天门山国家森林公园 · Zhangjiajie, Hunan, China
Where a mountain opens a gate to the sky: ride the cableway over the 99-bend road, walk the cliff-hugging glass skywalks and climb the 999 steps to Heaven's Gate — all in one unforgettable day above Zhangjiajie.
Welcome to the gate in the clouds
Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park is named after its own natural wonder — Tianmen Cave, the "Heaven's Gate" — a colossal karst arch carved straight through the mountain's towering cliffs. Locals believe the cave leads directly to heaven, and one look up through the arch explains why: from the plaza at its base, all you see beyond the opening is sky.
The park sits close to downtown Zhangjiajie, yet it feels like another world. The cableway lifts you from the city streets for a bird's-eye view of the winding Heaven-Linking Avenue — the famous mountain road with 99 turns — while the cliff-hugging glass skywalks on the west and east lines put you on the edge of the abyss with nothing but transparent glass underfoot. Ancient towering trees and intertwined vines cover the slopes between the cave, the central route and the two cliff lines, so every route feels like a different mountain.
The park in numbers
The essentials
From a cave in the sky to a night of fox-spirit legend — these are the experiences the park is famous for.
01Tianmen Cave is a natural karst arch pierced through the cliff — and the grand staircase of 999 steps leads straight into it. Climb them if you dare, or take the escalators; either way, standing beneath the arch with nothing but sky above is the moment you came for.
02The western route's highlight is a 60 m glass walkway clinging to sheer cliffs — fully transparent flooring that induces vertigo and exhilaration in equal measure. The eastern route and Panlong Cliff each have their own skywalk, and shoe covers keep the glass spotless.
03The Avenue toward Heaven winds up the mountainside in 99 dramatic turns, and from the cableway you get the bird's-eye view road-trippers only dream about. Buses climb it to the base of Heaven's Gate — an engineering spectacle in its own right.
04The attraction's cableway runs from Guanliping in Yongding District up to Tianmen Mountain Top, gliding above forests, cliffs and the 99-bend road. Since 2020 an express cableway also links the park entrance directly to the Tianmen Cave area.
05The core attraction of the central route, framed by ancient trees. Nearby lies the "Child-seeking cave" of legend, where prayers are believed to grant offspring — and just next to the temple, Cherry Bay Restaurant serves snacks and fast food to refuel.
06Near the lower station, shuttles carry visitors to the Grand Canyon Theater for the magical musical "Tianmen Fox Fairy" — a love story between a human and a fox spirit, staged under a giant moon with snowflakes filling the sky and high-altitude flying bridges.
Plan your route
The park divides into the Tianmen Cave area, the central route and the eastern & western routes — pick your entrance direction and the mountain unfolds from there.
Line AThe most popular circuit, per reviewers: the cable car all the way to the top, then the western line with its glass floor walkway, a cable car hop down to Yunmeng Fairy Peak, the tunnel back to the main station, and the eastern line — finishing with escalators or the 999 steps down through Tianmen Cave. Count on about 5–6 hours for the whole loop.
Line BLine B puts you on the cable car to the halfway point, then a bus climbs the famous 99-bend road to the base of Heaven's Gate — so the first thing you see is the cave itself, breathtaking and enormous overhead. Climb the 999 steps (or ride the 32 RMB escalators), then work your way along the cliff lines above. As one 2026 traveler put it: "I actually appreciated starting my experience at the gate."
Good to knowOpened in 2020, the express cableway runs from a lower station near the park entrance to an upper station by the Tianmen Cave parking lot — a shortcut to the cave for anyone short on time or energy. Whichever line you choose, the mountain is a one-day visit: no stay is allowed in the attraction, so plan your return to the city before the gates close.
See it before you go
Two minutes of cableway, cliffs and the 99-bend road — the best preview of what waits above Zhangjiajie.
Plan like a pro
The practical details that turn a great day into a perfect one — straight from the park's official information and recent travelers.
"Go early as with everything in china if you go early you miss the crowds," one 2026 traveler advises. The park opens at 08:00 and admission ends at 4:00 PM — a full morning gives you calm skywalks and short queues before the tour groups arrive.
The ticket covers the mountain, but travelers report paying for extras: escalators up the 999 steps (32 RMB), shoe covers for the glass skywalks (5 RMB per balcony) and the chair lift to the peak (25 RMB) — "worth it just for the views," says the same reviewer.
Each winter, snow and icy roads close both Tianmen Cave and the Avenue toward Heaven — the 99 bends and the cave itself go off-limits until conditions improve. The cableway and cliff routes typically continue; check ahead if your trip falls between December and February.
No stay is allowed in the attraction, so it is strictly a one-day visit — and the main refuel point is Cherry Bay Restaurant near Tianmen Mountain Temple, offering snacks and fast food. Bring water for the staircases and the cliff walks between restaurants.
The main cableway's lower station sits in Guanliping, Yongding District — close to Zhangjiajie city — with the upper station at Tianmen Mountain Top. The express cableway (2020) starts nearer the park entrance and lands by Tianmen Cave. Taxis know both stations well.
Near the cableway's lower station, transport runs to the Grand Canyon Theater, where the live musical "Tianmen Fox Fairy" retells the legend of Liu Hai the woodcutter and his fox-spirit love — giant moon, transforming spirits and snowflakes in the sky included.
Tours & activities
Skip-the-line passes, full-day Zhangjiajie combinations and guided climbs — bookable through our partners Viator and GetYourGuide.
Tianmen gallery
A first look at the mountain waiting for you — see every photo on the Gallery page.
Traveler reviews
Rated 4.6/5 from 54٬882 reviews on Trip.com — here is what real travelers highlight.
Was amazing to see this place in person. The 999 steps are definitely not for the faint hearted and there are plenty more steps after that if you do any of the walks at the top. Thoroughly enjoyed, breathtaking scenery and incredible feats of engineering along the way.
Amazing day up in the mountain. Go early as with everything in china if you go early you miss the crowds. Line B takes you up via the cable car at the moment (june2026) this is only to the halfway point then you sre put on the bus up the famous 99 bend road to the base of the Heavens Gate. I actually appreciated starting my experience at the gate its so breathtaking and amazing. I paid for all the extras which are escalators if you don't want to /cant walk the 999 steps up (32rmb), shoe cover charge for the sky walks /glass balconies (5rmb per balcony and there are 2 operational), and 25rmb for the chair lift up to the peak which is worth it just for the views.
Tianmen Mountain is an absolute must-visit destination when traveling to Zhangjiajie. Trust me, you won't regret experiencing this incredible natural wonder!The name "Tianmen Shan" literally translates to "Heaven's Gate Mountain," referring to its spectacular natural arch, a massive cave opening carved into the mountain's towering cliffs that resembles a gateway to heaven.With its breathtaking scenery, dramatic cliffs, spectacular cable car ride, and thrilling mountain roads, Tianmen Mountain is truly one of China's most remarkable natural attractions.Whether you are a nature lover, an adventure enthusiast, or simply someone who appreciates extraordinary landscapes, Tianmen Mountain is an unforgettable experience that should not be missed!
Visiting Tianmen Mountain Cave with my family was an unforgettable experience. Climbing the 999 steps was challenging but rewarding, and we took it slow together, enjoying the views along the way. Reaching the Heaven's Gate at the top felt truly special and spiritual. The scenery, fresh air, and sense of achievement made it a memorable family moment we'll always cherish.
tianmen Line A review , this line A is best way and most popular way to explore tianmen mountain, started with cable car way all the way up then exploring west side of mountain which include glass floor walk, and scenic view of west, exoerience cable car down to yunmeng fairy peak then walk thru tunnel back to main station and do east side of mountain for escalator or 999 steps down from tianmen cave, and expree cable car down then bus to city where we started. so convenient and perfect trip. all trip took about 5 to 6 hours to finish.Tianmen Line A is the best and most popular route to explore Tianmen Mountain. The journey starts with a cable car ride all the way up, followed by exploring the west side of the mountain, which includes the famous glass floor walkway and stunning scenic views. After that, you take a cable car down to Yunmeng Fairy Peak, then walk through a tunnel back to the main station. Next, you explore the east side of the mountain to going down mountain.
An amazing place to visit. 100 % recomended!! Views are incredible. And the line A is the best, so happy we got this one. There are so many entertainment on the top of the mountain. We really liked the glass cliff path. There are also many cliff paths along the way. The cave itself is breathtaking! It was my dream for such a long time to visit this place!
Reviews are sourced from Trip.com travelers and shown in their original language. Individual experiences may vary.
From the blog
Tickets and prices, Lines A & B, the 999 steps, glass skywalks and seasonal tips — written for visitors.
The cloud sea, the arch, the 99 bends and the glass floor — ten frames in walking order, with the timing tricks…
Read moreThe shortest logistics of any great mountain — the Guanliping cableway station, the 2020 express line, and the taxi trick that starts…
Read moreA giant moon, a fox spirit and snowflakes over a real valley — the legend of Liu Hai on stage at the…
Read moreThe cold-season map of the mountain — why the cave and the 99-bend road close, what remains open, and how to plan…
Read moreFrom the 08:00 cableway to the 999 steps and the evening Fox Fairy show — the full day mapped hour by hour,…
Read moreThe ride where the mountain begins — the classic line from Guanliping, the 2020 express cableway, and how to get the window…
Read moreQuick answers
The six questions every first-time visitor asks — answered with the park's official information.
Online tickets start at $43.13 on Trip.com — instant confirmation and no counter queue. Inside the park, travelers report small extras: escalators up the 999 steps (32 RMB), shoe covers for the glass skywalks (5 RMB per balcony) and the chair lift to the peak (25 RMB).
The park opens daily 08:00–19:00, and admission ends at 4:00 PM — arrive well before that if you want the full circuit of cave, cliff lines and temple. Winter snow and ice close Tianmen Cave and the Avenue toward Heaven, so check conditions for winter trips.
The recommended sightseeing time is 0.5–1 day. Reviewers who ride Line A typically finish the full loop — cableway, west line, east line and the 999 steps — in about 5 to 6 hours. No stay is allowed in the attraction, so it is a one-day experience.
Yes. Escalators run through the mountain for 32 RMB if you would rather not climb, and a chair lift to the peak costs 25 RMB. That said, most travelers who climb the steps call it challenging but rewarding — the sense of arrival under the arch is worth every one of the 999.
There is a Cherry Bay Restaurant near Tianmen Mountain Temple serving snacks and fast food. Between restaurants, bring water — especially for the staircases and the cliff walks. Overnight stay is not allowed, so plan meals around a single long day.
Near the lower station of the cableway, transport connects to the Grand Canyon Theater for the "Tianmen Fox Fairy" — an open-air magical musical based on the legend of Liu Hai the woodcutter, complete with a giant moon, spirit transformations and high-altitude flying bridges.
Tickets from $43.13 — book online with Trip.com, ride up above the 99 bends and climb into the clouds at 999 steps.
