Tianmen Mountain 天门山Tiānmén Shān

Why go to Tianmen Mountain

Tianmen Mountain is a karst massif rising to about 1,519 m just south of Zhangjiajie city, pierced by Tianmen Cave, a natural arch roughly 131 m high. Normally visitors go up by one of the world's longest passenger cable cars, which has been closed since 13 October 2026 for rebuilding; for now the only way up is the express cable car from the mountain gate to the arch, then escalators to the summit. Up top, cliff-side paths with glass-floored sections lead round the plateau, and a stairway of 999 steps climbs to the arch. It is the easiest big view in Zhangjiajie, and a good partner to the sandstone pillars of the forest park.

The story

The name means Heaven's Door Mountain, and the arch gave it its fame. Local records say the mountain split open in AD 263 and the Wu emperor Sun Xiu took it as a good omen, naming the opening Heaven's Gate; the arch is natural, not carved. A temple has stood on the summit, and the present Tianmenshan Temple is a modern rebuilding in Tang style.

What to see at Tianmen Mountain

• Tianmen Cave 天门洞: The huge natural arch is the mountain's signature. Climb the steep 999 steps in roughly 15–25 minutes, or take the paid escalator, and look out through the opening from its foot.
• Tongtian Avenue (99 bends) 通天大道: A road of about 11 km with 99 hairpins corkscrews up the cliff to the arch. From above it looks like a coiled ribbon, and it is best seen from the Panlong Cliff walkway.
• Guigu Cliffside Path 鬼谷栈道: A wooden walkway hung on the vertical rock at about 1,400 m, named for the Guigu cave in the cliff, and one of the highlights of the west line.
• Glass-bottomed cliff paths 玻璃栈道: The west and east lines each have a glass-floored section, and the Panlong Cliff walkway looks down on the 99-bend road. They can close at short notice for weather or maintenance.
• Tianmenshan Temple 天门山寺: A Tang-style temple on the summit, near the junction of the east and west lines of the summit paths.

How to visit Tianmen Mountain

Right now there is one route: enter at the mountain gate, take the express cable car up to Tianmen Cave, then the seven-stage escalators from the arch to the summit, and return the same way; the paid escalator from the cave's foot to the arch is extra. On top, the west line is the shorter, easier loop with the cliffside path, and the east line is longer, with more steps, and quieter. A full day is comfortable; a half day covers the cave and the west line only. When the long cable car reopens, expect the older routes between the city and the summit to return.

How to get to Tianmen Mountain

The old cable-car lower station is about a 20-minute walk from Zhangjiajie railway station, and about 10 minutes by taxi from Zhangjiajie West station or the airport. While the long cable car is shut, a shuttle bus runs between that station and the mountain gate where you enter. From Wulingyuan town, allow roughly 40 minutes by taxi or 1–1.5 hours by coach.

Where to stay

Stay in Zhangjiajie city near the railway station, where the cable car starts, and where restaurants and transport are most convenient. If you are also visiting the forest park, Wulingyuan town is the better base, with Tianmen a day trip from there.

What to eat

• Sanxiaguo (three-in-one pot) 三下锅: A hearty Tujia pot of smoked bacon, offal and vegetables in a spicy broth, served griddle-cooked or as a soup.
• Steamed smoked pork with dried green beans 干豆角蒸腊肉: Cured, smoked pork steamed with chewy dried beans, showing the Tujia habit of preserving food over winter.
• Yan'er stewed chicken 岩耳炖土鸡: Free-range chicken stewed with yan'er, a lichen picked from cliffs, giving a clear, warming broth.

Tips for visiting Tianmen Mountain

• The long cable car from the city is closed from 13 October 2026 for rebuilding, with no reopening date given. Only the express cable car from the mountain gate to Tianmen Cave and the escalators up to the summit run, so allow for a gate-to-summit route; check the scenic area's notice before you go.
• In peak season and on national holidays, queues can be long, so arrive early and book ahead; autumn gives the clearest views and summer the better chance of a sea of clouds.
• The summit is noticeably cooler than the city, so bring a layer. The glass walkways and the 999-step stairway can close at short notice for weather, maintenance or events, so keep a plan B if you dislike heights.

Nearby

• Zhangjiajie National Forest Park 张家界国家森林公园 30 km
  Thousands of sandstone pillars rising out of the mist like a stone forest

Also within 30 km: Tian Family Compound 田家大院 (under 10 km), Former Site of the Hunan–Hubei–Sichuan–Guizhou Revolutionary Base (Dayong) 湘鄂川黔革命根据地旧址 (under 10 km), Puguang Temple 普光禅寺 (under 10 km), Tujia Folk Custom Park (Tusi City) 张家界土家风情园 (under 10 km).

On the map

Open Tianmen Mountain on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it, what else is close, and to add it to a trip and plan the days.

Learn more

• Wikipedia
• Wikipedia (Chinese)