Tianmen Mountain Cableway is the world's longest passenger ropeway: 7,455m total length, climbing from 230m to 1,500m elevation in 28 minutes via 98 cable-car gondolas. Built 2005 by French Poma group. The ride itself is the attraction — it crosses directly over the 99-bend Tongtian Avenue road, giving an aerial view of the snake-like switchback that few tourists ever see from a car. The cable car station base is 5 minutes' walk from Zhangjiajie Railway Station's south exit; the summit station is at the top of Tianmen Mountain near the Glass Skywalk and Tianmen Temple. Included in the Tianmen Mountain combo ticket (¥278). Closes in high wind (>40 km/h) or visibility <100m.
Address
Tianmen Cableway base station, near Zhangjiajie Railway Station
张家界市永定区天门山索道下站
Highlights
- World's longest passenger cableway7,455m / 28 min
- Crosses 99 Bends roadAerial view of the snake-switchback
- 1,270m vertical climbFrom city center 230m to summit 1,500m
What Chinese travelers actually do here
Distilled from Chinese-language travel notes — the practical tips most English guides miss.
- ▸Built by Poma (French) in 2005, the cableway holds the world record for longest single-cable passenger ropeway. The 28-minute ride means you can shoot 200+ photos through the gondola windows; bring extra phone storage.
- ▸The MIDDLE segment is the most photogenic — gondola crosses directly over the 99-bend road, ~10-12 minutes into the ascent. Sit on the side facing the road (right side going up, left side going down).
- ▸Cable car closures happen 20-30 days per year due to weather. Check the official WeChat account 'tianmenshanlvyou' (天门山旅游) at 7 AM the morning you plan to go. Refunds are issued same-day at the ticket window.
- ▸Gondolas don't have audio guides — bring headphones and music if 28 minutes feels long. Many foreigners use the time for live English-language YouTube videos about Zhangjiajie pre-loaded the night before.
- ▸Phone signal is INCONSISTENT mid-ride — bars drop in the middle 5km then return at the summit. Don't plan to do live navigation while on the cable car.
- ▸The summit cable car station is connected directly to the East Line (glass skywalk + scenic ridge walk) and a 15-min walk from the cave-area escalator. Most foreigners take East Line first, then descend via cave area + 99 bends, then back to the city.
For foreign visitors
- English service: partial english
- Cards accepted: visa, master
- Booking / entry: not needed
- Best time: Morning for clear conditions; check WeChat 'tianmenshanlvyou' before going
- Wi-Fi: free
- Transit access: metro direct
Photos
What travelers say (14 reviews)
Frequently asked questions about Tianmen Mountain Cableway
- Is the cable car included in the Tianmen Mountain ticket?
- Yes — included in the Tianmen Mountain combo ticket (¥278). The combo also covers the shuttle bus down the 99 bends, the cave-area escalator, and Coiling Dragon Cliff glass skywalk. There's no separate cable-car ticket sold; you can't visit Tianmen Mountain without buying the combo.
- How long is the wait for the cable car?
- 20-40 min on average days, 60-120 min on Chinese Golden Week (Oct 1-7) and Saturdays. The cable car runs continuous gondolas (one every ~30 seconds, 8 passengers each), so the queue moves steadily. Arrive at the 8 AM opening or after 3 PM to skip the worst lines.
- Is the cable car safe? How does it handle wind?
- Yes safe — operated since 2005 with no fatal incidents. Closes automatically in wind >40 km/h or visibility <100m. Refunds are issued for closure days. The cable car has 8-passenger fully-enclosed gondolas with heaters in winter and ventilation in summer.
- Will I get vertigo? The 1,270m climb sounds intense.
- Manageable for most travelers, intense for those with severe acrophobia. The gondolas are fully enclosed (no open windows), and the steepest grade is in segment 2 (above the 99-bend road). Look at the horizon, not down. Sit toward the back center if anxious — the front position has the strongest visual exposure to the cliff.
- Should I cable car UP and bus DOWN, or vice versa?
- Cable car UP, shuttle bus DOWN the 99 bends — the standard direction recommended by 95% of guides. This gives you the dramatic ascent shot from above the bends, then the inside experience descending. The reverse direction puts the cable car's payoff at the end of a tiring day, when you're less able to enjoy it.
