Hiking in China

If you fancy a challenge during your trip to China, take a two-day hike through the spectacular Tiger Leaping Gorge. The trail winds high above the Jinsha River, with towering mountains rising on either side and dramatic views along the way. You’ll climb to around 2,500 metres, passing through pine forests, small villages and waterfalls as you make your way through the gorge.

Along the route, you’ll stay at a simple mountain lodge, giving you a chance to rest your legs, meet fellow hikers and enjoy the mountain scenery. It’s a rewarding hike with plenty of fresh air, impressive views and a real sense of getting off the beaten track.

If you fancy exploring the jutting peaks, deep canyons and odd-shaped pine trees of the Yellow Mountains, take a couple of days to explore this spectacular area. Also known as Huangshan, the mountains are famous for their dramatic granite peaks, which often rise above a sea of mist and clouds. There are walking trails all over the area, with plenty of viewpoints to stop at along the way.

Spend a night in the historic town of Tunxi, staying in a traditional guesthouse, before heading up into the mountains for a night at a hotel among the peaks. From here, you can set off on foot to explore the trails and viewpoints, with an early start giving you the chance to watch the sunrise light up the mountains. The weather can change quickly here, so you might see clear peaks one minute and misty mountains the next.

This bite-sized trip gives you the chance to explore the area surrounding Ping’an in Southern China and the famous Dragon’s Back Bone. You’ll hike through wooded areas, ascend lush, green rice paddies and along river banks during this five hour trek. You will also pass through several villages during the day where you can see the locals going about their daily lives and get a real sense of the scale of the agricultural land in this area.