I recall similar brickworks design from the London Brick Works (largest in the world at one time and now defunct).

They are possibly ring kilns (Hoffman Kilns after the German inventor). Bricks are successively loaded in firing bays arranged up and down either side of the kiln. The (coal) fire is then diverted to fire each batch in turn. Round and round it all goes.

Once built and started they run continuously. Much better than a single batch kiln like the beehive where the fire has to be alternately lit and damped and temperature control is poor.

The principle is not dissimilar to metallurgical coke ovens and aluminium smelter anode baking.

There of course is a more modern approach for bricks. The tunnel kiln where bricks are conveyed through a tunnel for firing. A process that put the Hoffman Kiln out of business in Europe.

We finally saw some. Complete with honey for sale.

This time following it North.

We were a bit disoriented and had a good debate about which way it was flowing.

We are after the first bend, the river is flowing North.

We stopped for a chat and paid him.

We've experienced it ourselves in many places we visited when pristine and later when developed for tourists.

There's a whole complex of platforms and stairs at the Upper Gorge (middle of photo).

The rock slide is from the road building.

The low down track is on the Shangri La side and doesn't go all the way through the gorge.

The cataract, and the rock the tiger used to leap the river, is seen as the attraction.

We were keen to follow the gorge further down.

Some people opt for the easy way down (and up).

We were pleased our legs were still up to the challenge after sitting in the truck for so long.

The steering is on the right which meant "don't look down".

There were also few barriers.

Looking upstream again.

The gorge lies between Haba and Yulong Snowy Mountains.

Makes the gorge about 3900 m deep and 1800m above sea level.

The clouds got in the way a bit.

Yes, they are limestone mountains.

But there is also sandstone mixed in lower down.

Its all a part of the same two tectonic plates colliding as caused the Himalayas.

The area is earthquake prone.

A couple of hours down. Along a bit. And up.

About 4 hours in all.

We aren't sure if it was part of the Tea Horse Road (there are at least two paths to Shangri-La, one through the gorge).

Something as substantial as this track would probably require something like Tea Horse or other significant trade or even mining to spark its building.

We've seen references to one or the other being the origin of the track through the gorge.

Surface scratchings and mullock heaps. Substantial tunnels dug into the walls of the gorge.

And here is someon's gold panning gear.

We were a bit confused as there were a couple of packs and ropes near him.

They belonged to another party who disappeared under some rocks.

To cap it off there was also someone collecting firewood.