The best scenic hiking trails in China offers the opportunities to venture deep into the enchanted middle kingdom, to explore its great outdoor for breathtaking views. It will be an adventure like no other, as long as you take the first step. So here’re the hikes, from the authentic Great Wall and the ancient Tea-horse Road trail along Tiger Leaping Gorge, to an exhilarating walk along the Li River to the fields and orchards of Yangshuo country. There’re must be one suit your level of fitness and expertise.
#1, Li River -- Surreal Karst Landscape & Pastoral Countryside
Whenever we talk about the classic, best or top hiking trails in China, we think Li River, which connects Guilin and Yangshuo, and is the epitome of South China Karst scenery. Apart from the limestone peaks along the banks of the river, there are a lot more to see, from the rice terraces, tranquil villages, lovely islets, bamboo groves, buffalos grazing the grass, and cormorant fisherman.
The highlight attractions along this trail include Nine-horse Fresco Hill, Yellow Cloth Shoal and Xingping Old Town.
There are three options for Li River hiking:
■ Route 1: Complete Li River hiking trail (currently unavailable)
■ Route 2: Essential lLi River hiking trail
■ Route 3: Li River hiking from Shangnei to Xingping
>> Recommended 8-day Guilin Hiking Tour of Li River and Longji Rice Terraces
#2, the Great Wall -- Enormous Historic Military Defensive Project, North China View
An iconic image of China, the Great Wall has a history of over 2000 years and as long as 1,196 km (13,171 mi). It traverses the mountains of north China, and resemble a giant dragon flying on the sky. The famous sections of the Great Wall such as Badaling, Juyong Pass and Mutianyu, are best for sightseeing and leisure walking, while many wild Great Wall around Beijing like Jinshanling, Simatai, JInkou, Gubeikou, which retain their original and authentic features, are great hiking trails.
Note that the wild Great Wall are unrepaired, so many parts are eroded and damaged. Besides, some trails are extremely steep and precipitous, requiring great physical strength and special carefulness.
It will be better if combing hikes with camping, night tour (Simatai) and photography.
There are many options for the Great Wall hiking, here we list three:
■ Route I: Great Wall hiking Jinshanling to Simatai
■ Route 2: Great Wall hiking Jiankou to Mutianyu
■ Route 3: Great Wall hiking Gubeikou to Jinshanling
#3, Hiking Tiger Leaping Gorge – One of the Deepest Canyons in the World
Water roaring under 3900 meters, 216 meters crazy drop in a short distance, 18 rapid dangerous shoal, 28 twists and turns, more than 200 hanging adders, 23 kilometers of mountain wilderness walk, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain in sight -- It is the Tiger Leaping Gorge in Yunnan, a world-class hiking trail.
Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the most popular hiking/ trekking trail in China but there’re never crowds. You feel only the serenity and magic of nature.
■ You may challenge 3 days Tiger Leaping Gorge hike route:
Day 1, Qiaotou Village – Upper Trekking Route – 28 Bends – Tea Horse Guesthouse (around 5.5 hrs)
Day 2, Tea Horse Guesthouse – Halfway Guesthouse – Tina’s Guesthouse – Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge - Walnut Orchard (around 5 hrs)
Day 3, Walnut Orchard – Lower Tiger Leaping Gorge – Upper Ferry – Daju (around 3hrs)
>> Recommended 16-day China Hiking Adventure to the Great Wall, Li River & Tiger Leaping Gorge
#4 Yellow Mountain – Walking on the Seas of Clouds
One of the most famous and beautiful mountains in China, Yellow Mountain (Mt. Huangshan) is a UNESCO Cultural and Natural Heritage, a world geology park, and a paradise for hiking in China. Hiking Yellow Mountain trails, you can admire its four wonders – peculiar pine trees, fantastic rock peaks, seas of clouds and hot spring. Most of the mountain trails are paved and built with stone stairs. Nevertheless, take care of the camera and mobile when taking photos, as some of the trails (especially the West Sea Canyon) are very precipitous.
■ Suggested 2 days Mt. Huangshan hike route:
Day 1, Yungu Temple – Eastern Steps – Bridge of Immortals – White Goose Ridge – Flying-over Rock – the Bright Top - Cloud-dispelling Pavilion (around 6 hrs)
Day 2, West Sea Grand Canyon: the 1st ring - 2nd ring – Button - Plunk Way - Fairy-Walking Bridge
>> Recommended 16-day China Walking Holiday to the Great Wall, Li River and Yellow Mountain
#5, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park – Avatar Mountain
Due to it’s the other-worldly concentration of quartz sandstone peaks, ZJJ National Forest Park becomes the first national forest park in China, and another geology park and UNESCO heritage in the world. The floating Avatar Mountain makes world famous, and nature lovers and serious hikers find it one of the best places to hike in China. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park trails combine unpaved mountain trails, stone stairs and flat roads. To save time, shuttle bus sometimes is recommended.
■ Suggested 3 days Zhangjiajie National Forest Park hike route:
Day 1, Huangshi Village + Golden Whip Brook (about 7hrs)
Day 2, Ten Mile Gallery + Tianzi Mountain (about 5hrs)
Day 3, Yangjiajie + Yuanjiajie scenic areas including Avatar Mountain, World’s No. 1 Bridge, Wulong Village, Tianbo Mansion, Air Corridor and Eight-mile Shop (6-7hrs)
>> Recommended 6-day Zhangjiajie hiking adventure tour
#6, Meili Snow Mountain-Yubeng Trek
Looking for an epic hiking adventure in China? Consider trek to Yubeng Village in Shangri-La, Yunnan. Located in the holy Meili Snow Mountain area (one of the four holy mountains of Tibetan Buddhism), the Yubeng trail is considered as one of the top 10 hiking trails in the world, and a challenge hiking in china.
The Yubeng Village is vital to Meili Snow Mountain Kora, and connects the outside world with only two hiking trails – one leads to Xidang Village, and the other leads to Ninong Valley. It is an untouched world and a real Shangri-La. You’ll see the majestic Kawakarpo (6740m, the main peak of Meili, and still a virgin peak), ancient Mingyong Glacier, the Ice Lake, the Sacred Waterfall, and the Sacred Lake.
>> Read more about Meili-Yubeng Trekking Guide & Tips
■ Suggested 4 days Yubeng trek route:
Day 1, Feilaisi drive to Xidang Village – Yubeng Upper Village (hiking around 6-7hrs)
Day 2, Yubeng Upper Village – Ice Lake – Yubeng Upper Village (around 7hrs)
Day 3, Yubeng Upper Village - Yubeng Lower Village – Sacred Waterfall – Yubeng Upper Village e (around 6hrs)
Day 4, Yubeng Upper Village - Ninong Grand Canyon - Mekong River (Lancang River) (around 5hrs)
>> Explore more guided short and long-distance hiking tours in China
#7 Daocheng Yading: A Pure Land on the Blue Planet
Best hiking months: May–Jun & Sep–Oct
Located in Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan Province, Daocheng Yading is known as the "Soul of Shangri-La" and a paradise for hikers seeking scenic trails. Here, three sacred mountains—Xiannairi, Yangmaiyong, and Xiannaduoji—are revered by the Tibetan people. Furthermore, Pearl Lake, Milk Lake, and Five-Color Lake are like jewels embedded among the snow-capped mountains. The difficulty of trekking in Daocheng Yading lies not in the treacherous roads, but in the continuous ascent of over 4000 meters.
5-Day Classic Hiking Route in Daocheng Yading
Day 1: Niru Village (2705m) — Pass (4100m) — Selie Lake (3949m) — Nanbao Pasture (4013m) — Xinzaihe Pasture (3700m)
Day 2: Xinzaihe Pasture (3700m) — Sela Pass (4300m) — Rida Pass (4500m) — Yala Pasture (4200m)
Day 3: Yala Pasture (4200m) — Yala Sacred Mountain —Nigong Village (2100m)—Dongyi District (by car)—Kas Village (2822m)
Day 4: Kas Village (2822m)---Kas Hell Valley---Kas Cattle Shed---Xiannairi Mountain Foot Campsite (4450m)
Day 5: Campsite—Resongcuo—Songduo Pass (4680m)—Snake Lake—Milk Lake—Five-Color Lake—Nuorong Pasture—Chonggu Temple—Pearl Lake—Yading—Daocheng (3900m)
>> Recommended 8 Days Wild West Sichuan Adventure
#8 Kanas - Hiking through Forest and Valley
Best hiking season: June to the end of September
Located in the Altay region of Xinjiang, Kanas stands out for its Hemu Village, the sweeping birch forests, the clear Kanas Lake, and the mysterious Tuva villages. Kanas's most celebrated feature is undoubtedly its autumn scenery. From mid-September onwards, you can see the colorful autumn foliage. However, the weather turns cold in autumn, and it starts snowing on the mountain in August, making the hiking journey a bit more difficult.
Suggested Kanas hiking routes:
Classic Hiking Route: Baihaba—Kanas—Xiaohei Lake—Hemu Section
Hiking Distance: Approx. 60 km
Hiking Time: 3 days
Extended Route: Baihaba—Kanas—Xiaohei Lake—Hemu—Banlu Inn—Jiadengyu
Hiking Distance: Approx. 90 km
Hiking Time: 4-5 days
Kanas Grand Loop: Baihaba—Naren Pasture—Shuanghu—Kanas—Xiaohei Lake—Hemu—Jiadengyu
Hiking Distance: 140 km
Hiking Time: 6-7 days