Conquering Little Tianmen Mountain

🌈 Attraction Highlights: 3 Must-Visit Spots + 2 Essential Routes ✅ Must-Visit Attractions 1. Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park · Tianmen Cave ◦ World's highest natural mountain cave (1,300m above sea level), with 999 steps of the "Stairway to Heaven" leading directly to the cave entrance. When surrounded by clouds and mist, it looks like a fairyland. If you're physically tired, you can take the mountain elevator (free) instead. Looking back after reaching the top, you'll see mountains stretching beneath your feet, and every casual photo becomes a "fairyland masterpiece." 2. Tianmen Mountain Glass Walkway ◦ Suspended on the western cliff of the mountain peak, about 60m long, with a 300m deep valley below the transparent glass, making every step thrilling. However, guardrails and anti-slip measures are well-equipped. Wearing bright-colored clothes is recommended to create stunning photos against the sea of clouds backdrop. 3. Yunmeng Peak ◦ The main peak of Tianmen Mountain (1,518.6m above sea level), with a 360° observation deck overlooking Zhangjiajie city, Lishui River, and layered mountain ranges. Early mornings often feature magnificent seas of clouds, while evenings capture the breathtaking moment of "golden sunset on the mountains." • Mountain Top Loop (3-4 hours): ◦ West Route (Easy Version): Cable car upper station → Lingxiao Platform → Glass Walkway → Guigu Plank Road (winding along cliffs, offering distant views of Tianmen Cave) → Tianmen Mountain Temple (Tang Dynasty ancient temple, popular for worship). ◦ East Route (In-depth Version): Cable car upper station → Love of Wood and Stone (popular spot for couples) → Yuhu Peak (best spot for sunrise viewing) → North View of Tianmen (close-up panorama of the cave entrance). If you have good stamina, you can connect both east and west routes without backtracking. • Descent Route: Mountain top → Mountain elevator (15 minutes, 7-level elevator directly to Tianmen Cave) → 999 steps (can be experienced on foot, or take the elevator for ¥32) → Express cable car (5 minutes down) → Free shuttle bus (back to the city cable car station). 🎫 Ticket Information: Book in advance for peace of mind • Ticket price: Adult ticket ¥278/person, including Tianmen Mountain cable car (direct from city to mountain top), 7-level mountain elevator, Tianmen Cave express cable car, and shuttle bus. • Discount policy: Half-price (¥139) for seniors aged 60-70 and full-time students with valid ID; free admission for children under 14, seniors over 65, military personnel, and disabled persons (transportation fee of ¥140 still applies). 🕒 Scenic Area Opening Hours: Visit during off-peak times to enjoy golden hours • Operating hours: 7:30-18:00 (May average temperature 15-25°C, recommended to enter at 7:30 with the first batch to avoid peak crowds). 🚗 Transportation Guide • Recommended accommodation: Stay near the cable car station in Zhangjiajie city (such as Four Famous Buildings Aesthetic Inn), just a 5-minute walk to the ticket gate, saving you the hassle of rushing in the morning. • Self-driving navigation: Set destination to "Tianmen Mountain Cable Car Lower Station," parking costs ¥20/day. Parking spaces are limited, so arrive before 7:00 or use the Four Famous Buildings Aesthetic Inn parking lot. 💗 Other Tips: 📸 Photography Techniques • Tianmen Cave: Stand in the middle of the 999 steps, with the cave entrance as background, take upward shots of people climbing to emphasize the "harmony between heaven and human" concept. • Glass Walkway: Crouch down for low-angle shots, letting the glass occupy 1/3 of the frame with distant sea of clouds and mountains as background, maximizing both fear factor and beauty. ⚠️ Pitfalls to Avoid & Safety • Off-peak tips: Avoid holidays after May 9th to reduce queuing time by 50%. Shuttle buses run every 10 minutes, so no long waits. • Safety notes: Wear the shoe covers provided by the scenic area (free) on the glass walkway, hold the guardrails firmly when taking photos; the mountain top is windy, so secure your hat to prevent it from falling.