Tianmen Mountain - Heaven's Gate

Tianmen Mountain, located just a 15-minute drive from Zhangjiajie city center, offers a spectacular blend of natural wonders and thrilling adventures. Famous for the massive ''Heaven's Gate'' karst cave and breathtaking sky gardens, it also features exciting attractions like the cliffside glass skywalk and dramatic cable car rides. Whether you seek serene landscapes or high-altitude excitement, Tianmen Mountain delivers an unforgettable experience.

Tianmen Cave (Heaven's Gate)

 

Stretching nearly 300 meters (330 yards) in length with a vertical rise of about 150 meters (490 feet), the 999-step ''Sky Ladder'' is the main route leading to Tianmen Cave. In Chinese culture, the number nine symbolizes eternity and good fortune, and climbing these steps is believed to bring blessings while representing a journey toward heaven. The ascent is physically challenging, featuring five relatively flat sections and four steep ones, metaphorically reflecting life's ups and downs. Reaching the top rewards visitors with unparalleled views from the cave entrance.

Steep 999-step Sky Ladder

Sky Ladder from Upward View

 

The Tianmen Mountain Cableway, with the upper section suspended for maintenance at present, is one of the world's longest passenger cableways, stretching 7,455 meters (8,150 yards) with an elevation gain of 1,279 meters (4,196 feet). The approximately 28-minute ride offers a stunning panoramic journey from the city center to the mountain summit. As you ascend, you'll glide over lush forests and the winding 99-bend road below, often passing through drifting clouds. This cableway provides visitors with a thrilling and awe-inspiring bird's-eye view of the mountain's spectacular scenery.

Tianmen Mountain Seen from Cable Car

 As a path built along the cliffside at an altitude of 1,430 meters (1,564 yards), the glass-bottom skywalk features a fully transparent glass floor. It measures 60 meters (65 yards) in length and 1.6 meters (1.7 yards) in width. Walking on it offers a heart-pounding experience as you look directly down into the deep valley below. On clear days, the view is dizzyingly vivid; when it's cloudy or foggy, the path seems to float in mist, adding to the sense of mystery. Visitors can experience this thrill on any of the three glass-bottom skywalks located in the east, west, and Coiling Dragon Cliff of the mountaintop area.

Glass-bottom Skywalk

 The Guigu walkway stretches approximately 1,600 meters (1,750 yards) along the steep cliffs of the mountain at an average altitude of 1,400 meters (4,590 feet). Unlike the short glass section, this longer path allows for a sustained adventure, winding and rising with the contours of the rock face. Dense vegetation covers over 90% of the area, and the path offers spectacular views of the canyon, peaks, and sea of clouds. It ends with a 160-meter (175 yards) suspension bridge and a glass viewing platform. In winter, rime ice decorates the scenery, while summer brings cool breezes.

Guigu Walkway along the Edge of Cliff

 

The Heaven-linking Avenue is a 10.77-kilometer (6.7-mile) mountain highway featuring 99 sharp turns. It climbs from approximately 200 meters (220 yards) to about 1,300 meters (1420 yards) in elevation and is recognized as a masterpiece of road engineering. Traveling by shuttle bus along this road offers an adventurous journey, with each turn revealing dramatic views of layered peaks and deep valleys, showcasing both impressive engineering and the mountain's natural grandeur.

Heaven-linking Avenue with 99 Turns

 

There are three routes to explore Tianmen Mountain, and regardless of which one you choose, all the top attractions can be visited. Please note that due to recent upgrades on the mid-station to top-station section of the Tianmen Mountain Cableway, the original three routes have been adjusted accordingly. A full tour via any route typically takes around 4 to 6 hours.

Tourist Map of Tianmen Mountain

Tianmen Mountain Summit Map

Before planning your route, it's necessary for you to know about the differences between the two cableways at Tianmen Mountain.

Tianmen Mountain Cableway: Starting from downtown Zhangjiajie, it originally traveled to the mountain summit. Each cabin accommodates 8 people, and the full ride takes about 28 minutes, covering three stations: lower, middle, and upper, though the middle station is currently the final stop due to maintenance. The slower ride offers scenic views, though queues can be long during peak times.

Tianmen Mountain Cableway

Tianmen Cave Express Cableway: Departing from the Mountain Gate, a 20-minute drive from downtown, the express cableway brings visitors to Tianmen Cave Square in just 5 to 6 minutes with a capacity of 26 people for each cabin. In other words, it can transport more tourists up the mountain compared with the Tianmen Mountain Cableway within the same time. Therefore, the express cableway generally sees shorter queues and serves as an ideal choice for group tours and an alternative in peak season.
 1. Have your ticket checked at the lower station of the Tianmen Mountain Cableway in downtown.
2. Queue up to take the cableway to the middle station.
3. Transfer to a shuttle bus to Tianmen Cave Square.
4. Take the paid 5-level transmountain escalator or climb 999 stairs without charge to reach the Tianmen Cave platform, and then embark on the free 7-level escalator trip to reach the summit.
5. After exploring the mountaintop sights, return via the escalators down to Tianmen Cave Square.
6. Walk along Fuyuan Walkway to the upper station of Tianmen Cave Express Cableway, then down to Mountain Gate by cable car and finally back to the city center by free shuttle bus.

Tianmen Cave Escalator

Transmountain Escalator

Features & Advantages: Ideal for first-time visitors, thrill-seekers, or those wanting to experience the famous winding road, Route A combines a cableway and shuttle bus to save energy while offering stunning aerial mountain views.

Tips:
1. The shuttle ride from the middle station to Tianmen Cave Square travels along the ''Heaven-Linking Avenue'' with 99 turns, taking about 20 minutes. Those prone to carsickness should try to sit near the front or prepare some relief tablets in advance.
2. Route A remains the most popular, and it's advised to arrive early to avoid long queues.
3. The scenic area strictly requires Route A visitors to enter at their reserved time slot, especially during peak seasons.
4. The mountaintop circuit is divided into east and west Lines. The west line features the most scenic spots and is recommended if time is limited. Additionally, starting with the west Line rather than the east line can save your time and energy and avoid backtracking and a steep climb.
5. The upward 5-level transmountain escalator from Tianmen Cave Square to Tianmen Cave platform charges CNY 32/person, while the downward departure is free; all visitors can take the 7-level escalator without any charge, whether it goes up or down.
6. It takes most people about 20 – 30 minutes to climb up the 999-Step Sky Ladder and 10 – 20 minutes down. Energetic tourists can finish the ascending journey within 10 minutes.
 

1. Get on a free shuttle bus to Mountain Gate at the lower station of the Tianmen Mountain Cableway. It takes 15 minutes on board.
2. Check your ticket to enter the scenic area, and then take the Tianmen Cave Express Cableway up to Tianmen Cave Square.
3. Ride the transmountain escalators or climb continuous steep steps to Tianmen Cave platform first and then the summit before exploring the mountaintop sights.
4. Take the transmountain escalator back down to Tianmen Cave Square.
5. Walk into an underground passage for the shuttle bus to the middle station of Tianmen Mountain Cableway.
6. Ride the cableway down to the lower station.
 

Features & Advantages: Route B offers flexible return options: either take the shuttle bus down the thrilling ''Heaven-Linking Avenue'' or ride the express cableway down to the Mountain Gate, the same as Route C, for a quicker descent. It suits those who pursue a balance between sightseeing and efficiency.

Tips:
1. Routes B and A are currently reversed versions of each other. Route B generally has shorter queues, making it a good alternative for visitors who wish to experience the grand cableway without long waits.
2. You can also take a taxi to reach the Mountain Gate by yourself as an alternative to Step 1, which takes about 15 minutes and costs around CNY 15 - 20. It can be a good choice during the peak season when long queues appear at the lower station of Tianmen Mountain Cableway.
 1. Get to Mountain Gate by free shuttle bus at the lower station of Tianmen Mountain Cableway or taxi.
2. Enter the scenic area with your ticket checked.
3. Take the express cableway to Tianmen Cave Square.
4. Climb step by step along the Sky Ladder or ride the transmountain escalators up to Tianmen Cave platform, and then continue the escalator trip to the summit.
5. Visit the mountaintop sights before taking the escalators back to Tianmen Cave Square.
6. Ride the express cableway down to Mountain Gate.
7. Take the free shuttle bus to lower station of Tianmen Mountain Cableway or go back to your own destination by taxi.

Features & Advantages: Route C offers a straightforward express cableway round-trip, allowing for a quick and efficient tour of the mountaintop highlights. It is ideal for visitors short on time, seeking convenience, or those sensitive to heights or carsickness.
  

The best time to visit Tianmen Mountain is during the mild weather of spring in April to May and autumn in September to October, with blooming flowers and vibrant red foliage, respectively. 

It is advisable to check the weather forecast in advance, as clear days provide optimal visibility while rain or fog may obscure views. The worst-case scenario is to see nothing but a vast expanse of white. It’s wise to search real-time scenes of the scenic area on your phone before you go. If you find the cave is covered by thick fog when you arrive, try to wait for a while. With luck, it will disperse.

To avoid crowds, you can consider visiting during off-peak hours. Arrive between 7:30 and 8:00 to enjoy shorter waiting times for cable cars and escalators, as well as a more relaxed experience before the main crowds arrive. Alternatively, enter between 13:00 and 14:00 when many morning visitors begin to depart. For those interested in night views, arriving around 14:00 allows you to experience both daytime scenery and the illuminated landscape after the lights turn on at 19:30.

Sea of Clouds after the Rain

Visiting Tianmen Mountain in Sunny Day

 

You can take bus 17, 4, 101, 102, 13, or 1B and get off at Wuling Shan Zhen Guan Station. The bus ride takes about 25 minutes. From there, it's a rough 670-meter (730 yards) walk southeast to the cableway station. Alternatively, you can take a taxi from downtown directly to the lower station. The fare is around CNY 50 - 60, and the trip takes about 15 minutes.
 

Shuttle Bus in Tianmen Mountain

Near the East Gate, about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) away, around a 10-minute walk southeast, you’ll find Wulingyuan Bus Station. From there, take a bus to Zhangjiajie Central Bus Station, then walk north for about 10 minutes to reach the Tianmen Mountain cableway lower station. The bus fare is around CNY 13, and the trip takes about an hour. Taxis are also available for direct travel between the two locations, taking approximately 50 minutes and costing about CNY 160 - 180.
 

Currently, the scenic area opens at 7:00, with last entry at 16:00. It closes when all visitors have departed.
 

Ticket Types	Adults	Aged 14 - 17, Student, Aged 60 - 64	Aged 65 & 65+
Route A	CNY 288	CNY 152	CNY 116
Route B
Route C

Note: Children under the age of 14 are free of tickets with the accompaniment of an adult.

 Tianmen Mountain Tickets Booking

Specifically, except entrance ticket and insurance, each route includes the following services:
Route A: Upward Tianmen Mountain Cable Car, Descensive 5-level Transmountain Escalator, Round-trip 7-level Transmountain Escalator, and Downward Express Cable Car
Route B: Upward Express Cable Car, Falling 5-level Transmountain Escalator, Round-trip 7-level Transmountain Escalator, and Downward Tianmen Mountain Cable Car
Route C: Round-trip Express Cable Car, Downward 5-level Transmountain Escalator, and 7-level Transmountain Escalator

Other services are also available optionally with additional charges. For visitors wishing to experience the glass skywalk at the summit, protective shoe covers are required and available at CNY 5 per pair. Additionally, the one-way Forest Sightseeing Cable Car from Tianmen Temple to the Yunmengxian Summit viewing platform is available for CNY 25.