# Complete Guide to Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park

📌 Key Highlights 1. World Records: 7,455-meter aerial tramway/99-bend mountain road/1,300-meter glass walkway 2. Four Natural Wonders: Tianmen Mist/Tianmen Sunset Glow/Dreamlike Cloud Summit/Suspended Buddha Light (rainy season only) 3. Cultural Landmarks: Tianmen Mountain Temple (built during Tang Dynasty)/Live performance "Tianmen Fox Fairy" (evening) ⏳ Itinerary Planning 🔹 Classic One-Day Route: Cable car up → Lingxiao Platform → Glass Walkway → Ghost Valley Plank Road → Suspension Bridge → Tianmen Mountain Temple → Mountain Elevator → Tianmen Cave → Express cable car down 🔹 Two-Day In-Depth Tour Recommendation: Day 1: Route B (road up + express cable car down), stay at the summit to watch sunset Day 2: East route hiking highlights, cable car down 🚠 Transportation Guide ▫️ Cable Car Strategy: Route A (cable car up + road down) VS Route B (road up + cable car down) ★ Choose Route B during peak season to reduce waiting time by 3 hours ▫️ Driving Tips: Navigate to "Tianmen Mountain Gate Parking Lot," arrive before 6:30am during peak season for closer parking ▫️ Hidden Transportation: Free shuttle bus (between cable car lower station ↔ mountain gate) every 15 minutes 🎫 New Ticket Rules ✅ Time-slot reservation system (strongly recommend 7:00-8:00am slot) ✅ Special discounts: Students/seniors/military personnel get discounted tickets at ¥147 with valid ID ⚠️ Latest change: Shoe covers for glass walkway now included in ticket price 📸 Popular Photo Spots 1. Tianmen Cave Square (low-angle upward shots) 2. Dreamlike Cloud Summit (360° viewing platform) 3. Dove Tree Garden (white dove flower sea in May) 4. Panlong Cliff Glass Walkway (less crowded than west route for photos) 5. Wingsuit Flying Platform (World Championship venue) 🍜 Food Map ▲ Summit Recommendation: Tianmen Fondant (at Cave Top Café) - scenic spots fill up early ▲ Must-try at the foot: Master Hu's Three-Pot Stew (Nanzhangping location in city) ★ Hidden Menu: Rock-ear mushroom with free-range chicken at Cherry Bay Restaurant (middle cable car station) 🏨 Accommodation Guide ◾ Only hotel at the summit: Tianmen Mountain National Forest Hotel (book 2 months in advance) ◾ Best value: "Yunxi Zen" Guesthouse near cable car station (includes breakfast and shuttle) ◾ Luxury experience: Hetian Valley Hotel (40-minute drive, private villas) 💡 Advanced Activities 1. Night tour: "Colorful Tianmen" light show (every Friday/Saturday) 2. Extreme challenge: 999-step Stairway Challenge (held every October) 3. Cultural exploration: Find mysterious rock carvings in Ghost Valley Cave 4. Photography route: Professional guide-led sunrise and sea of clouds shooting route ⚠️ Safety Notes ① Selfie sticks prohibited on cliff sections ② Anti-slip chains provided free by the scenic area during July-August rainy season ③ Possible mild altitude sickness at 1,518 meters elevation ④ Drones must be registered at the visitor center (500-meter height limit) 🎒 Packing List Essential: Sunscreen/non-slip shoes/light jacket (8-10°C temperature difference at summit) Optional: Hiking poles (useful for stairway sections)/phone stabilizer Prohibited: Instant noodles or foods requiring hot water (no hot water provided at summit) 📆 Seasonal Highlights Spring (Mar-May): Mountain rhododendron flower sea Summer (Jun-Aug): 70% chance of seeing sea of clouds Fall (Sep-Nov): Best time for red leaf photography (Oct 20-Nov 10) Winter (Dec-Feb): Rime ice spectacle + snow-covered Tianmen Cave Recommended to download the official "Smart Tianmen Mountain" app to check real-time crowd levels at each attraction and access electronic guides. During peak season, consider visiting in reverse order: see Tianmen Cave first then go to the summit to avoid 80% of crowds. Don't be discouraged by foggy weather—the fog usually clears after 11am, allowing for ethereal, misty photos.