Tianmen Mountain – the Stairway to Heaven’s Gate and Thrilling Glass Skywalk

Written by Clementine | Updated November 13,2025

Zhangjiajie Tianmen mountain, also known as Yunmeng mountain or Songliang mountain in ancient times, is shrouded in myths and legends. With a peak more than 1,500 meters high, it’s the highest mountain in Yongding district of Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province.

Known as “the soul of Zhangjiajie” and “the first sacred mountain in western Hunan”, Tianmen Mountain has been inspiring nature lovers and adventure seekers for centuries. Every year, this well-known UNESCO World Natural Heritage site and national forest park attract a great number of visitors both from home and abroad, including many extreme sports enthusiasts who enjoy wingsuit flying and stunt flying there.

If you’re planning a trip to Zhangjiajie, it’s time to experience the magic of Tianmen Mountain.

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• A Quick Overview
• What to See and Do at Tianmen Mountain
• Main Scenic Areas on Tianmen Mountain
• How to Buy Entrance Tickets to Tianmen Mountain National Park
• How to Visit Tianmen Mountain
• When is the Best Time to Visit Tianmen Mountain?
• How to get to Tianmen Mountain?
• Nearby Attractions
• FAQs about Tianmen Mountain
• Adventure to Zhangjiajie with China Xian Tour

A Quick Overview

• In Chinese: 天门山
• Location: 8 kilometers away from southern suburbs of Zhangjiajie, Hunan
• Altitude: >1,500 meters
• Climate: Subtropical monsoon climate
• Area: 96 km²
• Opening hours: 07:00-16:00
• Ticket price: RMB 258 (cable car and shuttle bus included)
• Time needed: 0.5 – 1 day
• Highlights:
  • Walking up the 999 steps to get to Tianmen Cave
  • Guigu Plank Road & glass skywalk
  • World’s longest cable car
  • The 99-Bend Road
• Suitable for: Nature lovers, active families and couples, outdoor adventure enthusiasts

What to See and Do at Tianmen Mountain

Two-seat Open Chairlift for Sightseeing

Tianmen Mountain also has a two-seat open chairlift that starts from the Yunmengxian Peak, the main peak of Tianmen Mountain, and ends at Cherry Bay Square in front of Tianmen Mountain Temple. Its total length is 800 metres and it can transport up to 600 people an hour, with a one-way trip taking about 10 minutes.

The 99-Bend Road

Located in the deep valley in the middle of Tianmen mountain National Park, the 99-Bend Road winds its way between mountains and cliffs and is the only highway to Tianmen Cave. With a total length of 10.77 kilometers and an elevation change of nearly 1,100 meters, the sharp, almost 180° bends look like a giant dragon circling around the mountains.

The construction of this road began in 1998 and finished in 2005. The project cost over 100 million yuan due to the unique geology and climate, but now that the road is famous for its beautiful views and known as “the first wonder of highway in the world”, it seems to have been well worth the price.

Recommend Zhangjiajie highlights tour:

• 3-Day Private Zhangjiajie Adventure Tour with Glass Bridge
• 3-Day Zhangjiajie Private Tour: China Avatar Discovery

Tianmen Mountain Glass Skywalks

On top of Tianmen Mountain, there are three glass skywalks that thrill seekers can’t miss, all of which offer visitors unique ways to enjoy Tianmen’s stunning mountainous landscape.

The western glass skywalk, which is 60 meters in length and 1.6 meters in width, is built on the side of a cliff at 1,430 meters high above sea level. There is also an eastern glass skywalk, located on another cliff wall. At 150 meters long and 1.8 meters wide, it offers a panoramic view of Tianman Cave to anyone brave enough to walk it.  Finally, in 2016, the third glass skywalk in Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area, known as  the “Coiled Dragon Cliff Glass Walkway” (盘龙崖玻璃栈道) in honour of the 99-bend Road of Tianmen Mountain that it overlooks, opened to the public.

The thought of being that high in the air might make you anxious, but don’t worry – the surface is made of high-strength tempered glass, so it’s absolutely safe. Walking on it, visitors might feel like they’re floating among the clouds. For those who are brave and adventurous enough to try it, it’s a can’t-miss experience. If you’re acrophobic, however, there’s also a stone path available for you to hike.

Comparison of the three skywalks

Tianmen Cave – Leading the Way to Heaven’s Gate

As the highest natural cave through the mountain in the world, Tianmen Cave is a legendary symbol. Sitting at an elevation of more than 1300 meters, Tianmen Cave is 131.5 meters high, 57 meters wide, and 60 meters deep. It’s a famous scenic highlight of Tianmen mountain, not only now but in ancient times as well. Through the ages, emperors and ordinary people alike regarded it as a sacred place for prayer.

If you want to visit the cave, climbing the stairs called the “stairway to Heaven” by foot is the only way. There are 999 stairs in all, symbolizing the supremacy and eternal nature of heaven.

If you want to save time and energy, however, take the Tianmen Mountain escalator that runs through the Mountain. It passes through the mountain and is the first escalator installed in a mountain tunnel in the world. Running all the way from the bottom to the top of the mountain, the total escalator has 12 sections and covers a total length of 897 meters.

Experience the Longest Tianmen Mountain Cable Car

• Stations:Lower Station in the downtown area, Upper Station at the mountain summit
• Length:7,455 meters
• Cost:Not sold separately, included in the entrance ticket package
• Time:28 – 30 min
• Highlights:A transition from human world to heaven, the best bird-eye view of the scenery

The most special of this cable car is that its lower station is in downtown Zhangjiajie. It means during the ride, the landscape outside of the window will gradually change from bustling city to rural scenery, and finally enter the primitive sky garden. This transition from the human world to heaven is very stunning. Besides, you will enjoy the best bird-eye view of the surrounding scenery. Under your feet are the lush forests and perilous canyon. And the 99-beng road will be displayed before your eyes entirely like a jade belt.

Natural Wonders to Explore

Covered by a sea of clouds almost all year around, Tianmen Mountain offers a unique and breath-taking look at an ebbing and flowing white “tide” in the sky. There are other wonders such as the “Buddha’s Light” effect, the “Tianmen Spewing Fog”, and more. With a combination of magnificent natural landscapes and a profound history, Tianmen Mountain is also known as the “Primitive Handing Garden”.

Ancient Sites on Tianmen Mountain

The Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain tourist area covers an area of 96 square kilometers and can be considered a typical karst landform given its steep and magnificent cliffs and mountains. The area’s forest is well-preserved, with abundant and diverse plants and wildlife.

Tianmen Mountain also has a profound cultural heritage. There exist relics of Patron of agriculture, Chisongzi and Guiguzi as well as a large number of poems and legends about Tianmen Mountain, and since the Tang Dynasty, the Tianmen Mountain temple has been full of incense smoke and precious Buddhist relics.

Popular Zhangjiajie & Fenghuang Ancient Town Tours:

• 5-Day Zhangjiajie & Fenghuang Highlights Tour
• 6-Day Zhangjiajie Fenghuang Private Tour for Nature & Culture Wonders
• 7-Day Hunan Tour from Changsha to Zhangjiajie

Tianmen Fox Fairy Show

This show is based on the folk mythological story “Liu Hai Chopping Woodcutter”, a famous tale in Hunan. It draws on the region’s rich musical culture and artistic expression, including local folk songs and dances from Hunan’s Tujia ethnic minority, and employs modern high-tech stage special effects technology.

Show time: 20:15-21:50 every evening from March to December

Stunt Flight and Wingsuit Flying on Tianmen Mountain

In 1999, stunt pilots from nine countries flew through the Tianmen Mountain cave, marking the beginning of Tianmen Mountain’s reputation as a place for flying aerobatics shows. Now, ever since the famous American wingsuit flying master Jeb Corliss sailed over Tianmen Mountain in 2011, more and more extreme sports enthusiasts have challenged themselves to fly at Tianmen Mountain in Zhangjiajie.

Main Scenic Areas on Tianmen Mountain

Covering an area of 96 sq km, Tianmen Mountain is divided into four core tourism areas: Tianmen Cave Scenic Area, Bi Ye Yao Tai Scenic Area, Mi Xian Qi Jing Scenic Area and Tian Jie Fo Guo Scenic Area. In each area, you can enjoy a different scenery.

How to Buy Entrance Tickets to Tianmen Mountain National Park

• Prices of tickets:Admission Fee CNY 235 Notes: The entrance ticket for Tianmen Mountain includes transportation fares inside the scenic area (single-way shuttle bus and the upper escalator from Tiammen Cave to the mountaintop).
• Opening time: 07:00-16:00
• Prices of other experiences and items in the scenic area:

Lower escalator to Tianmen Cave: CNY 32 (single way)

Shoe cover at glass skywalk: CNY 5

Peak forest cable car on the top of the mountain: CNY 25

How to Visit Tianmen Mountain

There are three tour routes for visitors to choose from:

Route A:

1. Take the cable car from the base of the mountain to the mountaintop.
2. Visit the “Hanging Garden”.
3. Take the escalator to Tianmen Cave.
4. Take the tourist bus to the mountain gate.
5. Take the shuttle bus back to the cable car station at the base of the mountain.

Route B:

1. At the cable car station at the base of the mountain, take the shuttle bus to the mountain gate.
2. Take the tourist bus to Tianmen Cave.
3. Take the escalator to the peak.
4. Visit the “Hanging Garden”.
5. Take the cable car back to the cable car station at the base of the mountain.

Suggested Tianmen Mountain Travel Route in Winter:

1. Take the cable car at the cable car station at the base of the mountain.
2. Visit the “Hanging Garden”.
3. Take the cable car back to the station at the base of the mountain.

Please note: While most attractions in Tianmen Mountain National Park are open in winter, Tianmen Cave may be closed during the off-season, and the glass walkway may be closed during heavy snowfall.

When is the Best Time to Visit Tianmen Mountain?

With a mid-subtropical humid monsoon climate, Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain National Park offers beautiful mountainous views all year round. As such, all four seasons are suitable for sightseeing at Tianmen mountain, though the best months to visit is April and October as the area’s natural scenery is at its most beautiful and the weather is mild and pleasant.

Official Holidays in China

Good to know: It’s best to avoid the official Chinese holidays, because many Chinese citizens choose to travel on official holidays. As a result, many Chinese tourist attractions are overcrowded and traffic jams are common. Therefore, traveling to Zhangjiajie and Tianmen Mountain at this time may not be ideal.

• Chinese New Year: Around January or February
• Winter vacation: January – February
• Labor Day: May 1st  – 3rd
• Summer vacation (for students): July – August 31st
• Mid-Autumn Festival: Around mid-September
• National Day: October 1st – 7th

How to get to Tianmen Mountain?

To travel to Tianmen Mountain from Hong Kong, Beijing, Guilin, Xian, Shanghai, Chengdu, Jiuzhaigou, Huangshan, and other popular tourist destinations in China, you can take a flight or train to get to Zhangjiajie first. Once there, you can choose one of the following ways to reach Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area.

From Downtown Zhangjiajie

Visitors can take Bus No.1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 or 102 and get off at Tianmen Mountain Cable Car Station.

From Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport

Visitors can take Bus No.4, 5 or 6 and get off at Tianmen Mountain Cable Car Station.

From Zhangjiajie Railway Station

Visitors can take Bus No.5 or 6 and get off at Tianmen Mountain Cable Car Station, a short trip of just around 5 minutes.

Nearby Attractions

• • Zhangjiajie National Forest Park: About 40km away from Tianmen Mountain, this park covers an area of 130 square kilometres and is China’s first national forest park. Its main highlights include Avatar Hallelujah Mountain, Tianzi Mountain, Bailong Elevator, Yellow Stone Village, Golden Whip Creek, Yuanjiajie, and more.
  • Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon: Another must-visit place in Zhangjiajie, this canyon offers some of the best trails for hiking, as well as the world’s longest glass bridge. It’s located about 60km away from Tianmen Mountain.
  • Baofeng Lake: A part of Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, a World Natural Heritage and World Geopark. Be sure to take the lake cruise trip so you can appreciate the picturesque landscape.
  • Yellow Stone Cave: One of the most beautiful karst caves in China.

FAQs about Tianmen Mountain

How many sections of the Glass Skywalk are there, and are there separate fees for them?

There are three sections of glass skywalk. All of them are on the mountain peak and are charged CNY 5 for the shoe cover.

How much time should I allocate for a complete visit to Tianmen Mountain?

A complete visit usually requires 5 – 7 hours.

Which cable car route should I take to ascend Tianmen Mountain, and how long does the journey take?

The cable car route A (cable car up and fast line down) is the most classic and recommended route. The uphill cable car itself takes about 30 minutes.

What are the must-see highlights on Tianmen Mountain?

Tianmen Mountain Cableway, Tianmen Cave, Guigu Plank Road, The 99-bend Road, and Yunmeng Xianding Scenic Spot are unmissable highlights.

Are food and water readily available on Tianmen Mountain?

Yes. You can buy food and drink at Cherry Bay and Tianmen Cave Square.

Is the Tianmen Mountain Cableway really the longest in the world?

Now, it isn’t. In 2025, the Xuefeng Mountain Cableway has been put into use. Its length is 7,600 meters, 145 meters longer than Tianmen Mountain Cableway. So the Xuefeng Mountain Cableway is the longest now.

Adventure to Zhangjiajie with China Xian Tour

Both the Tianmen Mountain and Zhangjiajie National Forest Park are in a large area. Under the guidance of a professional guide, you will not get lost in the scenic area or waste time to find the correct way and your tour route will be optimized by the guide. So you can have more time to indulge in the natural scenery. China Xian Tour can assign a local guide for you. Besides, we can also tailor a reasonable Zhangjiajie trip to include all the scenic spots you plan to visit. So do not hesitate to contact us.