Tianmen Mountain

Located about 5 miles from downtown area , Tianmen Mountain is one of top three attractions of Zhangjiajie in the Hunan Province of China, blessed with miraculous landform and unparalleled natural landscape. With an elevation of 1,518 meters, the forest park boasts an incredible mountain-penetrating karst cave that was formed naturally as a result of soil erosion. The huge limestone mountain tableland is also endowed with sheer cliffs and jagged peaks clothed in dense verdure, which looks like a fairly-land garden of bonsai. Besides, the man-made masterpieces also bring tourists shocking and unforgettable sightseeing experiences, such as the world's longest cableway, Heaven-Linking Avenue of 99 Bends, thrilling glass skywalk and ghost-valley walkway along the cliff.

• Tianmen Cave

As the most eye-catching spectacle of Tianmen Mountain, Tianmen Cave is an awe-inspiring natural water-eroded cave penetrating the mountain with lofty and towering posture, which is much like a gate towards the heaven. The cave has been appealing flocks of tourists since a world-shaking aerobatics performance that men in wingsuits and fighter jets have flown through this narrow opening. There are 999 steps for visitors to walk up to the cave, which is called the Stairway towards Heaven. At the opening of the cave, fantastic bird's eye view of surrounding landscape could be captured.

• Tianmen Mountain Cableway

It is the longest cableway in the world, with a striking length of 7,455 meters and a fall gap of 1,279 meters. The cable car enables tourists to rush from the bustling urban areas straight into the lush forest covered by the clouds. The cableway ride is stunning and thrilling, and the constant-changing mountain landscape is just like a scroll painting unfolded beneath the visitors' feet. From a bird's eye view, travelers could also overlook the jaw-dropping 99-bend highway clinging to the sheer cliff.


• Heaven-linking Avenue of 99-Bend

Known as Tongtian Dadao in Chinese, the Heaven-linking Avenue boasts one of the most impressive mountain roads in the world. With a total length of about 11 kilometers, the highway dramatically rises from 200 meters to 1,300 meters above the sea level, creating 99 sharp hairpin turns coiling the mountain. Clinging to dangerous cliffs, the awesome zigzagging road resembles a great path leading upwards to the heaven. Due to its risky road condition, the Heaven-linking Avenue sometimes is also used for bike cycle and car races. However, for tourist use, it is not recommended for those who easily get carsick. For visitors desiring to absorb its miracle wonder, the cableway is the best way to overlook the imposing avenue.

• Cliff-Hanging Walkway

The Cliff-Hanging Walkway is definitely a must-try for visitors hunting for thrill. A scaring 1,600-meter-long plank trails are built leaning against the vertical cliff, and there is nothing underneath of the pathway except for bottomless abyss. Actually, the walkway erects about 1,400 meters up off the ground, which creates an amazing lookout by the railing to embrace the lofting cloud-draped mountains and deep valleys far below. Walking on the twisting path along the edge, visitors would be caught by extreme agitation and shock.

• Glass Skywalk

Known as the Walk of Faith, the 4700-feet-high glass-bottomed skywalk is the most thrilling section that sits on the frightening cliffside of Tianmen Mountain, daring courageous visitors to breathe in a very clear view of the spectacular plunging valley. The dizzy heights make plenty of tourists shake and crumble as if they are on the verge of collapse, afraid of looking down what is beneath their feet. In rainy days, the skywalk would be shrouded by thick mist, which seems to lead to nowhere but a fairland. There is a glass platform for travelers shooting amazing photos of the breathtaking scenery.

• Best Time for a Visit

Generally, April to October is the best time to make a visit to Tianmen Mountain as the temperature is pleasant and comfortable. However, Tianmen Mountain itself has too much to offer in different seasons. In spring, everything in the mountain comes to life, with trees clothed in green and flowers in blossom. It usually drizzles a lot, but the mist and fog add more mysterious charm. In summer, the mountain could be a perfect summer retreat because of its high elevation and natural shades of the verdant forests. The scenery in autumn is super dazzling when trees turn yellow and red. There are more sunny days for travelers to get unobstructed views of the nature. It might be a bit cold in winter, but the snow-filled landscape would reward tourists with a stunning all-white wonderland.

• Recommended Sightseeing Route

To make the best of the sights of Tianmen Mountain, you could follow the sightseeing route recommended below. Take the 28-minute cableway from the mountain foot to the top to inhale the fascinating ever-changing views on the ride. Then try a walk on the Cliff-Hanging Walkway and Glass Skywalk to immerse in the lofting garden shrouded in mist. Afterwards, the incredible escalator built in the belly of the mountains would take you down to the world's highest karst cave, Tianmen Cave. And walking down the 999 steps, you could choose to take the sightseeing bus to wonder at the miraculous 99 curves of the Heaven-linking Avenue.

1. Tianmen Mountain gets an elevation of about 1,500 meters. The temperature difference between mountain top and foot is dramatic. It is wise to have an extra coat to keep warm.

2. Wear a pair of comfortable shoes to conquer the stairways up and down.

3. Visitors are required to buy shoe covers when walking on the glass skywalk, which costs CNY5 per pair.

4. The food on the mountain is quite limited, so you'd better prepare some easy-carry snacks.

5. Queue lines can be long to catch the cable car, so you should arrive the station earlier in the morning, preferably a half hour before opening time.