Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park

Tianmen Mountain, a famous mountain first recorded in the history of Zhangjiajie, has an elevation of 1,518.6 meters. It is only eight kilometers away from the center of the town and is one of the most representative natural sceneries of Zhangjiajie.

There are a variety of plants, of which Davidia involucrata and Metasequoia glyptostroboides are under state-level protection. For a long time, Tianmen Mountain attracted attention not only because of its miraculous and unique geographic landform as well as its unparalleled natural landscape, but also because of its profound cultural connotations as a famous humanistic site. It is revered as the soul of culture and spirit of Zhangjiajie, and is reputed to be the number one mountain in western Hunan. Tianmen Mountain cableway is the longest passenger cableway in the world, with a length of 7455 meters and a height gap of 1279 meters.

Tongtian Avenue (Avenue toward Heaven) has 99 turns symbolizing that Heaven has nine palaces. It has a well-deserved reputation as a wonder highway of the world. Through Tongtian Avenue, one reaches directly the Tianti – a celestial ladder from the top of which a celestial-like scene comes into view.

There are altogether nine hundred and ninety-nine steps in the Tianti (a vocabulary originated from Daoism, comparable to heaven in Christianity) which runs to the Heaven Gate. It is also the religious site for praying for happiness.

There is a 6-meter wide avenue built for this scenic spot. Tourists can drive from the foot of the mountain to the middle station of the cable car and then they can transfer to the eco-coach to reach the final destination.

Activities: camping, climbing, barbecue, and bungee-jumping. For camping, moisture-proof groundsheets, sleeping bags, and tents in a special area are provided. If over 25 people join together, a bonfire party will be organized.

Tianmen Cave

Tianmen Cave is the natural water-eroded cave with the highest elevation in the world. In the year 263 AD, the thousand-meter high cliff of Mount Songliang suddenly broke open into a door-like cavern which became a rare wonder of the world. This is why the name of Mount Songliang was changed to Tianmen Mountain. Tianmen Cave runs south-north at a height of 131.5 meters, a width of 57 meters and a depth of 60 meters. It is much like a gate pointing towards heaven. In 1999, the international stunt flying aces piloted planes flew through Tianmen Cave for the very first time with 800 million people watching the live show. In 2006, the Russian Air Force Aerobatic Flight Show was held in Zhangjiajie.

Tianmen Temple

Tianmen Temple, which covers an area of more than 10,000 square meters, has developed itself as a location of pilgrimage and worship as the Buddhist center of Western Hunan since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It was first built in the Ming Dynasty and the present Tianmen Mountain Temple was re-established on the original site. In this temple, you can sample Lenten meals.

Tianmen Academy

The Tianmen Academy was built in 1303, the seventh year of the Dade Period in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). It was destroyed in a battle in 1352 and the present Academy is newly built on the original site. It is a cultural holy place of Tianmen Mountain.

Tianmen Mountain is also the second national forest park in Zhangjiajie city, which boasts intact primitive forests. There are many rare trees and some precious medicinal herbs. It is also the paradise for animals. All these features shape the mountain into a "primitive garden in the air".

Plank road built along the cliff in ghost valley

Plank road built along the cliff in ghost valley is located in the Mixian scenic area. With a length of 800 meters, it hangs on a ghost valley which is over 1400 meters high above the cliff. An astounding and exciting experience awaits the visitor here. Transport: Take Bus No10 and get off at the cable car station

Tel: (86)744-8366063

Website: www.tianmenshan.com.cn

Admission (for reference): 258 yuan/adult (except two-seater touring cable car)

Opening hours: 7:30 am-7:00 pm.

Opening hours of cableway: March.1st-Nov.30th

Up 7:30 am-4:00 pm 113down 7:30 am-6:00 pm

Dec.1st-Feb.28th

Up 8:00 am-4:00 pm 113down 8:00 am-5:30 pm.