Floating Islands - Secret #3 (Gold Dragon) and Level Exit
After climbing the gold lattice walls and killing the cultist at the top, as shown in the last section, move out onto the ledge overlooking the lava stream. Ignore the movable block, which is there to block the shooting blades and allow you to reach the zip line handle. If you want all secrets/pickups, you won't be using the third zip line, so shifting the block is not necessary.
Instead, take a running jump onto the tan rocks on the right.
Follow the rocky ledge forward, keeping the wall of flames on Lara's right. When you come to a slope that's too steep to climb, take a standing jump to the top.
Turn left and walk to the edge. The level exit is just ahead, at the end of the zip line, but but don't jump over there yet. There's still one more secret to find. You're headed for the small opening on the other side of the lava stream.
To get there, turn around. Then hop back, holding Action as though you were going to slide and grab the end of the slope. Lara won't actually grab, but the motion will allow her to land safely on the small ledge below.
Turn around and take a running jump across the lava into the dark tunnel.
Follow it to the end...
...and climb the block steps to emerge on a long, open ledge.
This is actually the roof of the building overlooking the pretty little garden near the MYSTIC PLAQUE GATE. Here you'll find SECRET #3, the Gold Dragon (31).
This is the last secret of the game and includes a bonus of 8 pairs of grenades (32-39) if you've found all three secrets in this level. You'll also unlock the "Codex of China" achievement/trophy if you found every secret in all 7 China and Tibet levels (i.e., Great Wall, Tibetan Foothills, Barkhang Monastery, Catacombs of the Talion, Ice Palace, Temple of Xian, and Floating Islands).
NOTE: If you missed the Silver or Jade Dragon, it's not too late to go back for them, though it is a bit of a trek. Details are on a separate page.
To finish the level, return through the dark tunnel to the opening overlooking the lava stream. Take a running jump across the lava to grab the angled block directly ahead.
Pull up and quickly backflip onto the thin ledge above and behind.
From there, jump into the doorway.
NOTE: If you didn't trip either of the boulder traps back at the FIRST ZIP LINE, the achievement/trophy "No Crazy Golf" should pop on the end-of-level statistics screen.
DARK MODE: I plan to add optional dark mode for these pages, but my current priority is updating the walkthroughs. Meanwhile, may I suggest a reputable dark mode browser extension, such as Dark Reader? (Download only from trusted sites, like darkreader.org or your browser's official add-on/extension site.)
Walkthrough text and diagrams copyright © Stellalune (email ). Feel free to copy or print this walkthrough for personal use. By all means, share it with friends, but please include this credit line so people can send me their feedback. No part of this walkthrough may be reproduced on another site without permission.