Tianmen Mountain: A Compact Wonder

🌈 Highlights: Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park, located in Yongding District, Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province, is a 5A-rated scenic area with a peak elevation of 1,518.6 meters. This karst plateau landscape is famed for its four major zones: "Heaven's Gate Opening," "Buddhist Kingdom of Heaven," "Jade Field Terrace," and "Immortal-Seeking Wonderland." Over 90% of the area is covered by pristine secondary forests, with mist shrouding the mountain 230 days a year, creating unique sights like "Lotus Terrace in Sea of Clouds" and "Rainbow Over Heaven's Gate." It gained global fame for extreme feats like stunt flights through Tianmen Cave and wingsuit flying. 🌟 Must-Visit Spots: ✅ 1. Tianmen Cave A natural karst cave at 1,300 meters above sea level, standing 131.5m tall, 57m wide, and 60m deep—the world’s highest-altitude natural cave. The 999-step "Stairway to Heaven" leads to the cave, symbolizing a path to the divine. Legends speak of "Heaven's Gate Exhaling Mist" and "Celestial Light" phenomena here. ◦ Tip: Hike the stairs for a challenge or take the mountain escalator (¥32 one-way) for an easier ascent. ✅ 2. Glass Skywalk A 60m-long, 1.6m-wide transparent walkway at 1,430m altitude, offering a cloud-walking thrill. A ¥5 shoe cover fee applies—wear anti-slip shoes. ✅ 3. Ghost Valley Plank Walk A 1,600m cliffside path at 1,400m elevation, named after the hermit Guiguzi. It overlooks deep valleys and peaks. ✅ 4. Tianmen Mountain Cableway The world’s longest alpine passenger cableway (7,455m, 1,279m elevation drop, 28-minute ride). It connects downtown to the summit, showcasing rural vistas, canyons, and winding roads. 🕐 Hours: 07:30–19:00 (last entry at 16:00), subject to official notices. 🏝️ Recommended Routes: **Route A (Cableway Up + Express Cableway Down)** • Path: Downtown cableway station → Summit (West Glass Skywalk → Ghost Valley Walk → Tianmen Temple → East Cloud Corridor → Suspension Bridge) → Escalator down to Tianmen Cave → Express cableway to gate → Free shuttle back. • Perk: Aerial views throughout; ideal for panorama lovers. Visit the West Glass Skywalk early to avoid crowds. **Route B (Express Cableway Up + Cableway Down)** • Path: Mountain gate → Express cableway to Tianmen Cave → Escalator up → Summit (same as Route A) → Cableway down to downtown. • Perk: Challenge the cave stairs first, then explore the summit—best for the fit. Sunset city views on descent. **Route C (Express Cableway Round Trip)** • Path: Mountain gate → Express cableway to Tianmen Cave → Escalator up → Summit → Escalator back to cave → Express cableway return. • Perk: For those focusing on Tianmen Cave or unable to book Routes A/B (saves 2 hours of backtracking). 💗 Tips: 🎫 Tickets: Adults ¥278 (includes one-way cableway + shuttle). Free for under-14s/over-65s; half-price for students/60–65s. 🏨 Stay: Hotels/B&Bs near the park (e.g., Four Famous Residences Inn—free airport transfers and friendly staff). ⭕ Book tickets 3–7 days ahead. ⭕ Dining: Cherry Bay, Tianmen Waterfall, and Cloud Dream Peak restaurants (pricey; pack snacks).