Tricked by my 72-year-old dad, I ended up hiking a section of the Tiger Leaping Gorge!

The Tiger Leaping Gorge scenic area is flanked by the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain on the south bank and the Haba Snow Mountain on the north bank. Constrained by mountains over 5000 meters in altitude on both sides, the Jinsha River narrows down to just over 50 meters wide in the gorge, with the narrowest point being so slim that a tiger could leap across, hence the name Tiger Leaping Gorge. The Tiger Leaping Gorge scenic area is divided into three sections: Upper Tiger Leaping, Middle Tiger Leaping, and Lower Tiger Leaping, and it is one of the deepest gorges in China. Upper Tiger Leaping is a well-developed tourist area with plank roads and escalators, suitable for all ages; Middle Tiger Leaping has a hiking trail that leads to the Jinsha River, suitable for visitors with some hiking experience. 🌟 Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Trail Regarded as 'one of the top ten classic hiking trails in the world,' most people start their hike from the Naxi Yage Guesthouse in Zhongnuoyu Village, Tiger Leaping Gorge Town, covering a total distance of about 16 to 25 kilometers (depending on the specific route), usually completed in 2 days. Zhang's Guesthouse is both the starting and ending point of the last section of the hiking trail. From the small path at Zhang's Guesthouse down to the river and then back up the 168 Brave Men's Ladder, it takes about 2-3 hours. We didn't have the equipment or the time to hike the entire trail, but my dad said that he had a meal at Zhang's Guesthouse back in the day and then easily walked to the bottom of Middle Tiger Leaping in the afternoon. He said the journey wasn't too long, that it was very interesting along the way, and that the path wasn't as well built as it is now... (Photo 2️⃣ proves that my parents really went there in 2008) Then I was hoodwinked by my dad, and with just a bottle of water, I followed him down the mountain. We didn't wear masks, ate dirt all the way, and were full... We came up looking like mud monkeys, covered in dust and dirt. I also admire how my mom was tricked by my dad into walking there and back in the day. This time my mom waited for us at the top, firmly refusing to go down, but she said it was easy except for the Brave Men's Ladder! If you want to take a 'life photo' at the riverside of Middle Tiger Leaping, you have to wait in a long queue for the photo spot. The 168 Brave Men's Ladder is divided into three sections, each almost vertical, and it's really not climbable for those who are afraid of heights or have weak hands and feet. On the way back, when the young hikers passing by learned of my dad's age, they all expressed their amazement and praised him, saying 'Your grandpa is still your grandpa.' There are many supply stations along the way, and the prices are not too expensive. At the entrance of the Lower Tiger Leaping tunnel, we encountered a mobile coffee cart. Buying coffee and taking photos on the roof of the car was a novel experience. 🌟 Costs Upper Tiger Leaping Scenic area ticket: 55 yuan Escalator one-way: 50 yuan, round-trip: 70 yuan Middle Tiger Leaping Zhang's small path: 15 yuan for road maintenance fee 168 Brave Men's Ladder: 10 yuan (paid at the exit kiosk)