9:00 AM every day.

　　4. The above buses must pass through Tiger Leaping Gorge Town.

　　3. Major Events Held in the Scenic Area

　　1. On August 26, 1986, the Chinese Yangtze River Scientific Investigation Rafting Expedition Team arrived at the lower bridge head town (Tiger Leaping Gorge Town) to begin preparations for rafting the Tiger Leaping Gorge.

　　2. In April 2015, the Ultra-Marathon was held in the Tiger Leaping Gorge scenic area, with 72 participants from 20 countries.

　　3. From March 2 to 6, 2016, the third Red Bull Freestyle Kayaking Challenge was held in Shangri-La's Tiger Leaping Gorge, with 10 top freestyle kayakers from the United States, Canada, France, and China competing for the honor of the most adventurous water sports.

　　4. At 11:41 AM on April 26, 2016, after careful arrangements, Zhang Liang stood at the starting point on the Lijiang side of Tiger Leaping Gorge and began his challenge. Ultimately, he completed the challenge in 5 minutes and 58 seconds, after taking 135 steps, and steadily reached the finish line on the Shangri-La side of Tiger Leaping Gorge.