The Friday Photo: Autumn Wildflowers in Tiger Leaping Gorge

Trekking the world’s deepest gorge in mid-October, pushing two miles above sea level, you don’t expect to see wildflowers.

Orange and gold wildflower in Tiger Leaping Gorge, China.

But in Tiger Leaping Gorge, in northern Yunnan, China, not far from the old border with Tibet, we saw millions.

Blowsy pink wildflower in Tiger Leaping Gorge

I loved these tired, tatty flowers drooping their blue heads.

Drooping blue wildflowers in Tiger Leaping Gorge, Yunnan, China.

This splash of hot pink amid fallen leaves.

Hot pink wildflower in Tiger Leaping Gorge, Yunnan, China

These little fellas, fading so beautifully they look as though they’re budding.

Budding wildflowers in Tiger Leaping Gorge, Yunnan, China

The softness of this bell-shaped flower.

Rose pink wildflower in Tiger Leaping Gorge

And, best of all, the blaze of colour against dead rock.

Wildflowers growing against sheer rock, Tiger Leaping Gorge.

I’ll post about the walking bit tomorrow. Did hiking an unfenced path beside a mile-plus drop cure my vertigo? Did Z manage to walk where full-grown adults despaired and took a mule?

But in the meantime, if you’d like to see more pretty travel pictures, check out the craziest town on the planet, the prettiest town we’ve visited or beautiful Central Laos.

Or go see some pretty flower pictures that camouflage the horror of a truly catastrophic travel day. Happy weekend!

I’m participating in Photo Friday.

Our thanks to China Odyssey Tours for taking us to Tiger Leaping Gorge.

17 Responses

  1. Gorgeous! Who says there aren’t any blue flowers!

    I’m doing Photo Friday too this week. Haven’t quite got my snap up yet.

    • Theodora says:

      You’ve just inspired me to join in on Photo Friday. I try and do a picture post every Friday to help me get better at photography and actually use my camera more, but I rarely get around to submitting them…

      • I don’t think I’ll be in next week. Was hoping to get out and about this weekend but it’s been pouring rain. Don’t think a photo of condensation on my windows qualifies as an intriguing travel photo 😀

  2. Laurel says:

    Beautiful! I had no idea there were so many different flowers, and so colorful in autumn.

  3. Lisa says:

    Such beautiful photos of the wildflowers – I can almost hear the bees buzzing around them.

  4. i LOVE these colors – they make me so very happy. thank you!

  5. Sonja Key says:

    Those are fabulous shots and colors. Always love to check in on your adventures!

  6. Sonja Key says:

    Great shots and colors! Always enjoy checking in on your adventures!

  7. Anne-Marie says:

    What wonderful pictures! Even V, who isn’t entirely sure of the difference between daffodils and tulips – pesky flowers, on at more or less the same time – was moved to express delight.

    • Theodora says:

      I wouldn’t even hazard a guess at what these ones were! Z took some great pics too, though we have lost his camera cable and we have yet to locate the electronics mall district of Chengdu. He has some LOVELY panoramas — using the camera you bought, on which I never managed to figure out the panorama function. Hopefully talk later…

  8. Paresh says:

    The mother of all seasons. i like autumn most from the all one. and new york state popular places are must visit in autumn. really we realize what is nature?

    • Theodora says:

      I’ve been very struck by autumn all over China. Partly because we’ve been in the tropics for the big end of two years, where you have rainy seasons and dry seasons, but not the classical four season split — so the reds and golds we’ve been seeing lately have been a real feast for the eyes.