Tianmen Mountain of Zhangjiajie

Located about 5 km south of downtown Zhangjiajie, Tianmen Mountain features a large natural hole in its base and a scenic garden at its summit.

Highlights and Travel Tips

Tianmen Gate, a natural hole in the mountain that is 131.5 m in height, 57 m in width, and 60 m in depth, looks like a gate to the heavens, thus giving the mountain the name "Tianmen," which literally means "Heavenly Gate."

Apart from the unique natural hole, the top of Tianmen Mountain is flat with lots of vegetation, offering a scenic sky garden and fantastic views from an altitude of about 1,500 m. There is a circular path at the mountain top, with parts of the path built into the cliff face, including sections with glass floors. The glass skywalk offers visitors a thrilling experience. A large reconstructed temple is also located on the summit with both chairlift and footpath access. Be aware that the glass walkways may be closed on rainy or snowy days.

There is a cable way that takes visitors directly from downtown Zhangjiajie to the top of Tianmen Mountain. Being the longest in the world, the cable way is about 7.5 km long with an ascent of about 1,279 m. The cable ride offers a beautiful view over the winding road below.

Most visitors choose to take the cable car up to the top of Tianmen Mountain. After touring the sky garden and walkways on the mountaintop and the Tianmen Gate, you can take the shuttle bus at the base of Heaven's Gate and drive down the 99-bend road to the bottom (Route A). You can also do the itinerary in reverse (Route B), i.e., take the shuttle bus and drive up the 99-bend road to the base of Tianmen Gate, and then take the cable car down after touring the gate and the summit. There are elevators inside the mountain that connect Tianmen Gate and the mountain top.

Please note that driving down the 99-bend road is a thrilling (and sometimes scary) experience since the road involves a lot of u-turns and drivers usually drive fast. If you're worried about the drive, it would be better to take the bus on the uphill route, since they tend to drive slower when ascending (Route B).

Tianmen Mountain can be crowded and there are often long lines at the cable car stations during peak season. It is safest to book tickets in advance during peak seasons. There are a few food and drink vendors at the mountain summit but their prices are high, so it is better you pack your own drinks and snacks.

Opening Hours and Ticket Prices

Opening hours: 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Entrance fee: 258 RMB (including cable car, shuttle bus, and elevator)
Average time for this activity: 4-5 hours

How to Get There

The lower station of the Tianmen Mountain cable car is near the center of Zhangjiajie and can be reached by several buses or a short taxi ride within the downtown area.

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