Tianmen Mountain Ultimate Guide: Strolling Through the Cloudy Wonderland's 999-Step Heavenly Ladder

📍 Geographic Coordinates ▪️ Location: Yongding District, Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province ▪️ Altitude: 1,518.6 meters (summit) ▪️ World Records: ✅ World's longest high-mountain passenger cableway (7,455 meters) ✅ "99 Bends" – the most spectacular mountain road on earth ✅ Tianmen Cave – the world's highest natural mountain-piercing karst cave --- #📅 Best Travel Seasons 🌸 Spring (Apr-May): Frequent sea of clouds & blooming mountain flowers ☀️ Summer (Jun-Aug): Cool retreat (10°C cooler than downtown) 🍁 Autumn (Sep-Nov): Golden photography season with colorful foliage ❄️ Winter (Dec-Feb): Frost scenery (Tianmen Cave may close) --- #🚡 Three Ways to Ascend #❶ Tianmen Mountain Cableway (Recommended) - Thrill Level: ★★★★★ - Duration: 28 minutes (direct from downtown to summit) - Must-See: Aerial view of the 99 Bends #❷ Eco-Bus + Heavenly Ladder (For Adventurers) - Adrenaline Rush: Drifting through 99 Bends - Ultimate Challenge: Climbing the 999-step ladder to Tianmen Cave #❸ Express Cableway (Time-Saver) - Route: Mountain Gate → Tianmen Cave → Tunnel Escalator - Ideal For: Tight schedules / acrophobia --- ### **🎫 Ticket Policy (Must-Read!)** | Ticket Type | Price | Notes | |-------------|-------|-------| | Line A | ¥275 | Cableway up + Eco-Bus down | | Line B | ¥275 | Eco-Bus up + Cableway down | | Line C | ¥232 | Eco-Bus round-trip | ❗ Key Tips: - Book at least 1 day ahead (sells out in peak season) - Choose Line A to avoid crowds - Glass walkway shoe covers: ¥5/person (on-site) --- #📸 Top 5 Must-See Wonders 1️⃣ Tianmen Cave: World’s highest natural arch (featured in airplane stunts) 2️⃣ Glass Walkway: 60-meter transparent cliffside path (East/West routes) 3️⃣ Ghost Valley Plank Road: "Sky Corridor" clinging to cliffs 4️⃣ Yunmeng Summit: 360° panoramic platform 5️⃣ 99 Bends: Dragon-like mountain road (perfect for drones) --- #🚶‍♂️ Classic Itineraries ▸ Half-Day Highlights (Line A): Cableway → West Glass Walkway → Ghost Valley Plank Road → Tianmen Temple → Tunnel Escalator → Tianmen Cave → Express Cableway ▸ Full-Day Exploration (Line B): Eco-Bus → 999 Steps → Tianmen Cave → Tunnel Escalator → East Plank Road → Yunmeng Summit → Cableway --- #🏡 Accommodation Tips ▸ Downtown Picks: - Near cableway station (e.g., Hampton by Hilton Tianmen Mountain) - Xibu Street homestays (Tujia culture night market) ▸ Summit Stay: Only "Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park Hotel" (book 6+ months ahead) --- #🍜 Zhangjiajie Food Guide ▪️ Must-Try Trio: - Sanxiaguo (stewed bacon, tofu & radish) - Rock Fungus Chicken (summit-exclusive) - Wormwood Cakes (wild herb pastry) ▪️ Pro Tips: ❌ Overpriced summit dining (pack snacks) ✅ Affordable "South Gate Food Street" downtown --- #⚠️ Bloody Lessons 1. Weather Magic: Post-rain sunshine = best cloud sea views 2. Dress Code: Windy summit – bring a jacket even in summer 3. High-Altitude Rules: - Drone permits required - No shaking on glass walkways 4. **Timing**: Last cableway at 17:30 (miss it = 5-hour hike down!) --- #✨ Final Words When mist pours through Tianmen Cave, when you step onto the glass walkway suspended over cliffs, when sunset paints the 99 Bends gold-red—this Avatar-filmed mountain whispers with awe: "Heaven’s gate needs no filter." 🗓️ Suggested Trip: D1 Tianmen Mountain → D2 Zhangjiajie National Forest → D3 Grand Canyon Glass Bridge > 🚡 Cableway Hours: 8:00-17:30 (extended to 18:00 in peak season)