YUNNAN

Executive summary by darmansjah

NESTLED in the shadow of the snow-capped Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain, the famous Tiger Leaping Gorge boasts a spectacular series of rapids between almost vertical cliffs. The scenic 15 kilometre long canyon is located 60 kilometres north of Lijiang in Yunnan and offers one of the best treks in the world.

At a leisurely pace, the hike takes two to three days, and is fairly easy – the most challenging part, known as the 28 bends, involves climbing steep trails. There are plenty of guesthouses on the trail should you decide to stop and take in the view. You can also opt to attempt the trek in a group with a guide that departs from Lijiang if you don’t want to go through the hassle of planning transportation and lodging.

China Eastern Arilines (flychinaeastern.com) and China Southern (flychinasouthern.com) fly from Singapore Changi Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Lijiang Airport with one stop along the way, in shangai and Gungazhou respectively. From Lijiang, buses ply daily routes to Qiatou. The bus rides take two hours and cost about US$5.

The Hlafway Guesthouse is about seven hours from the western starting point, and with clean rooms and warms beds, is a great place to rest or put up for the night. Situated above the clouds, the view from the guesthouse, and its toilet, are jaw-dropping (from US$15).