Tianmen Mountain Mountain

Address: Tianmen Mountain National Park, Zhangjiajie, Hunan, China

Website: http://www.zjjt.gov.cn/ (local park site; operator pages vary)

Hours: Cable car typically operates daily, hours vary seasonally; check local operator schedules

Admission: Cable car and attraction tickets vary; Rotair cable car up to the summit typically charges for combined packages (prices vary seasonally)

Tianmen Mountain is a steep, forested peak in Hunan province near the city of Zhangjiajie, noted for its dramatic cliffs and a large natural arch in the upper slopes. The mountain is a built tourist park centred on high-elevation viewpoints, cliff paths and cableway access.

A long mountain cable car that ascends from the city level to the mountain top, an iconic natural arch often called Tianmen Cave or Heaven’s Gate, and several cliff-hanging glass and wooden walkways that run along sheer rock faces. The site offers panoramic views over deep valleys and is frequented for scenic photography, walkways and the stair ascent to the cave.

The mountain has been developed as a public scenic area with pathways, viewing platforms and visitor facilities to enable access to its natural features. The park infrastructure and the cableway were installed to support high visitor numbers and viewpoint access at elevation.

Tianmen Mountain rises above the outskirts of Zhangjiajie city in north-west Hunan province; visitors normally travel from Zhangjiajie to the park by road or the long cable car. The landscape around the mountain is marked by steep sandstone and forested valleys typical of the broader Wulingyuan region.

• 999 steps: The stairway to the major natural arch is traditionally described as 999 steps and is a prominent visitor route to the cave opening.
• Cableway length: The cable car from the valley up to the park is one of the longest continuous mountain cableways in the world and is the usual visitor approach to the summit area.

What to See#

• Tianmen Cave: A natural arch known as Tianmen Cave or Heaven’s Gate reached by a long stairway and cliff paths that draw many visitors.
• Tianmen Mountain Cableway: A mountain cableway linking the city base to the park that runs a long distance and gains substantial elevation, offering panoramic views on the ascent.
• Glass skywalks: Cliff-edge glass walkways and wooden boardwalks attached to sheer rock faces, built at high elevation for dramatic views of the valley below.

Tianmen Mountain is reached from Zhangjiajie city. Take a local bus or taxi to the Tianmen Mountain cable car lower station; the cable car ride ascends directly to the summit area. From Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport it’s a 40-60 minute drive depending on traffic.

• Go early for the glass walkway and the famous 'Heaven's Gate' views before tour buses arrive.
• If hiking, the climb includes 999 steps up to the 'Gate to Heaven' - be prepared for steep sections and bring weatherproof layers.