Tianmen Mountain Cableway in Zhangjiajie

Tianmen Mountain Cableway (天门山索道, Tianmenshan Cableway) is an iconic high-mountain sightseeing cable car system serving Zhangjiajie City (张家界市) in Hunan Province, China (中国湖南省). When it was completed, it set multiple world records, including the world’s longest high-mountain sightseeing cableway and the longest single-line circulating detachable gondola cableway in mountainous terrain.

Connecting the city center directly with the summit of Tianmen Mountain (天门山), the cableway offers visitors a breathtaking 28-minute aerial journey over urban landscapes, deep valleys, vertical cliffs, and dense forests, making it one of the most unforgettable transportation experiences in China.

Overview of Tianmen Mountain Cableway

• Chinese Name: 天门山索道

• English Name: Tianmenshan Cableway

• Location: Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province, China (中国湖南省张家界市)

• Opening Date: September 6, 2005 (2005年9月6日)

• Total Length: 7,455 meters (约7.46公里)

• Vertical Elevation Gain: 1,279 meters

• Number of Cabins: 113

• One-way Travel Time: Approx. 28 minutes

• Operating Company: Hunan Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Tourism Co., Ltd. (湖南张家界天门山旅游股份有限公司)

History and Development

Project Initiation and Construction

• May 1999 (1999年5月): The Tianmen Mountain Cableway project was officially proposed. Cableway companies from Austria (奥地利), France (法国), Switzerland (瑞士), Italy (意大利), and Japan (日本) conducted on-site inspections.

• March 17, 2001 (2001年3月17日): Based on terrain conditions and safety capacity requirements, a cooperation agreement was signed in Tianjin (天津) with POMA Group of France (法国POMA公司).

• January 15, 2003 (2003年1月15日): The foundation-laying ceremony marked the official start of construction.

• December 2004 (2004年12月): Cable installation work was completed.

• September 6, 2005 (2005年9月6日): The cableway officially opened to the public.

• February 14, 2010 (2010年2月14日): A comprehensive upgrade and technical renovation was completed.

• December 11, 2022 (2022年12月11日): Construction began on the lower-station tourism service complex upgrade project.

Route and Stations

Technical Parameters

• Operating Speed: 6 m/s (reduced to 0.3 m/s during detachment)

• Operating Direction: Clockwise

• Cabin Height: 2 meters

• Steel Rope Type: 6×36WS

• Tower Spacing: 6.2 meters

• Cabin Spacing: 172.8 meters

• Cabin Interval: 28.8 seconds

• One-way Capacity: 1,200 passengers/hour

• Maximum Gradient: 38.6 degrees

Station List

The Tianmen Mountain Cableway spans a vertical difference of 1,279 meters and includes three stations, although the middle station does not allow passenger boarding or disembarking.

Lower Station

• Area: 11,140 m²

• Elevation: 165.8 m

• Type: Return tension station

Middle Station

• Area: 3,230 m²

• Type: Drive station

Upper Station

• Area: 1,973 m²

• Elevation: 1,438.56 m

• Type: Return tension station

Route Alignment

The cableway starts at Guanliping Urban Garden (官黎坪城市花园) near the intersection of Dayong Road (大庸路) and Yingbin Road (迎宾路) in Zhangjiajie City (张家界市).
It passes near Tianmen Cave (天门洞)—a world-famous natural arch—before ending at the Original Sky Garden on the summit of Tianmen Mountain (天门山顶原始空中花园).
The total route length is 7,455 meters.

Operations and Management

Operating Hours

• Ticket Sales Time: 08:00–16:00 (as of October 2022)

• First Departure: 08:30

Note: Actual operating hours may vary by season and visitor volume.

Passenger Volume

From September 2005 to December 2015, the Tianmen Mountain Cableway transported nearly 10 million passengers, reflecting its status as one of the most popular scenic cableways in China.

Tickets and Prices

According to official data released in May 2025 by the Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan District Culture, Tourism, Radio, Film and Sports Bureau (张家界市武陵源区文化旅游广电体育局):

Round-trip Cableway Package

• Standard Ticket: 275 RMB

• Discounted Ticket: 144 RMB

• Special Discount Ticket: 113 RMB

One-way Cableway Package

• Standard Ticket: 232 RMB

• Discounted Ticket: 123 RMB

• Special Discount Ticket: 92 RMB

Ticket Policy Notes:

1. Children under 1.2 meters in height enter free of charge.

2. Discounted tickets apply to minors aged 14–18, seniors aged 60–65, and full-time undergraduate students and below with valid ID (50% off admission and transportation).

3. Special discount tickets apply to children under 14, seniors aged 65 and above, persons with disabilities, active-duty military personnel, and retired military officers (free admission, 50% off transportation).

4. Tickets are valid for one person, one entry, on the same day only and cannot be reused.

Facilities and Equipment

The Tianmen Mountain Cableway is supported by 57 towers, including 3 horizontal rescue towers.
It features:

• 96 pressure sheaves

• 16 carrying sheaves

• A hydraulic tensioning system for the haul rope

These advanced systems ensure safe, smooth, and stable operation even under challenging mountain conditions.

Engineering Achievements

Construction Challenges

The cableway route passes through extremely steep and rugged terrain, with complex geological conditions and dramatic elevation changes, making construction highly challenging.

Major Upgrade Project

In February 2010, the cableway underwent a major technical upgrade without altering its original operating mode or structural framework. Key improvements included:

• Independent segmented operation for improved flexibility

• Increased number of cabins to enhance capacity

• An automatic dispatch system using four chain circulation systems

• Station platforms redesigned as lifting platforms for easier boarding, alighting, and maintenance

Cultural and Architectural Features

Station Design

The Lower Station (下站) showcases a modern architectural style. The curved roofs of the side buildings resemble a pair of wings ready to take flight, symbolizing freedom and ascent.
The dominant white and green color scheme represents white clouds and nature, blending harmoniously with the surrounding landscape.

Future Development Plans

Lower Station Tourism Service Complex Upgrade

Launched on December 11, 2022, this project includes:

• Comprehensive upgrades of the upper, middle, and lower stations

• Construction of a new visitor service center at the lower station

Once completed, it will significantly enhance visitor capacity and overall service quality at Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area (天门山景区).

Significance and Value

The segmented operation upgrade of the Tianmen Mountain Cableway pioneered linked segmented cableway operation in China.
According to the creative team of “Cheering for You” (《为你喝彩》创作团队), this achievement provided a valuable model for later projects such as the Huashan West Peak Cableway (华山西峰索道) and the Cangshan Ximatan Cableway (苍山洗马潭索道).

Today, the Tianmen Mountain Cableway stands not only as a vital transportation link, but also as a landmark of engineering excellence and an essential highlight of any visit to Zhangjiajie (张家界).

A Complete Guide to Tianmen Mountain Cableway Routes A, B & C

The Tianmen Mountain Cableway (天门山索道, Tianmenshan Cableway) in Zhangjiajie City (张家界市) is one of China’s most iconic mountain transportation systems and a highlight for first-time visitors. To help international travelers plan efficiently, this guide explains the A, B, and C routes, city transportation distances, summit walking paths, and practical travel tips—all written in a clear, easy-to-follow style commonly used by international travel websites.

Getting Around: Distances from Zhangjiajie City

• Zhangjiajie City → Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area (天门山景区)
  Approx. 6 km, 10-minute drive; accessible by public bus or taxi

• Zhangjiajie City → Wulingyuan Scenic Area (武陵源景区)
  Approx. 55 km, 55-minute drive; direct shuttle bus available, ticket price around RMB 12

• Zhangjiajie City → Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (张家界国家森林公园)
  Approx. 45 km, 50-minute drive; direct shuttle bus available, ticket price around RMB 13

• Zhangjiajie City → Fenghuang Ancient Town (凤凰古城)
  Approx. 237 km, about 4 hours by road; high-speed rail is now available

Tianmen Mountain Cableway Routes Explained

The Tianmen Mountain Cableway (天门山索道) offers three different touring routes: Route A, Route B, and Route C.
Routes A and B follow opposite sightseeing directions, while Route C is a shorter option combining a small cableway with shuttle vehicles.

Route A: Ascend by the World’s Longest Cableway

Take the long-distance cableway—Asia’s longest—from the city directly to the summit

• Total length: approx. 7,355 meters

• Ride time: about 20 minutes

After exploring the summit, descend via 7 levels of escalators to the Tianmen Cave area (天门洞)

Optional: Pay RMB 32 to take the 5-level “Stairway to Heaven” escalator (登天门扶梯)

Walk to the Tianmen Cave Cableway Station (天门洞索道站) and return to the city by cableway

Best for: First-time visitors who want a classic “up by cableway, down by walking” experience.

Route B: Tianmen Cave First, Summit Later

From the cableway station, take a shuttle bus to the Tianmen Cave Cableway Station (天门洞索道站)

• Self-driving visitors can navigate to Tianmen Cave Parking Area (天门洞停车场)

Ride the cableway up to the Tianmen Cave area (天门洞)

Choose one of two ways to reach the mountain top:

• Paid Stairway to Heaven escalator (登天门扶梯), or

• Walk up the famous 999 steps (999级天梯), about 10 minutes

After reaching the summit, take 7 levels of escalators up to the main viewing area

Explore freely, then descend by the long cableway back to the city

Tip: Descending in the late afternoon offers stunning sunset views.

Route C: Short Cableway + Shuttle Combination

Two ways to reach the boarding point:

• Take a shuttle bus to the Tianmen Mountain Cableway Station (天门山索道站)

• Or take a taxi to the Tianmen Fox Fairy Show Theater Parking Area (天门狐仙剧场停车场) for easier access

After ticket check (ID-based entry), take the short cableway, reaching Tianmen Cave Square (天门洞广场) in just 6–7 minutes

Route C does not include the long cableway

Entire route uses short cableways + shuttle vehicles for both ascent and descent

Best for: Travelers short on time or those who prefer minimal walking.

Core Summit Walking Routes

The summit of Tianmen Mountain (天门山) is relatively flat and features two circular walking paths:

• East Route (东线): 3.7 km

• West Route (西线): 2.8 km

Recommended walking plan:
Start from the East Route, return via the West Route. This loop avoids backtracking and allows visitors to see all major summit viewpoints in one continuous walk.

Essential Travel Tips

Check the weather forecast one day in advance

• Temperatures at the summit are lower than in the city

• Bring a light jacket, sun-protective clothing, and arm sleeves

Carry a power bank, as photo opportunities are plentiful

Food and drinks inside the scenic area are relatively expensive

• Bring your own water and snacks to stay energized

Free scenic maps are available at cableway stations

• Follow the map carefully to avoid missing key attractions

Practical Touring Advice

The scenic areas in Zhangjiajie (张家界) are vast and widely spread out.
For independent travelers, self-driving can be inconvenient due to limited parking and long walking distances.

Recommended option:
Join a 6–8 person small group tour, which typically includes:

• Scenic area tickets

• Accommodation

• Private transportation

This option reduces planning stress, avoids rushing between sites, and allows for a more relaxed and enjoyable visit to Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area (天门山景区).