10 most beautiful canyons of China
There are a lot of great canyons in China. When big rivers come down the “Roof of Earth” Tibetan Plateau, their powerful stream cut through the major mountain ranges all around China, creating a lot of beautiful and spectacular grand canyons and gorges. Here is a list of 10 most beautiful canyons in China
#1. The Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon 雅鲁藏布大峡谷
Along the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet, China, The Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon is regarded by some as the deepest canyon in the world, and is slightly longer than the Grand Canyon in the United States, making it one of the world’s largest.
The Yarlung Tsangpo originates near Mount Kailash and running east for about 1700 km drains a northern section of the Himalayas before its enters the gorge near downstream of Pei, Tibet near the settlement of Zhibe. The canyon has a length of about 240 km as the gorge bends around Mount Namcha Barwa (7782 m) and cuts its way through the eastern Himalayan range. Its waters drop from about 2,900 m near Pei to about 1,500 m at the end of the Upper Gorge where the Po Tsangpo River enters. The river continues through the Lower Gorge to the border at an elevation of 660 m. The river then enters Arunachal Pradesh, India, and eventually becomes the Brahmaputra.
#2. Tiger Leaping Gorge 虎跳峡
Tiger Leaping Gorge is a scenic canyon on the Jinsha River, a primary tributary of the upper Yangtze River. It is located 60 kilometres north of Lijiang City, Yunnan in southwestern China. It is part of the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas World Heritage Site.
Tiger Leaping Gorge is a contender for the world’s deepest river canyon, depending on the exact definition used. The inhabitants of the gorge are primarily the indigenous Naxi people, who live in a handful of small hamlets. Their primary subsistence comes from grain production and foreign hikers.
#3. The Three Gorges of Yangtze River, 长江三峡
Yangtze Gorges region is a scenic area along the Yangtze River in the People’s Republic of China. The Three Gorges span from the western—upriver cities of Fengjie and Yichang in Chongqing Municipality eastward—downstream to Hubei province The Three Gorges region attracts global attention due to the Three Gorges Dam, which is firmly changing the culture and environment of the river and Three Gorges region.
The Yangtze River—Three Gorges region has a total length of approximately 200 kilometres. The Three Gorges occupy approximately 120 kilometres within this region. Although it is primarily famous for its scenery, the Three Gorges region is also a historically and culturally important location in China. Many settlements and archeological sites will be under submersion from the rising Three Gorges Reservoir.
#4. Nujiang Grand Canyon 怒江大峡谷
Located in the most northwest of Yunnan, about 10 hours drive from Kunming, Nujiang Grand Canyon start from Tibet via Yunnan and flow into Myanmar, then merged into Salween river. The major area covers 4 small counties—Liuku, Fugong, Gongshan, and Bingzhongluo. This canyon stretch more than 1000 kilometers, the average depth of the canyon is about 2000 meters, the deepest point of the canyon could be more than 6500 meters.
#5. Lancang River Grand Canyon 澜沧江大峡谷
The Grand Canyon of the Lancang River is famous for not only its deep and long vale, but also the rushing water. The river water is limpid and rushing in winter, but turbid and onrushing in summer. As the river becoming narrow in the Grand Canyon, high waves are striking against the banks and making a sound like thunder. What a fantastic spectacle! Such steep mountains, deep valley and miraculous geographic structure are seldom seen all over the world.
The elevation of the river surface is 2,006 meters, while the highest elevation of peak is 6,740 meters. On the peaks, the trees are very luxuriant and green with different postures. This picture is so beautiful that no adjective can describe it. Some ancient villages and temples are scattered in the mountains, give tourists a sense of history.
#6. Taroko Gorge or Tailuge Gorge太鲁阁大峡谷（台湾）
This canyon stretches for 19 kilometers. It is at the east coast of Taiwan. The nearest city to the canyon is Hualien.Taroko is famous for its rugged landscapes and canyons, particularly the impressive Taroko Gorge, a steep canyon that offers not only amazing views but also historical shrines, hot springs, mountain forests with wildlife, and activities such as whitewater rafting and trekking.
#7. Yellow River Jin-Shan Valley 黄河晋陕大峡谷
Jinshan Grand Canyon is the longest continuous Yellow River valley, ranging from Hekou Town of Inner Mongolia to Yumenkou of Shanxi . In the Loess Plateau, the valleys are mostly 100 meters more deep, and its narrowest point is only 30 to 50m at Hukou Waterfall. 56% of the total sand carried by Yellow River is taken from this section. Literally, Yellow River becomes truly “Yellow” at this section.
#8. Dadu River Jinkou Gorge 大渡河金口大峡谷
Dadu River Jinkou Grand Canyon is the longest, most dangerous, narrowest, deepest, most powerful, most homogeneous and most secluded Grand Canyon in Sichuan Province, 542 meters deeper than 2133 meters depth of the world-famous Colorado Grand Canyon of the United States , only 10 meters at its narrowest point, narrower than 20 meters width of the previously known world’s narrowest Grand Canyon – Tiger Leaping Gorge. This is truly an incredible adventure, tourist attraction.
#9. Grand Taihang Canyon 太行山大峡谷
Grand Taihang Canyon is a typical example of the northern China landscapes. It is located in two regions of Taihang Mountain Range.
The southern section of Grand Taihang Canyon is located in the northwest of Henan Province, southwest of Lin City, 50km long from north to south, 4 km wide from east to west. The western section of Grand Taihang Canyon is located in Huguan County, Changzhi City in Shanxi Province, consists of Fingers Gap, Longquan Gap, Wang-Mang Gap and Zituan Moutain, covers an area of 5848 hectares, a total of 44 landscapes, more than 400 scenic spots.
#10. Tianshan Kuche Grand Canyon 天山库车大峡谷
Tianshan Grand Canyon, also known as Keziliya Grand Canyon, is a canyon in Keziliya Mountain (a branch of Tianshan Mountain) which was formed under the action of wind and rain force. Keziliya in Uygur means red cliff. Located in the north of Kucha County of Aksu District, Tianshan Grand Canyon is as long as 5.5 kilometers from east to west with an average altitude of 1600 meters.
The red brown mountain groups of Tianshan Grand Canyon with different shapes climb strange to the sky, like burning fires in sun. The mouth of Tianshan Grand Canyon is broad but the path winds along mountain ridges in deep ravines. Some places are too narrow to pass through. The bottom of the canyon is relatively smooth with towering cliffs on both sides and fine sand or shoal water in the road. The peaks in the canyon are colorful and in strange shapes, like stone forests and stone carving: pink, dark green, light yellow, grey, moon white, etc.
