There are many sights on Tianmen Mountain, so it is worth planning your route in advance. This will help you decide what to prioritise and manage your energy more comfortably throughout the visit.
Main Routes
Route schemes may change during maintenance periods – see Temporary Routes below for current updates.
A visit to Tianmen Mountain usually follows one of three official routes: A, B or C. All three include the summit plateau and Tianmen Cave, but they differ in the order of travel and the transport used.
Route A: Cableway Ascent, Stairway Descent
This route begins in downtown Zhangjiajie city with an ascent to the summit by the main Tianmen Mountain Cableway (天门山索道). After exploring the plateau, you descend to Tianmen Cave by escalator, then walk down the 999 steps. From Front Cave Square, take the express cableway to Mountain Gate, followed by the shuttle bus back to the city.
The main advantage is that the 999 steps are taken downhill, which is much easier physically. During the high season, however, queues for the main cableway can be long.
Route B: Start at the Cave, Finish at the Summit
This route begins with a shuttle bus from the lower cableway station to Mountain Gate, followed by the express cableway to Tianmen Cave. Here, the 999 steps are climbed uphill, so it is best to tackle them early in the day while you still have energy. You then take the escalators to the summit and explore the plateau before returning to the city by the main cableway.
Advantages: this route suits visitors who enjoy a bit of challenge.
The cableway has spectacular views down the mountain to the city.
Queues for the express cableway are usually shorter than for the main one.
Route C: Round-trip Cave-Focused
This route uses the express cableway for both ascent and descent, without taking the main cableway. In terms of the itinerary, it is almost identical to Route B: Tianmen Cave, the 999 steps, the escalators and the summit plateau.
Advantages: It is the simplest option logistically and can be convenient for families with children and senior visitors.
There are no long walking distances, which is suitable for visitors with reduced mobility.
There are also two further routes that combine cableway travel with a shuttle bus journey along the winding Tongtian Avenue:
Route D: Cableway Up, Bus Down
This route begins with the main cableway from downtown Zhanjiajie city directly to the summit. After exploring the plateau, take the transmountain escalator down to Tianmen Cave and continue to Front Cave Square. From here, the sightseeing shuttle bus takes you down the 99-bend avenue to Heaven to Mountain Gate. At the park gate, change to the shuttle bus back to the city.
Route E: Bus Up, Cableway Down
This route is the reverse of Route D. From the lower cableway station downtown, take the shuttle bus to the Mountain Gate, then continue by sightseeing shuttle bus along the Avenue to Heaven to Front Cave Square. You can climb the 999 steps to Tianmen Cave or use the lower escalator for an additional fee. From there, take the upper escalator to the summit, explore the plateau and descend to the city by the main cableway.
Temporary Routes
Due to renovation work on the upper section of the Tianmen Mountain Cableway, Routes A, B and C are currently operating with temporary arrangements. Routes D and E are unavailable while the upper section is under repair.
Temporary Route A
From the lower station of the Tianmen Mountain Cableway, travel to the middle station, then continue by shuttle bus to Tianmen Cave. From there, take the seven upper sections of the transmountain escalator to the summit plateau. After touring the plateau, return down the same seven escalator sections to Tianmen Cave, then take the Tianmen Cave Express Cableway and return to the city by shuttle bus.
Temporary Route B
From the lower station of the Tianmen Mountain Cableway, take the shuttle bus to the lower station of the Tianmen Cave Express Cableway. Ascend by express cableway to Tianmen Cave, then continue up the seven upper sections of the transmountain escalator to the summit plateau. After exploring the plateau, descend by the same escalator sections back to Tianmen Cave, then continue by sightseeing shuttle bus to the middle station of the Tianmen Mountain Cableway and return to the city centre.
Temporary Route C
From the lower station of the Tianmen Mountain Cableway, take the shuttle bus to the lower station of the Tianmen Cave Express Cableway. Ascend by express cableway to Tianmen Cave, then take the seven upper sections of the transmountain escalator to the summit plateau. After visiting the plateau, return by the same escalator sections to Tianmen Cave, descend by the Tianmen Cave Express Cableway and take the shuttle bus back into the city.
East Line and West Line
At the top of the plateau, the route divides into two main directions: the East Line (碧野瑶台, Bìyě Yáotái) and the West Line (觅仙奇景, Mìxiān Qíjǐng). You can walk both lines together or choose one if time is limited.
The West Line is the more popular route, known for its glass skywalks, Guigu Plank Road and wide views over the gorges and winding mountain roads. The East Line is quieter and greener, following forest paths towards Coiling Dragon Cliff and more remote viewing platforms. If time allows, walking both lines as a loop takes around three to four hours. If your schedule is shorter, the West Line is usually the better choice.
Whatever route you choose, give yourself plenty of time to appreciate the views – Tianmen Mountain rewards those who explore it at an unhurried pace.