Why go
Tianmen Mountain rises abruptly from the city, and the cable car is the whole point of entry: at 7.4km it is the longest passenger cableway on earth, giving a slowly unfolding view of the karst towers below.
The summit is a 2.4km loop of cliff paths, some with glass floors, connecting viewpoints around the plateau. Heaven's Gate itself is viewed best from below, after descending the long stairway — or take the underground escalator if your knees object.
- The 7.4km cable car — 30 minutes of rising over karst peaks
- Heaven's Gate — the 130-metre natural arch in the cliff
- The 999 'stairway to heaven' steps (or take the escalator)
- The cliff-edge glass walkways around the summit loop
Practical tips
Morning fog is common — check the summit webcam before committing. Book the A-line ticket and start before 9:00. The glass walkways require a small shoe-cover fee. Allow 5–6 hours for the full loop including the gate.
Nearby
Tianmen is in the city; the National Forest Park is 40 minutes away. Doing both in one trip is standard for a Zhangjiajie 3-day itinerary.
Getting there
- The cable car station is in central Zhangjiajie city — walkable or a short taxi
- Cable car
- 7.4 km, world's longest
- Arch
- 130 m high Heaven's Gate
- Steps
- 999 to the gate
