Tianmen Mountain

Synopsis

Overview

Tianmen Mountain, located in Yongding District, Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province, China, is the highest mountain in Yongding District of Zhangjiajie and an important component of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. It is named after its natural wonder, the "Tianmen Cave," and is hailed as the "First Divine Mountain of Western Hunan" and the "Soul of Wuling." Tianmen Mountain is not only renowned for its unique...

Overview

Tianmen Mountain, located in Yongding District, Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province, China, is the highest mountain in Yongding District and a significant component of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. It is named after its natural wonder, the "Tianmen Cave," and is hailed as the "First Divine Mountain of Western Hunan" and the "Soul of Wuling." Tianmen Mountain is renowned worldwide not only for its unique karst landforms, precipitous cliffside walkways, and ever-changing sea of clouds but also for its profound cultural heritage and the mystical legend of the "Gateway to Heaven." It stands as a top-tier tourist destination integrating natural scenery, geological wonders, and cultural folklore. In 1992, the Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, which includes Tianmen Mountain, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List.

History

Tianmen Mountain boasts a long and rich historical and cultural heritage. Its earliest written records date back to the Three Kingdoms period when King Sun Xiu of Wu considered it an auspicious sign and named the mountain "Tianmen Mountain." At the summit stands the ancient Tianmen Mountain Temple, initially built during the Tang Dynasty. With its thriving incense offerings, it is one of the Buddhist centers in Western Hunan. Literary figures throughout history, such as Li Bai and Wang Wei, have left poems here. Although Li Bai's line "The Tianmen Mountain seems cleft by the surging river" does not specifically refer to this mountain, it adds a romantic hue to the name "Tianmen." In modern times, Tianmen Mountain's steep terrain has made it a stage for numerous extreme sports and challenges, such as the world stunt flying masters navigating aircraft through Tianmen Cave in 1999 and the "Rollerblading Transformer" challenge on the Heaven-Linking Avenue in 2011, earning it global fame.

Main Attractions

1. Tianmen Cave: Located in the middle of the mountain at an altitude of over 1,300 meters, it is the world's highest natural mountain-penetrating karst cave. The cave is 131.5 meters high, 57 meters wide, and 60 meters deep, resembling a gateway to the sky, presenting an extremely spectacular sight. Reaching the cave mouth requires climbing the 999-step "Stairway to Heaven," symbolizing the "path to the sky."
2. Tianmen Mountain Cableway: Running directly from the city center to the mountaintop, it spans 7,455 meters with a vertical ascent of 1,279 meters, making it one of the world's longest passenger cableways for mountainous terrain. Riding the cableway offers a bird's-eye view of the 99-bend "Heaven-Linking Avenue" and the panoramic cityscape of Zhangjiajie, providing a breathtaking experience akin to flying through the air.
3. Glass Walkway: Built on the cliff edge at the summit, it is approximately 60 meters long, with its highest point at 1,430 meters above sea level. Walking on it, with a sheer drop beneath, is thrilling and a significant test of courage.
4. Guigu (Ghost Valley) Plank Walk: Located on the western route of the mountaintop, it stretches 1,600 meters with an average altitude of 1,400 meters. The entire walkway is built midway along sheer cliffs, famous for its perilousness. Along the way, visitors can admire the primeval forest and bizarre peaks and rock formations.
5. Heaven-Linking Avenue: This winding mountain road from the mountain gate to Tianmen Cave is 10.77 kilometers long, with the altitude sharply rising from 200 meters to 1,300 meters, featuring a total of 99 bends. It is acclaimed as the "Number One Highway Wonder in the World."
6. Tianmen Mountain Temple: Originally built during the Tang Dynasty and situated at the mountaintop, it is a Buddhist sacred site in Western Hunan. The temple, constructed in the official architectural style of the Qing Dynasty, is solemn and majestic, offering visitors a sense of tranquil religious atmosphere.

Practical Information

The following information is officially released for visitor reference.