Exploring Tianmenshan, one of the most spectacular mountains in China

 


Tianmenshan (Tianmen Mountain), located right next to the small city of Zhangjiajie, is one of the most spectacular mountains in China. The dramatic rock massif, with its sheer vertical cliffs and the famous natural arch (Tianmen Cave or Heaven’s Gate) reached by a long stairway, is well-known — but the entire scenic area is much larger than most people expect. Exploring the full mountain top takes a full day, as the area is expansive and involves multiple transport systems. There are two main cable car lines serving Tianmenshan. The most famous connects Zhangjiajie city to the summit, and is one of the longest cable car rides in the world, taking nearly 30 minutes one way. The second line is shorter and operates in combination with shuttle buses. At the top, there’s also an open chairlift line connecting two scenic points, and a network of underground escalators to navigate the steep terrain. It can be a bit confusing at first, but the followings explain how it all works.

There are several ticket combinations to choose from (ideally booked online in advance). I was advised to take Option B, which includes a shuttle bus ride to the shorter cable car line (Tianmen Cave Express Cableway), a ride on that line, a couple of escalators, and then the long cable car (Tianmen Mountain Cableway) back down to the city. The route is marked accordingly on the attached map, and the photos follow this sequence as well.


1. Long cable car line (Tianmen Mountain Cableway) lower station in Zhangjiajie city. Shuttle buses also depart from here. 2. "Mountain Gate": entrance to the short cable car line (Tianmen Cave Express Cableway) lower station. Tongtian Avenue, featuring 99 sharp bends, starts here. 3. Short cable car line upper station. 4. Square below Tianmen Cave. You could take an escalator to Tianmen Cave or climb the 999 steps of the Stairway to Heaven. 5. Top of the stairs, Tianmen Cave. The only way further up is by escalator. 6. Escalator station on summit. There is a rest area with shops, toilets, smoking area, viewpoints. 7. Temple. 8. YuHu Peak viewpoint. 9. Eastern Glass Bottom Cliffside Path. 10. Cherry Bay: Restaurants, shops, chairlift line lower station. 11. Tianmen Mountain Temple. 12. Suspension Bridge. 13. Western Glass Bottom Cliffside Path. 14. Upper station of long cable car line. There is a tunnel that leads to a lift that goes up to Yunmeng Fairy Peak. 15. Chailift line upper station. 16. Yunmeng Fairy Peak: Lingxiao Tower pagoda with 360-degree panorama. 17. Little square with paths going different ways. 18. Glass Bottom Cliffside Path. 19. Tianmen Cave view. From here, we have to go back to the little square (#17). 20. Tunnel that leads from the little square to the cliff edge and the path to the upper station of the long cable car line. 

Original maps.




Long cable car line (Tianmen Mountain Cableway) lower station in Zhangjiajie city.



Shuttle bus for ticket options B and C. 




"Mountain Gate": entrance to the short cable car line (Tianmen Cave Express Cableway) lower station. 












Short cable car line upper station, cliffside path to Tianmen Cave. 











Square below Tianmen Cave. You could take an escalator to Tianmen Cave or climb the 999 steps of the Stairway to Heaven. 




















Long way up via the 999 steps of the Stairway to Heaven. 












Tianmen Cave. The only way further up is by escalator. 












It’s a long way to the summit: I counted seven flights of escalators.







Escalator station on summit and a rest area with shops, toilets, smoking area, viewpoints. 











Walk to YuHu Peak. 







Temple. 



Continuing to YuHu Peak. 




YuHu Peak viewpoint. 















Path along the cliff edge. 











Eastern Glass Bottom Cliffside Path. (CNY 5) 











Path along the cliff edge. 



View of Tianmen Cave and surroundings. 









Path from the cliff edge turns inside and leads to a rest area. 




Path continues among rocks and trees. 





Cherry Bay: there are restaurants, shops, toilet, and the chairlift line lower station to Yunmeng Fairy Peak. 






Tianmen Mountain Temple. 






















Forest path. 







Viewpoint with limited views. 





Suspension Bridge and the views from it. 




















Cliffside path continues. 



A glass bottom "balcony". 





Cliffside path continues. 


























Western Glass Bottom Cliffside Path. (CNY 5) 














Cliffside path continues. 





Long cable car line (Tianmen Mountain Cableway) upper station. A tunnel starts inside the building leading to a lift to Yunmeng Fairy Peak. 



Way to Yunmeng Fairy Peak on foot. 


Chailift line upper station. 



Yunmeng Fairy Peak: Lingxiao Tower pagoda with 360-degree panorama. 




















Descending from Yunmeng Fairy Peak. 


Little square with paths going different ways. 



Glass Bottom Cliffside Path. (CNY 5)














The wingsuite jumping off point. 












Cliffside path back to the starting point of the mountain-top walk at the escalator and rest area. You get a decent view of Tianmen Cave from some points. 




















The starting point of the mountain-top walk at the escalator and rest area. Shops close relatively early. 



Going back to the little square (#17) via the shorter route, running parallel with the cliffside path. 


The little square (#17). 


Tunnel. 


Cliffside path to the upper station of the long cable car line. 







Upper station of the long cable car line. 





The long cable car ride back to Zhangjiajie city. 















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