Tianmen Mountain: Climbing the “Stairway to Heaven” in Zhangjiajie

Tianmen Mountain, located in Zhangjiajie city in China’s central Hunan Province, is often described as one of the most beautiful mountains in the world.

The mountain is famous for its spectacular scenery and dramatic attractions. Highlights include Tianmen Cave (Heaven’s Door), the breathtaking 99 Bends road, sheer vertical cliffs, thrilling cliff-hanging walkways, a glass skywalk, and the world’s longest passenger cable car ride.

As the local tourism slogan says:
“Come, climb the Stairway to Heaven!”

The World’s Longest Cable Car Ride

The best way to reach Tianmen Mountain is by cable car.

We thought our cable car ride the day before to Tianzi Mountain was already long, but the Tianmen Mountain cableway is on another level.

Stretching more than 7 kilometers, it is considered one of the longest cable car systems in the world, and the journey takes about 30 minutes.

The ride begins in downtown Zhangjiajie city, near the bus station and railway station, and gradually climbs toward the mountain peak.

The final section of the ride becomes very steep, ascending at about 37 degrees over dramatic cliffs before reaching the summit.

The scenery from the cable car is absolutely stunning. Along the way we could see lush mountain peaks, deep valleys, and the famous 99 Bends road snaking its way up the mountain.

Ticket and Opening Information

The cable car is extremely popular and lines can be long, especially during peak seasons.

Luckily our guide Kelly had already purchased our tickets in advance, so we simply had to show our booking confirmation at the counter.

The cable car typically operates:

• 7:30 AM in summer
• 8:00 AM in winter

Operations may be suspended during thunderstorms, strong winds, or heavy snow, so it is always good to check the weather beforehand.

Understanding Tianmen Mountain Ticket Routes

When visiting Tianmen Mountain, tickets are usually sold in three main route options. Knowing the difference helps you plan your visit better.

Route A (most popular)
Cable car up the mountain → explore the summit → escalators down to Tianmen Cave → bus down the 99 Bends road.

Route B
Bus up the 99 Bends road → visit Tianmen Cave → escalators up → explore summit → cable car down.

Route C
Bus up and down the mountain with walking sections in between.

Most international visitors choose Route A, which is what we did, because the long cable car ride up the mountain is one of the highlights of the experience.

A Tip Before Visiting

One important tip: eat before going up the mountain.

There are no proper restaurants on the summit area — only small stalls selling snacks and drinks.

If you plan to spend several hours exploring the mountain like we did, having a proper meal beforehand is a good idea.

Exploring Tianmen Mountain

The hiking trails at Tianmen Mountain are very well organized and clearly marked.

Visitors can usually complete the main sightseeing route within one day.

Once you reach the summit area, the sightseeing trails split into two main loops.

East Line

• Shorter walking distance
• Includes the famous Glass Skywalk
• Slightly more crowded

West Line

• Longer trail
• Includes the Cliff Hanging Walkway
• Generally quieter with equally stunning scenery

If you have time, you can actually walk both loops in one day, which takes around 3–4 hours depending on how often you stop for photos.

The Cliff-Hanging Walkway

One of the most exciting attractions at Tianmen Mountain is the Cliff-Hanging Walkway.

The walkway is built directly along the edge of the mountain, clinging to the vertical cliff faces.

It stretches about 1.6 kilometers and sits roughly 1,400 meters above sea level.

Walking along this path is both thrilling and slightly nerve-wracking, especially when you look down at the dramatic drop below.

The entire cliffside loop takes around 1.5 hours to complete, depending on how often you stop to take photos.

At one point along the route, there is also a suspension bridge connecting two mountain peaks.

Descending the Mountain

Eventually it was time for us to descend.

From the top area we had a choice:
either walk down the stairs or take the escalator system.

By that time we were already quite tired from two days of hiking, so we decided to purchase an additional ticket for the escalators.

And when I say escalators… I really mean a lot of escalators.

I counted seven separate escalators taking us down through the mountain.

we got down around 5ish in the evening and bought additional ticket to go down using escalator. There is also an option to walk down the stairs if you don’t want to purchase additional ticket. I counted there are total of 7 escalators we had to take to go down.

The Famous 99 Bends Road

After the escalators, we boarded a tourist shuttle bus that drives down the famous 99 Bends road.

As the name suggests, the road has 99 sharp hairpin curves leading up to Tianmen Cave.

The buses transport visitors between the mid-mountain station and the base of the mountain.

The bus ride takes about 20 minutes, and the driver navigates through an incredible series of tight turns along steep cliffs.

If you are prone to motion sickness, this ride can be a bit challenging.

I personally decided to close my eyes for most of the journey down!

Practical Tips for Visiting Tianmen Mountain

1. Start Early
Tianmen Mountain is one of the most popular attractions in Zhangjiajie. Arriving early helps avoid long queues.

2. Check the Weather
Fog and clouds are common in the mountains. Clear weather makes a huge difference for the views.

3. Wear Comfortable Shoes
Even though there are escalators and cable cars, there is still a lot of walking involved.

4. Bring Light Snacks
There are only small stalls selling drinks and simple snacks at the top.

5. Prepare for Height
The glass skywalk and cliff paths can be intimidating if you are afraid of heights — but the views are worth it.

Back to the Airport

At the bottom, our driver was already waiting for us.

He drove us straight to Zhangjiajie Airport, which is conveniently located not far from Tianmen Mountain. Our flight back to Beijing was scheduled for 10 PM, so we had plenty of time to relax at the airport and grab dinner.

As we looked back Tianmen Mountain turned out to be the perfect finale to our Zhangjiajie adventure.

From the Avatar-like landscapes of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, to the thrilling Glass Bridge at the Grand Canyon, and finally the breathtaking scenery of Tianmen Mountain, the entire trip felt like stepping into a fantasy world.

If you ever visit Zhangjiajie, Tianmen Mountain is absolutely not to be missed.