Tianmen Mountain stands 8 kilometers south of downtown Zhangjiajie. Its main peak is an isolated mesa encircled by sheer cliffs, with an altitude of 1,518.6 meters. The summit plateau stretches 1.93 kilometers from north to south and 1.96 kilometers from east to west, covering an area of 2.2 square kilometers. A huge through cave pierces the vertical cliff on the mountain’s eastern side, running north-south and resembling a gate leading straight to heaven — hence the name "Tianmen Mountain", meaning "Heaven’s Gate Mountain".
Over a long geological timeline, Tianmen Mountain rose during the Yanshan Orogeny. Later, the Himalayan Orogeny violently uplifted the mountain mass to over 1,000 meters above sea level. Deep faults and joints sliced the surrounding terrain, and prolonged wind, rain and karst erosion sculpted the imposing, towering karst mesa landform that stands uniquely aloft today.
Tianmen Mountain boasts luxuriant vegetation with a forest coverage rate exceeding 80%. Its forest resources are abundant, including roughly 500 mu of prime secondary forest atop the summit. There are 532 species of vascular plants across 134 natural families, among which rare tree varieties include dove trees, fragrant fruit trees, southern Chinese yew, Dayong hornbeam, dipteronia sinensis and tulip trees. Newly identified endemic herb species unique to this mountain include Rhododendron tianmenshanense and Oreocharis tianmenshanensis.
Tianmen Mountain also functions as a natural wildlife sanctuary. Rare animal species include serows and macaques, while dozens of common wild animals such as foxes, pangolins, wild boars and wild goats inhabit the area. In July 1992, the Ministry of Forestry of China approved the establishment of Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park, making it the second national forest park within Zhangjiajie.
Scenic Area History
Tianmen Mountain bore ancient names: Yunmeng Mountain, Hutou Mountain and Songliang Mountain. In the 6th year of the Yong’an reign of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms Period (263 AD), Zhong Limu, Prefect of Wuling, led troops to suppress the local "Wuling Barbarians". During the campaign, the stone cliff of Songliang Mountain split open to form a north-south through cave, bright and vast like a grand gate. Emperor Sun Xiu of Eastern Wu deemed this an auspicious omen and renamed the mountain Tianmen Mountain.
Tianmen Mountain carries profound, age-old immortal and Buddhist culture, accompanied by legendary historical tales and folk folklore woven with fact and fantasy.
According to legend, Chisongzi, the rain master of the Divine Farmer Yan Emperor during remote antiquity, wandered to Tianmen Mountain, built stoves and refined immortality elixirs on the summit. Relics such as Elixir Stove Peak and Golden Water Pool still remain.
During the Warring States Period, Guiguzi lived in seclusion here, studied The I Ching, authored the timeless classic Guiguzi, and taught locals Guigu Magic Kung Fu (now known as Dayong Hard Qigong). The cave where he resided is named Guigu Cave.
Zhou Ji, Prefect of Yidu in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, grew disillusioned with officialdom, resigned and retreated to Tianmen Mountain, where he passed away in melancholy.
Zhou Pu, a scholar-recluse of the Later Jin Dynasty during the Five Dynasties, took shelter from turbulent times at Lingquan Temple on Tianmen Mountain, spending his days farming and reading until his death.
Yang Zhou, a renowned scholar of the Yuan Dynasty, lived in seclusion on the mountain to lecture students, painted Scroll of Tianmen Mountain and composed the poem suite Sixteen Peaks of Tianmen Mountain.
At the turn of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, after Li Zicheng suffered military defeat, his general Li Guo secretly transported hoarded treasures to Tianmen Mountain for hiding. To guard the valuables, he became a monk at Tianmen Temple under the dharma name Yefu (Wild Buddha).
During the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty, scholar Hu Shi’an shunned official service and lived in seclusion on Tianmen Mountain.
In 1997, the famous singer Li Na visited Tianmen Mountain, attained spiritual enlightenment inspired by Guanyin Bodhisattva, and converted to Buddhism with the dharma name Shi Changsheng.
In June 2009, a Buddha Sarira (bone relic of Sakyamuni) was donated by China Temple in Lumbini, Nepal, and enshrined at Tianmen Temple.
Transportation Guide
External Transportation
Within downtown Zhangjiajie, take Bus No.4 or No.10 and alight at the Tianmen Mountain Ropeway Terminal stop on Dayong Road, Guanliping to reach the lower ropeway station.
Alternatively, take Bus No.5 or No.6 and get off at the China Mobile branch stop on Yingbin Road, Guanliping; walk 50 meters to arrive at the lower ropeway station.
Internal Transportation
Two touring routes (Route A and Route B) are available for entering the scenic area:
Route A
Take the ropeway from the lower station to the summit. After sightseeing, ride the free mountain-crossing escalator at the rear of Tianmen Cave down to the cave. You may either walk or take the Tianmen Cave mountain-crossing escalator (ticket: 32 RMB one way) to the Tianmen Cave parking lot. Then board an eco-shuttle bus downhill to the main mountain gate, and transfer to a free shuttle bus back to the lower ropeway station.
Route B
Take the free shuttle bus from the lower ropeway station to the main mountain gate, then switch to an eco-shuttle bus bound for Tianmen Cave parking lot. Walk or take the Tianmen Cave mountain-crossing escalator (ticket: 32 RMB one way) up to Tianmen Cave. Transfer to the free rear mountain-crossing escalator to ascend to the summit. After finishing the summit tour, take the ropeway downhill back to the lower station.
Visitor Notices
General sightseeing duration: around 5 hours.
Summit trails form a circular route split into East Line and West Line.
Chairlift from Yunmeng Immortal Summit to Tianmen Temple: 25 RMB one way per adult.
Concessional fare of 15 RMB one way applies to the following groups with valid identification:
Minors aged 1.3 meters and above; full-time undergraduate and below students under 24 years old; seniors aged 60 and above; active-duty military personnel; persons with disabilities; retired military cadres; immediate family members of martyrs; holders of the Urban and Rural Minimum Living Allowance Certificate issued by civil affairs authorities.
Scenic Area Ticket Fees
Standard Adult Tickets
Peak Season (Mar 1 – Nov 30): 261 RMB
Off Season (Dec 1 – end of Feb the following year): 228 RMB
Free Admission
Children under 1.3 meters in height (valid ID required for age verification).
Concessional Tickets
Applicable groups: Minors ≥1.3m tall; full-time students under 24; seniors ≥60; persons with Grade 3 and below disabilities; active military staff; retired military cadres; martyrs’ immediate families; holders of Minimum Living Allowance Certificates.
Peak Season: 183 RMB; Off Season: 155 RMB.
Seniors aged 70 and above with valid ID: 100 RMB.
Warm Reminders
The official Tianmen Mountain scenic ticket includes entrance fees, round-trip alpine passenger ropeway and eco-shuttle buses. The following expenses are not covered:
Tianmen Cave lower escalator (from cave parking lot to cave entrance): 32 RMB one way
Summit chairlift: 25 RMB one way
Shoe covers for the glass plank road on the summit: 5 RMB per pair
Buddha Sarira viewing at Tianmen Temple: 50 RMB per visitor
Ticket office hours: Lower ropeway station: 07:00–16:30; Main mountain gate ticket office: 07:30–16:30. Free shuttle buses run between the lower ropeway station and the mountain gate.
Real-name ticketing policy: Visitors must purchase tickets with a valid second-generation Chinese ID card or passport under their own name.
Self-service ticket pickup instructions:
If the machine displays a ticket issuance confirmation but no ticket comes out, or shows no reservation record after swiping your ID, do not leave the machine or allow others to approach it. Immediately call nearby ticket staff for assistance. You shall bear full responsibility for lost tickets caused by improper operation or leaving the machine unattended, thank you for your understanding.
All tickets are valid only on the date of purchase. Visitors are advised to collect tickets on the day of their tour. Please retain all ticket receipts issued by the scenic area until you fully exit the site to avoid unnecessary losses.
Address of the lower ropeway station: Dayong Road, Guanliping, downtown Zhangjiajie (opposite Weidi Hotel).
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