{"id":177,"date":"2026-10-19T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-19T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tianmenmountainpark.com\/heaven-linking-avenue-99-bends\/"},"modified":"2026-10-19T09:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T09:00:00","slug":"heaven-linking-avenue-99-bends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tianmenmountainpark.com\/zh_hk\/heaven-linking-avenue-99-bends\/","title":{"rendered":"Heaven-Linking Avenue: The Story of the 99 Bends"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Before you ever set foot on Tianmen Mountain, you will have already seen its road. The Avenue toward Heaven \u2014 better known as the 99-bend road \u2014 stitches itself into the mountainside in a spiral of switchbacks, climbing toward the base of Tianmen Cave. From the cableway it looks like a ribbon dropped on the forest; from the bus that drives it, it feels like the most scenic traffic jam of your life. This is the story of the road with 99 turns \u2014 and how to see it at its best.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"tmpk-post-img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/tianmenmountainpark.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/tianmenmountainpark-8.webp\" alt=\"The 99 bends of Heaven-Linking Avenue seen from the air\" loading=\"lazy\"><figcaption>The Avenue toward Heaven from above \u2014 99 turns between the valley and the gate.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"tmpk-keybox\">\n<p class=\"tmpk-keybox__t\">Key takeaways<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>99 turns<\/strong> wind up the mountain to the base of Heaven&#8217;s Gate \u2014 the road is part of the attraction.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The cableway is the viewing deck<\/strong> \u2014 the park&#8217;s own description promises a bird&#8217;s-eye view of the winding avenue from the cabins.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Line B drives it<\/strong> \u2014 cable car to the halfway point, then the bus up the bends to the cave (June 2026 traveler report).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Winter closes the road<\/strong> \u2014 snow and ice shut both the avenue and the cave each year.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The number is the meaning<\/strong> \u2014 nine is heaven&#8217;s number in Chinese tradition, and the road repeats it all the way up.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tmpk-facts\">\n<div class=\"tmpk-fact\"><strong>99<\/strong><span>turns between the valley and Heaven&#8217;s Gate<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tmpk-fact\"><strong>Line B<\/strong><span>includes the bus ride up the avenue<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tmpk-fact\"><strong>Winter<\/strong><span>closed with the cave due to snow and ice<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tmpk-fact\"><strong>4.6\/5<\/strong><span>54,882 Trip.com reviews<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<nav class=\"tmpk-toc\" aria-label=\"In this guide\">\n<p class=\"tmpk-toc__t\">What&rsquo;s in this guide<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#why99\">Why 99 bends?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#drive\">Riding the road (Line B)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#view\">Seeing it from the cableway<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#photos\">Photographing the bends<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#season\">When the road is open<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#faq\">FAQ<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#book\">Book your ticket<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h2 id=\"why99\"><span class=\"tmpk-ico tmpk-ico--curve\"><\/span>Why 99 bends?<\/h2>\n<p>The number is not an accident. Nine is the number of heaven in Chinese tradition, and the road to a place named Heaven&#8217;s Gate multiplies it to the maximum \u2014 99 turns, each one a switchback folded into the slope. Locals call the mountain&#8217;s arch a gate leading directly to heaven; the road is the driveway. Engineering vanity and cosmology agree here, and the result is one of the most photographed mountain roads anywhere.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"drive\"><span class=\"tmpk-ico tmpk-ico--bus\"><\/span>Riding the road (Line B)<\/h2>\n<p>The avenue is working infrastructure: park buses climb it to the parking area below Tianmen Cave. Since 2020, the park&#8217;s entrance options split the arrival \u2014 the classic cableway from Guanliping up to Tianmen Mountain Top, and the express cableway near the park entrance that lands by the Tianmen Cave area. Travelers on <strong>Line B<\/strong> describe the current sequence: &#8220;Line B takes you up via the cable car at the moment (june 2026), 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.&#8221; The bus ride is the fastest way to make the road a memory rather than a view.<\/p>\n<div class=\"tmpk-callout tmpk-callout--xp\">\n<p><strong>From real trips:<\/strong> the same traveler &#8220;actually appreciated starting my experience at the gate&#8221; \u2014 arriving by road puts the arch first, in full scale, before any viewpoint softens it. If your booking offers Line B, the bends are included.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"view\"><span class=\"tmpk-ico tmpk-ico--cable\"><\/span>Seeing it from the cableway<\/h2>\n<p>The park&#8217;s official description is straightforward: riding the cableway, &#8220;you can enjoy a bird&#8217;s-eye view of the winding Heaven-Linking Avenue and the stunning mountain scenery.&#8221; The cabins cross high above the road for much of the ascent, and the S-curves read like a diagram \u2014 count the switchbacks, watch the buses crawl them, and be glad you are in the air. On <strong>Line A<\/strong> this view is your opening act; photographers should ride on the right-hand side heading up (ask the attendant \u2014 the road side changes with the season&#8217;s angle).<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"photos\"><span class=\"tmpk-ico tmpk-ico--camera\"><\/span>Photographing the bends<\/h2>\n<p>Three frames work every time: the long-lens compression from the cableway window (turns stacked on turns), the mid-morning shot from the upper walkways where the road&#8217;s white edges trace the slope, and the classic zigzag from the viewpoints above the middle sections. Overcast days kill the shot \u2014 the road needs sun angles to pop from the forest. Our <a href=\"\/zh_hk\/tianmen-mountain-photo-spots\/\">photo spots guide<\/a> maps the exact locations.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"tmpk-post-img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/tianmenmountainpark.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/tianmenmountainpark-109.webp\" alt=\"Switchbacks of the mountain road on Tianmen Mountain\" loading=\"lazy\"><figcaption>Upper switchbacks \u2014 the road&#8217;s final approach to the cave area.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"season\"><span class=\"tmpk-ico tmpk-ico--snow\"><\/span>When the road is open<\/h2>\n<p>The avenue is a fair-weather road. The park&#8217;s official guidance: <strong>each winter, due to snow and icy roads, both Tianmen Cave and the Avenue toward Heaven leading to it are closed.<\/strong> No bus ride, no drive up, no cave \u2014 the cold months trade the bends for frost scenery on the upper mountain. Outside winter, the road runs with the park&#8217;s hours (08:00\u201319:00, admission ends 4:00 PM). If the road is your must-do, book a trip outside December\u2013February and confirm conditions with the hotline, +86-744-8366666.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"faq\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<details class=\"tmpk-faq\">\n<summary>Can I drive the 99-bend road myself?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"tmpk-faq__a\">\n<p>No \u2014 the avenue is park territory and visitors go up by the park&#8217;s buses (and arrive by cableway). The bus ride on Line B is the standard way to experience the turns from inside.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"tmpk-faq\">\n<summary>Is the bus ride scary?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"tmpk-faq__a\">\n<p>Dramatic rather than scary \u2014 professional drivers, low gears, and a road built for exactly this. Sit on the uphill side if edges are not your thing, and let the driver handle the 99.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"tmpk-faq\">\n<summary>Which line includes the road \u2014 A or B?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"tmpk-faq__a\">\n<p>Line B: cable car to the halfway point, then the bus up the bends to the cave&#8217;s base. Line A skips the road entirely, riding the cableway above it instead. Full comparison in our <a href=\"\/zh_hk\/line-a-or-line-b-tianmen\/\">Line A or Line B guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"tmpk-faq\">\n<summary>Is the road open in winter?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"tmpk-faq__a\">\n<p>No \u2014 snow and ice close the avenue together with Tianmen Cave each winter. The cableway and upper mountain typically continue; see our <a href=\"\/zh_hk\/winter-tianmen-mountain-closures\/\">winter guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<h2 id=\"book\">Ride over the bends yourself<\/h2>\n<div class=\"tmpk-cta-inline\">\n<p class=\"tmpk-cta-inline__t\">99 turns up, one gate at the top<\/p>\n<p>Tickets from $43.13 on Trip.com \u2014 instant confirmation, any international card, e-ticket boarding.<\/p>\n<div class=\"tmpk-cta-inline__btns\"><a class=\"tmpk-btn tmpk-btn--accent\" href=\"https:\/\/www.trip.com\/travel-guide\/attraction\/zhangjiajie\/tianmen-mountain-national-forest-park-10558650?Allianceid=5415915&amp;SID=335635756&amp;trip_sub1=&amp;trip_sub3=D21000464\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow sponsored noopener\">Book on Trip.com \u2014 from $43.13<\/a><a class=\"tmpk-btn tmpk-btn--ghost\" href=\"https:\/\/www.trip.com\/travel-guide\/attraction\/zhangjiajie\/tianmen-mountain-national-forest-park-10558650?Allianceid=5415915&amp;SID=335635756&amp;trip_sub1=&amp;trip_sub3=D21000464\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow sponsored noopener\">See tickets &amp; availability<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Then keep planning: the full circuit in the <a href=\"\/zh_hk\/one-day-tianmen-mountain-itinerary\/\">one-day itinerary<\/a>, the arch at the top in the <a href=\"\/zh_hk\/999-steps-heavens-gate\/\">999 steps guide<\/a>, and the ride up in the <a href=\"\/zh_hk\/tianmen-mountain-cable-car-guide\/\">cable car guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"tmpk-sources\">\n<p class=\"tmpk-sources__t\">Sources &amp; official references<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Trip.com \u2014 Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park listing (checked November 2026): bird&#8217;s-eye view of the winding Heaven-Linking Avenue from the cableway; winter closure of the avenue and the cave.<\/li>\n<li>Verified traveler reviews on Trip.com (54,882 reviews, 4.6\/5): Line B sequence \u2014 cable car to halfway, bus up the 99 bends to the base of Heaven&#8217;s Gate (June 2026).<\/li>\n<li>Official park information: cableway lower station in Guanliping (Yongding District), upper at Tianmen Mountain Top; express cableway opened 2020 to the Tianmen Cave area.<\/li>\n<li>Ticket-inquiry hotline +86-744-8366666.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why the road to Heaven&#8217;s Gate has exactly 99 turns, what the bus ride feels like, and where to stand for the classic switchback photos.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-177","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tianmenmountainpark.com\/zh_hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/177","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tianmenmountainpark.com\/zh_hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tianmenmountainpark.com\/zh_hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tianmenmountainpark.com\/zh_hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tianmenmountainpark.com\/zh_hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=177"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tianmenmountainpark.com\/zh_hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/177\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tianmenmountainpark.com\/zh_hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tianmenmountainpark.com\/zh_hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=177"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tianmenmountainpark.com\/zh_hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=177"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tianmenmountainpark.com\/zh_hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=177"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}