China Three Parallel Rivers Trek

Northwest Yunnan, China · China

Challenging7 daysAsia~£800 est.

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Overview

Yunnan's north-west corner stacks three of Asia's great rivers — Yangtze, Mekong, Salween — side by side within 50 km, and this trek samples both ends of that UNESCO landscape. Start with the two-day high trail through Tiger Leaping Gorge, a path cut into the wall far above the Yangtze with the 5,596 m Jade Dragon massif directly opposite; the Naxi Family and Halfway guesthouses serve the best-earned fried rice in China. Then travel north over 4,000 m road passes to Feilai Si, where dawn lights the full 6,740 m pyramid of Kawagarbo — a mountain so sacred that climbing it is banned, and no one has ever stood on its summit. Walk in from there to roadless Yubeng village for the Sacred Waterfall pilgrimage circuit, through forest that holds a quarter of China's plant species. April-May and September-November dodge monsoon cloud and snow on the passes. Around £800 for a week including Lijiang and Shangri-La transport. Respect the altitude arithmetic: Lijiang (2,400 m) to Yubeng (3,200 m) comes quicker than your body wants.