Go Deep in Lijiang: Thrills and encounters along Tiger Leaping Gorge

Day two of their walk challenged them with more danger and presented them with more wonder. To them, danger came in the form of walking on a wet path close to edges of cliffs, over rocks and stones.

To them, wonder came in the form of walking under a waterfall and having an up-close and personal view of Nature's artwork, which was a living one. At Tiger Leaping Gorge(Hutiaoxia), Nature presented them with a new creation at every turn of the head and with every glance of the eye. For them, Hutiaoxia served as a gentle yet firm reminder not to take things for granted and to give back in return what had been endowed upon them.

Lunch was quickly eaten at the halfway. More grains were needed to supplement their energy. With hope for more gain, they aimed to reach their next destination Tina’s Guesthouse, before nightfall.

During the afternoon trek, the walkers came across two Australian hikers as they circumvented the wide bend where cool, clear water rushed down the falls. The Australians were hiking in the opposite direction, from Tina's Guesthouse to Halfway. The young couple were expats living in Shanghai, and one of them spoke Mandarin.

More hikers passed by them. More pleasantries were exchanged. A couple of hours later, they reached Tina's in time to freshen up for dinner.

Reporting by Yang Piyuan; Editing by Mo Yingyi; Photos provided by Yang Piyuan