Tianmen Mountain

Tianmen Mountain rises steeply above Zhangjiajie city and is reached by what is billed as the world's longest cable car ride, a dramatic 7.5-kilometre ascent over the city and up the cliff face. At the summit sits Tianmen Cave, a vast natural arch through the mountain, reached by the "Heaven-Linking Avenue" of 99 switchback bends.

The summit area is a network of cliffside walkways, including the famous glass skywalk sections bolted to the sheer rock, and viewpoints over the surrounding peaks. The whole experience is a series of dramatic engineering set pieces — cable car, cliff paths, glass floors — as much as a natural sight.

It is often paired with the forest park but is a separate ticket and a full half-day on its own. Weather is crucial: in cloud, the summit views disappear entirely.

The cable car station is in central Zhangjiajie, a short walk or taxi from most hotels — the ride itself is the main access route. Alternatively, a shuttle bus climbs the 99-bend road to the cave. The summit has its own internal cable car and escalators between the levels.

Ride the cable car from the city up to the summit, walk the cliffside loop including the glass skywalk, then take the summit cable car or escalator down toward Tianmen Cave. Descend the 99-bend road by shuttle to finish. The full circuit takes four to five hours, longer with queues.

Stay in Zhangjiajie city near the cable car station for the easiest access to Tianmen Mountain, or in Wulingyuan town for the forest park. The two areas are connected by a regular bus, so either works as a base for both.

• Check the weather — in cloud the summit views are gone.
• Buy tickets for the earliest cable car to avoid the worst queues.
• The glass skywalk has a small extra fee and is genuinely high.
• Wear non-slip shoes; the cliff paths can be damp.
• Go on a weekday for shorter lines at the cable car.