Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain
When the sunlight shines through the Tianmen Cave, it looks like a massive gateway to heaven—absolutely breathtaking.
Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain (天门山) is named after the natural wonder, Tianmen Cave, which literally means “Gateway to Heaven.” The cave is 131.5 meters tall, 57 meters wide, and 60 meters deep, making it one of the rare high-altitude natural mountain caves in the world. You’ve probably seen photos of it all over social media. In addition to the cave, there are many other attractions on the mountain. You can take a cable car up, enjoying the breathtaking views along the way. Once at the top, you can visit the Glass Skywalk, Ghost Valley Path, Yunmeng Fairy Peak, the Sky Corridor, and more.
Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain is not only known for its incredible natural beauty but also as a global hotspot for extreme sports. In 1999, a plane flew through Tianmen Cave, instantly bringing the mountain worldwide attention. In the following years, the area hosted various extreme sports events, such as the French “Spider-Man” free climbing the cave and wingsuit flights through the arch. If you’re into extreme sports, this place is definitely worth a visit.
Table of Contents
Scenery of Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain
Suspension Bridge
The Suspension Bridge is located near the Ghost Valley Path on the western ridge of Tianmen Mountain, about 108 meters above the valley floor. Walking across the bridge, visitors can take in stunning views of Tianmen Mountain. The slight sway of the bridge adds a thrilling element to the experience, allowing guests to enjoy the breathtaking scenery while also feeling a unique sense of excitement.
Yunmeng Fairy Peak
Yunmeng Fairy Peak is the highest point on China’s Tianmen Mountain, standing at 1,518 meters above sea level. From here, you can enjoy a 360-degree view of the entire Tianmen Mountain area, with expansive, panoramic vistas all around.
Sky Corridor
The Sky Corridor is located at over 1,400 meters above sea level on Mount Tianmen. It’s a suspended wooden walkway that stretches across a deep valley, often floating above a sea of clouds. Because many couples enjoy strolling here, especially hand in hand, it has become a symbol of romance and is often referred to as the “Lovers’ Bridge.”
99-Bend Mountain Road
The mountain road to Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain stretches 10.77 kilometers, with the altitude rising sharply from 200 meters to 1,300 meters. It has 99 turns, with the 180-degree hairpin curves being especially dramatic. Driving on this road is an adrenaline rush, as one side is a sheer cliff while the other drops into a deep gorge. It feels like riding a roller coaster. Each turn is marked with a stone sign, indicating which bend you’ve reached. This design not only challenges the driver’s skills but also adds excitement and fun to the journey.
Tianmen Mountain Cave
Tianmen Cave is located at the summit of Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain. It’s the highest natural mountain cave in the world. The cave is 131.5 meters tall and 57 meters wide. What makes it special is its grand scale, resembling a massive gateway to the sky. The view from the cave is breathtaking, offering a sweeping panorama of distant mountain ranges and deep valleys. According to Chinese legend, Tianmen Cave is the entrance to the realm of immortals, attracting emperors, scholars, monks, and poets throughout history to visit and explore. The Tianmen Square at the base of the cave often hosts various Chinese cultural performances, with music, dance, acrobatics, and other art forms blending together to captivate visitors.
Glass Skywalk
The Glass Skywalk on Tianmen Mountain is suspended high above the cliffs, stretching about 60 meters in length, with its highest point reaching 1,430 meters above sea level. Standing on the walkway, you’re surrounded by a sheer drop beneath your feet and mist-covered mountain peaks all around, making you feel like you’ve stepped into an otherworldly paradise. Each step is an exhilarating rush, with your heart racing as you walk. Some visitors find it thrilling, even though they’re afraid of heights. Many manage to overcome their fear, complete the walk, and leave with a sense of courage and accomplishment.
Tianmen Mountain Temple
Tianmen Mountain Temple is located at the summit of Mountain Tianmen, Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province. It sits at a high altitude with expansive views all around. The temple’s architecture follows the Qing Dynasty style, featuring structures like the Mountain Gate, Main Hall, Guanyin Pavilion, and Sutra Hall. Surrounded by towering ancient trees, the temple has an aura of tranquility and timeless elegance. The temple is a sacred site for Buddhist pilgrims, housing a precious relic—the true body relic of the Buddha Shakyamuni. There are only five such relics in the world, and Tianmen Mountain Temple is one of them. From the temple, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the mountain’s stunning landscapes, including Tianmen Cave and the Heavenly Road.
Ghost Valley Path
The Ghost Valley Path stretches along the sheer cliffs of Tianmen Mountain Hunan, suspended high above the ground. As you walk on the path, you’re faced with a bottomless abyss beneath your feet and lush vegetation surrounding you. The path is 1,600 meters long, and walking it takes a lot of courage. Those who are afraid of heights may feel their legs turn to jelly, but it’s this thrilling experience that draws many visitors. Along the way, there are metal safety nets to protect against falling rocks, ensuring the safety of everyone who walks the path.
999 Steps Stairway
The 999 Steps is the main path to Tianmen Cave. The staircase at Tianmen Mountain China is cleverly designed with five gradual sections and four steep ones, making up nine segments in total. This design symbolizes the peaks and valleys of life, reflecting the twists and challenges we face along our journey. The natural scenery on both sides of the staircase is breathtaking. Along the way, you’ll pass lush trees, clear streams, and, when the mist rolls in, unique views that make you feel as if you’ve entered a mystical world.
Ways to Explore Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain
Mountain Tunnel Escalator
The Tianmen Mountain Tunnel Escalator consists of 12 sections, with a total length of 897 meters. Taking this escalator, visitors can easily reach the mountain summit without the need to tackle the steep climb.
Tianmen Mountain Cable Car
The Tianmen Mountain Cable Car is the longest cabin cable car in the world, stretching 7,455 meters with a vertical rise of 1,279 meters. The cable car passes through mist-covered peaks, giving visitors a chance to experience all four seasons in just 30 minutes. Along the way, you’ll travel through pristine forests, feeling the fresh air and serenity of nature, and you may spot rare plants and wildlife. There are also several observation decks along the route, where visitors can enjoy stunning views of Zhangjiajie’s breathtaking landscapes.
Forest Sightseeing Cable Car
Riding the Forest Sightseeing Cable Car offers a close-up view of the vast forest, drifting clouds, soaring birds, and flowers just within reach. It’s a peaceful and immersive way to experience the beauty of nature.
Hiking
China’s Tianmen Mountain has well-designed trails, offering both easy paths and more challenging mountain routes. You can start your hike from the peaceful trails at the base and gradually ascend toward Tianmen Cave. Along the way, you’ll pass towering ancient trees and winding vines. You can observe the local wildlife and plants, listen to the birds singing and the gentle flow of streams, and experience the tranquility and harmony of nature.
Tianmen Mountain Wingsuit Flying Competition
Tianmen Mountain’s unique landscape provides an ideal starting and finishing point for wingsuit flying. On October 19, 2014, the final of the 3rd Wingsuit Flying World Championships was held at Tianmen Mountain in Zhangjiajie, where South Africa’s Julian Boulle took home the gold. In addition, on May 10, 2023, Chinese wingsuit pilot Zhang Shupeng successfully completed the “Wingsuit Flight Through Tianmen Cave” challenge, becoming the first person from China to achieve this remarkable feat.
Hours & Fees
Hours
Daily from 7:30 AM to 7:00 PM, with last entry at 4:00 PM.
Best Time
Spring (March to May) and Fall (September to November).
Fees
278 CNY (approx. 38 USD) per person, which includes the round-trip Tianmen Mountain cable car ride.
FAQ About Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain
1. How many hours to spend in Tianmen Mountain?
If you choose to take the cable car and then hike, it typically takes about 5 to 6 hours. If you decide to hike the entire way, it may take 7 hours or longer.
2. What time does the cable cars open in Tianmen Mountain?
The Tianmen Mountain cable cars run daily from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Last entry is at 4:00 PM, and the ride takes about 30 minutes one way.
3. How was the Tianmen Mountain Cave formed?
The Tianmen Mountain Cave was formed millions of years ago, when this area was covered by an ocean. Layers of carbonate rock gradually built up over time. As tectonic movements shifted the earth, the ocean turned into land, and Tianmen Mountain slowly began to rise. Over time, heavy rainfall seeped through cracks, causing erosion and creating an ancient cave system. As the earth’s crust continued to lift, the mountain rose, and the cave was uplifted and collapsed several times, eventually forming the Tianmen Cave we see today.
How Do Local Visitors Rate the Tianmen Mountain?
Translation:
Tianmen Mountain is absolutely gorgeous—it’s so beautiful, you have to see it for yourself! I highly recommend paying 25 yuan to ride the forest cable car. It’s the open-air kind, so you get an amazing view while feeling a little thrill. It’s not tiring at all, just a perfect way to enjoy the scenery. I saw a lot of foreigners, even a couple with a 2-year-old baby on the cable car—pretty brave, I’d say. I’m not a fan of crowded places, so I went early to avoid the tour groups and the noisy vibe that comes with them. Here’s a tip: the wind at the top in the morning is super strong, so make sure to wear a thick jacket with a hood. You can take it off when it warms up later. Otherwise, you’ll be freezing and might even feel a little dizzy. My husband caught a cold because of it, and by the time we got back to the hotel, he had a fever.
Translation:
We took the cable car up the mountain and then hiked the rest of the way. Along the way, we ran into tons of Koreans—Tianmen Mountain is definitely a spot where there are more Koreans than Chinese visitors, haha! We even asked a few Koreans to take pictures for us. After climbing the 999 steps, my legs weren’t as sore as I expected. The views up there are incredible—wide open spaces and such a refreshing feeling. But, the wind at the top is still pretty strong, and it gets a bit chilly, so I’d recommend bringing a light jacket. The only downside was the cable car ride down. The line was over an hour long… it was really too much.
Translation:
Make sure to check the weather forecast before you go. We visited Tianmen Mountain on a rainy day, and it was so foggy that we couldn’t see anything—literally just a few inches in front of us. We had to imagine what the mountain looked like because there was no view at all. A foggy Tianmen Mountain is honestly kind of boring. The whole ride up and down on indoor escalators and elevators took about 40 minutes, and we didn’t see any scenery until we were almost back down. On the bright side, the food and drink options in the park are pretty good. There are lots of choices, including coffee and milk tea.
Translation:
The reason for my low rating is simple—who’s going to do something about all the bugs at Tianmen Mountain?! The natural scenery is beautiful, but the main paths were full of swarms of stink bugs everywhere. They even crawled onto my face and clothes! It was terrifying! Can the staff please do something about the bugs? It was seriously so scary.
