Lamadeng

Lamadeng

Lamadeng

Traveling 50 kilometers north along the upper Nujiang River from Liuku, the Nujiang gradually reveals its majestic grandeur. At the 50-kilometer mark from Liuku, the canyon suddenly narrows, with towering peaks on both banks and cliffs as sheer as if cut by a knife. The canyon stretches 10 kilometers in length, with the narrowest point being just 10 meters wide. Bizarre rocks rise from the river, and the turbulent waters crash violently against the boulders, producing a deafening roar. In the Lisu language, this place is called “Lamadeng,” meaning “Tiger’s Leap.” At the northern end of the canyon lies the Gejie River, while at the southern end, the Duduluo River surges forth from the mountains, its rapids churning with white foam, merging the crystal-clear snowmelt from the snow-capped peaks into the muddy torrent of the Nujiang. This adds an air of mystery to the scenery of Tiger’s Leap Canyon. It is said that during the conscription drives of the Republican era, even conscripts leaped across the river from the east bank to the west bank at Tiger’s Leap.