Last updated: April 2026. Cable car status changes â verify operations before visiting.
Tianmen Mountain stands alone west of Zhangjiajie city, rising to 1,518 meters. Near the summit, a naturally formed arch â Tianmen Cave â opens 131 meters high and 57 meters wide, making it one of the highest natural cave arches known to exist. The mountain also has roughly 1.6 kilometers of cliff-edge glass walkway and a working temple. Admission is ÂĨ288 and covers the mountain bus, cave trail and walkway.
What Makes it Worth It
Tianmen Cave is unlike anything else in the Zhangjiajie area. Standing at the base of the arch, looking up at daylight coming through 131 meters of rock â that's the image that stays. Climbing the 999 steps to pass through the opening is the most memorable sequence on the mountain.
The glass walkway runs close to 1.6 kilometers along the cliff edge, longer than most comparable installations in China. Parts of it have glass-bottomed sections above open drops. It's included in the ticket and worth the full walk on a clear day.
The contrast with Wulingyuan is useful: that park is about sandstone pillars filling a valley floor; this mountain is about a summit cave, cliff trails and views down over Zhangjiajie city. The two don't overlap.
What to Expect
During cable car maintenance, visitors take the scenic mountain road bus (included in the ticket). The 99-bend road up to the summit is well-known in its own right â the drive takes around 40 minutes each way. The summit experience once you arrive â cave, walkway, temple â is the same as during normal cable car operations. Check current status on Trip.com or the official channels before buying tickets.
Admission ÂĨ288 covers the mountain bus (or cable car when running), Tianmen Cave trail and glass walkway. Foreign visitors can book via Klook or Trip.com's English platform; passport number required at checkout. On-site ticket windows are available, but advance booking is advisable in peak season. Passport original required at entry â screenshots not accepted.
The 999 steps through Tianmen Cave take 15â20 minutes one way; the ascent is the demanding section. The glass walkway is level and manageable for most fitness levels, but the full walk plus sightseeing takes 2â3 hours. The summit runs 5â8°C cooler than the city below and can be windy â bring a layer.
Don't Miss
Practical Information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Admission | ÂĨ288 (includes mountain bus or cable car, Tianmen Cave trail, glass walkway) |
| Booking / Tickets | Foreign visitors: Klook, Trip.com English (passport number required); Chinese channels: Meituan, Ctrip, on-site window |
| Entry verification | Passport original required â screenshots not accepted |
| Main cable car | â ïļ Out of service since November 2025, 12+ months â confirm current status before visiting |
| Hours | Approx. 07:30â18:00 peak season; adjusted hours in off-season |
| Duration | 3â4 hours (mountain road + cave + walkway + temple) |
| Temperature | Summit runs 5â8°C cooler than city; bring a layer |
Getting There
The cable car base station plaza is the departure point for both the cable car and the mountain road bus. It's walkable from most city center hotels. During maintenance, board the bus here â same meeting point. Journey to the summit takes about 40 minutes.
Didi or taxi to the Tianmen Mountain base station, approximately ÂĨ90â110 and one hour. No direct bus; a city center transfer is needed.
Self-drivers can park at the base station lot (paid), then take mountain transport up.
Tianmen Cave is the kind of landform that registers immediately â stand at the base, look up through 131 meters of rock at open sky. The cable car status affects how you get there, not what you see when you arrive.
- Zhangjiajie City Guide â Accommodation, transport and full itinerary planning
- Zhangjiajie National Forest Park â Wulingyuan sandstone pillars and zone guide
- Grand Canyon Glass Bridge â Zhangjiajie's other glass experience
- How to Pay in China â Cash and mobile payment setup
