Tianmen Mountain, China
Zhangjiajie is a prefecture-level city in Hunan Province's northwestern region. This region is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, with some of China's most breathtaking scenic viewpoints. There are numerous waterfalls, pools, caves, and towering peaks to explore, and numerous viewing decks allow visitors to capture the beauty from various angles. Zhangjiajie, famous for its foggy peaks and lush greenery, has come to represent the Chinese aesthetic nature in many forms of art. It has inspired generations of painters and visionaries all over the world to create the most beautiful works of art.
This natural formation can be found in Tianmen, Zhangjiajie's highest mountain. Tianmen, at an elevation of 4980 feet (1518 meters), has been a source of wonder for the Chinese for thousands of years. Its mystical atmosphere and one-of-a-kind conditions have greatly aided in this regard. Because of Tianmen's high altitude, sunrise on the mountain occurs 30 minutes earlier than in the surrounding cities. "Tianmen is known as an endless sky without darkness" because the sunset occurs later, up to 45 minutes later.
Another factor contributing to this location's fame is the mountain's distinctive natural arch. Before the back side collapsed in AD 263 and the gate was formed, it was initially a cave. Numerous people are drawn to the holy temple on the mountain in Tianmen, which has developed into a well-liked location to pray for a secure and healthy life.
Many visitors have described Tianmen Mountain as "one of the most beautiful mountains in the world." The breathtaking views, including 'Heaven's Door' and the 99 Bends, vertical cliffs, the thrilling cliff-hanging walkway and glass skywalk, and the world's longest cable car ride make it unquestionably one of China's best mountains to visit. Climb the 'Stairway to Heaven!'
The road leading to Tianmen Cave features the infamous "99 Bends," or 99 sharp curves. The cable car is the best vantage point from which to view and photograph these bends. The road was constructed with tourists in mind, and it transports visitors from the mountain's base to its summit and Tianmen Cave. Tourist buses transport visitors to Tianmen Cave from the midway cable car station via some of these 99 bends. On the way, the bus doesn't stop. The journey to the cave takes about 20 minutes. The ride is not advised for those who get motion sick easily because it has many sharp turns along cliff faces.
The best way to get to the mountain is by cable car. The longest aerial tramway ride in the world, covering more than 7 kilometers in about 30 minutes. The final section of the cable car climbs at a steep 37 degrees over precarious cliffs to one of the mountain peaks. Near the bus and train stations is where the cable car begins its journey. It is frequently extremely busy, so standing in line is common. In the summer it departs at 7:30, and in the winter it departs at 8:00.The scenery from the cable car is spectacular: lush mountain peaks, the 99 Bends (99 sharp curves on a road leading up to the mountain peak), and deep valleys. Our guide will accompany you in the same cable car that holds eight people.
This mountain's summits were where the walkway was constructed, clinging to the sheer cliff faces. The walkway is roughly 1.6 kilometers long and rises to a height of 1,400 meters. The cliffside loop lasts approximately 1 1/2 hours. A hanging bridge connecting two peaks is located at the end of the walkway. Along the walkway, it is constantly crowded and busy. For a place to take pictures, you might need to engage in conflict. You must avoid the crowds if you want to take quality pictures and take in the highlights.
The Walk of Faith, Tianmen Mountain's first glass skywalk, debuted in November 2011. On the west side of the mountain, it has since become a must-see tourist destination. It conveys the exhilarating sensation of walking in the sky. It's definitely not for the weak of heart. It's interesting to see people crossing the cliff leaning against it out of fear of the height. On gloomy days, it is simpler to cross because you can't see what's below, but the walkways' thrilling feature is lost. The mountain top is typically covered in thick fog if it rained the previous day. To have the best experience, it is advised that you check the weather forecast before leaving. When the glass walkways are covered by ice and snow in the winter, they close.
Getting there: take a tourist bus and train, from the south of Zhangjiajie city
Entry fee: March–November: 258 yuan (42 USD); December–February: 225 yuan (37 USD), children under 1.2 meters free of charge, children 1.2–1.5 meters half price; students with student ID 158 yuan (26 USD); seniors (60+) 158 yuan (passport needed as evidence).
