National park · China
Tianmen Mountain天门山
Buy a ticket (¥278 incl. insurance) and ride the A‑line cable car early (before 10:00) for the gate view; avoid peak holidays for shorter queues.Buy a ticket (¥278 incl. insurance) and ride the A‑line cable car early (before 10:00 AM) for the gate view; avoid peak holidays for shorter queues.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
30 km² (12 sq mi)12 sq mi (30 km²)
approximate
Established
1995
Best months
Mar–May, Sep–Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- China ↗Most nationalities need a visa, a unilateral visa-free entry (the list and end dates change) or the transit exemption below. Confirm your route on the official sites before you buy a ticket.
- China ↗Transit stay without a visa: up to 240 hours (10 days) for citizens of about 55 listed countries who pass through China to a third country or region, with a confirmed onward ticket and a stay inside the permitted area (Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei count as one area). It replaced the 144-hour rule in December 2024, which some older pages still quote. Use the transit lane at immigration, show the onward ticket, and check the current nationality list. Hong Kong and Macau count as separate regions; check whether your ticket qualifies.
- China ↗Foreign visitors must register their address with the police within 24 hours; hotels do it at check-in with your passport. Carry the original passport at all times: hotels, trains, museums, Tiananmen Square and police checks ask for it.
- China ↗Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you fly. QR payment is the default in shops, taxis and many stalls, and some places refuse cash or a foreign card. Carry cash as a backup.
- China ↗Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and many news sites are blocked. Use an eSIM with roaming (it routes through your home network) or install and test a VPN before you fly; VPN sites and app stores are hard to reach inside China, and only government-approved VPNs are officially permitted.
At a glance
- Country
- China
- Area
- 30 km² (12 sq mi)12 sq mi (30 km²)
- Area is reported as about 30 km²; some sources give slightly different figures, but the park is roughly 30 km² (check).
- Established
- 1995
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Zhangjiajie
Tianmen Mountain, part of Tianmen Mountain National Park in northwestern Hunan, is famed for its natural arch "Heaven's Gate", a steep 999‑step staircase, a glass skywalk, and cable‑car access that brings visitors to dramatic cliff‑edge views.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1995.
Size and age
30 km² (12 sq mi)12 sq mi (30 km²) · national park since 1995
Area is reported as about 30 km²; some sources give slightly different figures, but the park is roughly 30 km² (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Zhangjiajie.
Why go
- Cable‑car ride to the famous Tianmen Gate and cliff‑edge walk.
- Glass‑skywalk and steep staircase for panoramic views.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecGo
- JanCool, fewer crowds.
- FebCool, occasional fog.
- MarMild, clear skies.
- AprIdeal weather.
- MayWarm, low rain.
- JunHeat, occasional showers (check).
- JulHot, possible rain.
- AugHot, rain spikes.
- SepPleasant, clear.
- OctCool, low crowd.
- NovCool, fewer tourists.
- DecCool, clear.
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain flora (pine, rhododendron)Mar–Oct | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Zhangjiajie city centre
Walk a few minutes from train/bus stations to the cable‑car station.
5 min walk
Open the page →
From Changsha
Bus or train (≈4 h) to Zhangjiajie, then local transport to the station.
≈4 h
Open the page →
From Zhangjiajie airport
Taxi or shuttle (≈30 min) to the cable‑car station.
≈30 min
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Cable‑car station (A‑line) | Ticket purchase, boarding point for the older cable car to the summit. | Open with ticket. |
| Summit plateau | Tianmen Gate, glass skywalk, staircase, viewpoints. | Cable‑car arrival; some attractions free, escalator extra. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
3 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates from official park maps; approximate for orientation.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ticket (cable car A‑line + insurance) | CNY 278 (≈ US$40) | person | Includes ¥275 ticket and ¥3 safety fee. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Ticket permit or guide
Park rules
- Credit cards
- Not accepted for ticket purchase; use cash or mobile payment.
- Escalator
- Paid escalator optional for the steep staircase.
- Safety
- Stay on marked paths; the staircase is very steep.
Where to stay
Near the park
Zhangjiajie city hotels
Convenient access to the cable‑car station; range from budget to upscale.
Safety
Steep staircase high
Crowds on holidays medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Station area reachable by car and wheelchair‑friendly paths; summit routes are steep and not wheelchair accessible.
Visiting lightly
- Use reusable water bottles; stay on designated trails to protect vegetation.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Tianmen Mountain?
A ticket for the A‑line cable car plus the ¥3 safety fee costs ¥278 per adult (discounts for students, seniors).
What are the best hikes in Tianmen Mountain?
The main trail is the 999‑step staircase to the Gate; an optional paid escalator reduces the climb. The cliff‑edge walk and glass skywalk are also popular.
When is the best time to visit Tianmen Mountain?
April to October offers mild weather and clearer views; avoid July‑August heat and holiday peaks for shorter queues.
Can I use a credit card to buy tickets?
No. Tickets must be paid in cash or via mobile payment (Alipay/WeChat).
Is there accommodation on the mountain?
No overnight facilities on the summit; stay in Zhangjiajie city and travel to the station each day.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Sources
Ask about Tianmen Mountain
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