Looking for the perfect Tianmen Mountain itinerary but can’t figure out where to start? You’re in the right place.

I’ve been there, trying to piece together how to visit Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park with barely any clear info online. Between confusing routes, different ticket options, and constant mentions of fog, it’s easy to feel lost before you’ve even arrived.

But here’s the good news!

This guide will help you plan a smooth, exciting, and breathtaking day trip—without getting overwhelmed.

Tianmen Mountain is one of the most iconic places in China. Picture this: you’re gliding above a forest on one of the world’s longest cable cars. Below you? Jagged cliffs. In front of you? A giant natural archway known as Heaven’s Gate. Up top? Skywalks made of glass, winding paths along cliff edges, and panoramic views that honestly don’t feel real.

And the best part?

It’s right in Zhangjiajie City—so it’s one of the most accessible stops on your Zhangjiajie itinerary. You won’t need to travel far. But you will need a solid plan to make the most of it.

In this post, you’ll get:

• A step-by-step breakdown of Route A (the best one, in my opinion)
• Quick overviews of Route B and C (and why I don’t recommend them)
• Tips on booking tickets, avoiding crowds, best time to visit and more
• My honest advice from visiting myself

In a hurry? Plan your visit to Tianmen Mountain now!

📍Top sights: Heaven’s Gate | Tianmen Cable Cars | Tianmen Temple | Cliffside Paths | 99 Bends Road

⌛ How long to spend in Tianmen Mountain: 5 to 6 hours

🚆How to get to Tianmen Mountain: Traveling by train is one of the most efficient ways to get around China. You can book tickets on the official 12306 app, but I personally recommend using Trip.com since it’s more user-friendly.

🎟️ Where to buy tickets to Tianmen Mountain – WeChat or Trip.com, which is more foreign-friendly

🚠 Recommended Route – Route A: up by the grand cable car, explore the summit, then down by express cable car. Most scenic and time-efficient!

😴 Where to stay to visit Tianmen Cave – Hotel California Zhangjiajie (my recommendation)

💸 How to pay in China – It’s a cashless society. You’ll need Alipay or WeChat Pay to make purchases — literally everywhere. Use Revolut to pay in yuan and avoid foreign transaction fees.

💊 Best travel insurance for China – I recommend Heymondo for its excellent balance between affordability and quality.

🛜 Best way to stay connected in China – If your phone supports eSIM, use Airalo (MARIAN4315 = 3$ off). Otherwise, get a China Unicom or China Telecom SIM. Don’t forget a VPN to access apps like WhatsApp and Instagram.

So even though some people include Tianmen Mountain in Zhangjiajie park itineraries, don’t mix the two up.

• Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is where you’ll find the Avatar Mountains and hiking trails.
• Tianmen Mountain is all about glass walkways, cliff roads, and that iconic hole in the mountain.

If you’re short on time, Tianmen is actually easier to visit—it’s right in town and doable as a full-day trip without needing any transfers.

From Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport

The airport is only 10–15 minutes away by taxi.

You can also use Didi (China’s version of Uber). It’s cheap, reliable, and way easier if you don’t speak Mandarin.

When I was planning my trip, having a clear map of Tianmen Mountain made all the difference.

It helped me understand the layout, choose the best route, and avoid confusion on the day of the visit. To make your planning easier, here’s a detailed map highlighting the main attractions.

Here are the key sections in the map explained:

• Lower Station of Grand Cableway (Tianmen Mountain Cableway Lower Station): This is where your journey begins. Located in downtown Zhangjiajie, it’s the starting point for the famous Tianmen Mountain cableway.
• Mountaintop Loop (Summit): At the summit, you’ll find a circular path featuring the thrilling skywalk on Tianmen Mountain, offering panoramic views and adrenaline-pumping experiences.
• Tianmen Cave (Heaven’s Gate): This natural arch is the highlight of the mountain. You can reach it by climbing the 999 Tianmen Mountain stairs or taking the escalator.

Types of Tickets for Tianmen Mountain

There are three main routes you can book:

• Route A (the one I recommend): Go up by the cable car, explore the mountaintop, then down by the fast cable car. Best scenery and one of the most time-efficient options.
• Route B (reverse of route A): Ride the Express Cableway up to Tianmen Cave, climb to Heaven’s Gate, explore the summit, then ride the cable car back down.
• Route C (not recommended): Use the Express Cableway to go up and down, and walk the 999 steps both ways.

Ticket Price for Tianmen Mountain

I paid 278 RMB (~37€) for a full experience ticket. That includes:

• The Tianmen Mountain cable car or shuttle bus
• The escalators inside the mountain
• And all the transport within the park

Where to buy tickets for Tianmen Mountain

• Official WeChat App: This is what I used. But honestly? It’s not foreigner-friendly. Requires Chinese payment methods, and the translations sometimes don’t work.
• Hotels or Third-Party Sites: Much easier. I suggest buying on Trip.com, for example. This service provider will be one of your best friends in China.

💡 EXTRA TIP: Whichever platform you choose, just bring your passport on the day of your visit to enter the park. Book early, especially in peak season. And keep in mind that tickets only become available 15 days before your visit, so set a reminder and grab them as soon as they’re released.

For easy access to Tianmen Mountain, it’s best to stay in Zhangjiajie city center. That way, you’ll be close to the lower cable car station and won’t need to worry about catching a ride in the morning.

I stayed at Hotel California Zhangjiajie, which was less than a 15-minute walk to the entrance. The rooms were pretty basic, but honestly, it was perfect for a good night’s sleep — clean, quiet, and super convenient if you want to get an early start.

Nevertheless, here are a few more options for accommodation in Zhangjiajie:

Check availability

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💼 TRAVEL INSURANCE: Unexpected events happen anywhere in the world, so I always recommend getting travel insurance. I regularly use Heymondo, which offers some of the highest coverages on the market at very competitive prices. As well as covering medical expenses, Heymondo’s insurance also covers the loss or theft of luggage, electronic equipment and more. They also have a 24/7 customer service through their App. As A Ticket to Take Off reader, you get a 5% discount when purchasing Heymondo insurance. The purchase must be made using this link, and the price shown on the website already includes the discount.

Step 1: Ride the Tianmen Mountain Cable Car Up

Kick off your day with one of the world’s longest cable cars — over 7 km in total length. The ride lasts around 30 minutes, and honestly? It’s part thrilling, part terrifying, and fully worth it.

• The lower cable car station is located right in downtown Zhangjiajie
• This is the address for the station: Northwest Corner of the Intersection of Dayong Road and Yingbin Road, Zhangjiajie (张家界市大庸路与迎宾路路口西北角，天门山索道下站)
• Each cabin fits 8 people and the views are jaw-dropping the whole way up
• I hopped on the first cable car at 7.30 am — no queues at all. But judging by the barriers I saw, it can get packed later on.

Step 5: Explore Tianmen Cave (Heaven’s Gate)

When you exit the escalator tunnel, you’ll be at the base of Tianmen Cave. This is also called Heaven’s Gate Mountain — a massive natural arch carved into the mountain face.

While it looks impressive up close, the best photo ops are from below, after you descend.

You’ll have two options to get down:

• Take another escalator (called the Tianmen Cave Escalator), or
• Walk down the 999 Tianmen Mountain stairs

I chose the stairs. Going down was the right choice — going up looked brutal. But don’t be fooled… those steps are tiny, steep, and murder on your knees. It sounds easier than it is, so take it slow and hold the handrails.

At the bottom, you’ll finally get that perfect shot of Heaven’s Gate framed by the mountain.

Step 6: Ride the fast cable car back to the city

After the stairs, follow the signs to the Express Cable Car. This one’s a lot different from the first ride:

• It’s much larger (fits over 20 people)
• It’s super fast — the ride down takes only 7 minutes
• You’ll be back in the city in no time

If you started your day at the original cable car station, there are free shuttle buses that take you back there from the express cable car station. It’s quick and easy.

💡 EXTRA TIP: There’s also a bus option to descend via the legendary Tianmen Mountain road — a series of crazy switchbacks carved into the cliff. You’ll see it from above during your visit. I skipped it due to time, but it’s definitely an alternative if you want one last thrill.

Route B – Reverse of Route A

A solid plan B if Route A is full or if you arrive later in the morning and want to skip the long cable car queues.

• You’ll start with a shuttle bus up to the mountain gate.
• Then take the Express Cableway up to Tianmen Cave.
• Climb the 999 steps to reach Heaven’s Gate.
• Use the Through-Mountain Escalator to reach the summit.
• Explore the mountaintop and skywalks.
• Take the cable car back down to the city.

It’s still a good experience, but it’s definitely less dramatic than ascending by cable car through the cliffs. And keep in mind, you’ll have to climb the 999 steps up instead of taking them down.

Route C – Not Recommended

Only choose this if the main cable car is closed or if you’re really not a fan of heights.

• Start by taking a shuttle bus from the city to the mountain gate
• Ride the Express Cableway up to Tianmen Cave
• Climb the 999 steps to reach the base of Heaven’s Gate (yes, up the steps!)
• Take the Through-Mountain Escalator to the summit
• Explore the mountaintop trails and skywalks
• Use the escalator to come back down to Tianmen Cave
• Walk down the 999 steps again (so yes, you’re doing them twice!)
• Ride the Express Cableway back down
• Take a shuttle bus back to downtown Zhangjiajie

It’s a lot of effort for a less scenic route, and you miss one of the highlights: the Tianmen Mountain cableway.

Line 1 & Line 2 – Cheaper but Limited

There are two other options that are slightly cheaper, but each includes the cable car only one way.

• Line 1:
  • Take the cable car up to the summit
  • Explore the mountaintop
  • Use the escalators to reach Tianmen Cave
  • Walk down the 999 steps
  • Return to the city via shuttle through the 99 Bends mountain road
• Line 2:
  • Take a bus up via the 99 Bends road
  • Walk up the 999 steps
  • Ride the escalator to the summit
  • Explore the mountaintop
  • Return by cable car down to the city

These are okay if you’re short on time or budget, but if it’s your only visit to Tianmen Mountain, Route A is 100% the one to aim for.

Here are the main public holidays in China to avoid:

• Chinese New Year (late Jan or Feb – dates vary)
• Qingming Festival (early April)
• Labor Day (May 1–5)
• Dragon Boat Festival (June)
• Mid-Autumn Festival (Sept or Oct – varies)
• National Day / Golden Week (October 1–7)

Here are a few additional tips you’ll want to know to avoid surprises and make your day run smoother:

• Bring your passport – It’s not just for ID. Your passport is what gets scanned at the gate and acts as your ticket.
• Go early in the morning – Less fog, fewer crowds, and shorter lines. I got there around 7.30 am and it was totally worth it.
• Check the weather – Avoid cloudy or rainy days. Trust me, Tianmen Mountain in the fog isn’t the same. The views are what make the trip, and you’ll miss them if the sky’s not clear.
• The skywalks may close – If the weather’s bad (rain, snow, heavy fog), the glass walkways shut down for safety.
• There’s a security check before entry – Don’t bring anything sharp or restricted. It’s similar to airport security.
• You’ll find luggage lockers – At the lower cable car station, there are handy lockers where you can leave your bags for 5 RMB (~0.6€) per item. I left mine there and it saved me a ton of hassle.
• Wear layers – It’s cooler at the summit than down in the city, and temps can shift quickly.
• Bring sunscreen – You’ll be walking along open paths with little shade.
• Food tip – There are only light snacks available at the summit. If you’re spending the whole day up there, bring your own lunch. If not, it’s better to eat back in Zhangjiajie city, where the food’s cheaper and way better.

Absolutely. From dizzying cliff paths to the jaw-dropping cable car ride, Tianmen Mountain was one of the most unforgettable stops on my trip to China. It’s wild, dramatic, and surprisingly easy to reach, as long as you have a plan.

If you’ve made it this far, you’re already one step ahead. With this Tianmen Mountain itinerary, you’ll skip the confusion and head straight to the best parts without the guesswork.

Still have questions? Not sure which route fits your travel style best? Drop your questions in the comments! I’d love to help you plan your visit — or hear how your trip to Tianmen went. Let’s chat!