Tongtian Avenue ('Heaven-Reaching Road') is the 11km service road to the Tianmen Cave base, built in 1998-2006 with 99 distinct hairpin turns rising 1,300m of elevation. The road is closed to private vehicles — only the official tourist shuttle buses (included in the Tianmen Mountain combo ticket) traverse it. The 99 bends are the photographic centerpiece — visible in their full snake-like glory during the Tianmen Mountain cable car ride that passes directly above. Travelers can choose to ride the cable car up + shuttle bus down the 99 bends (the standard direction), or in reverse if booking specially. The road has appeared in multiple Hollywood action films and Red Bull racing events.
Address
Tongtian Avenue, Tianmen Mountain, Zhangjiajie
张家界市永定区天门山通天大道
Highlights
- 99 hairpin turns11km road rising 1,300m elevation
- View from cable car aboveDirect overhead view of the road snaking up
- Closed to private carsOnly official shuttle buses access
What Chinese travelers actually do here
Distilled from Chinese-language travel notes — the practical tips most English guides miss.
- ▸The 'snake from above' photo every travel magazine uses is shot from the cable car around 5 minutes into the ascent, looking back. Sit on the RIGHT side of the cable car going up to get this angle. Going down, sit on the LEFT.
- ▸The road appeared in 'Mission: Impossible' and was featured in a 2016 Volkswagen ad where a racing car nailed every hairpin. Red Bull's 'Race the Bends' event in 2018 set the lap record at 11:32 — a useful conversation starter with Chinese-domestic photographers.
- ▸Foggy days kill the photo entirely — you'll see white where the road should be. Tianmen Mountain summit fog is common Oct-Apr; check the 张家界天气 WeChat account at 7 AM for cable car visibility before committing.
- ▸The shuttle bus drivers are local Hunanese veterans, many of whom have driven the road 5,000+ times. They've nicknamed each hairpin (turn 13 is 'broken heart' for example) — if your bus driver speaks any English, ask about the names.
- ▸Best viewing time is 10 AM - 2 PM when sun illuminates both road sides. Early morning shadows on the eastern hairpins; late afternoon shadows on the western. Midday gives the most complete photo.
- ▸Skip this completely if you have severe motion sickness — there's no other 'experience' of the road, and the views from above are duplicated cheaper from the cable car ascent.
For foreign visitors
- English service: partial english
- Cards accepted: cash_only
- Booking / entry: not needed
- Best time: Within Tianmen Mountain day-trip combo
- Wi-Fi: none
- Transit access: metro direct
Photos
What travelers say (9 reviews)
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Frequently asked questions about 99 Bends / Tongtian Avenue
- Can I drive Tongtian Avenue myself?
- No — private vehicles are banned. The road is exclusively for official tourist shuttle buses, included in the Tianmen Mountain combo ticket (¥278). Even Hollywood film crews and Red Bull racing events require special government permits to use it. Rental car drivers cannot bypass this rule.
- Should I take the cable car up and bus down, or the reverse?
- Cable car UP, shuttle bus DOWN the 99 bends — this is the optimal direction. Cable car ascent puts you directly above the road for the iconic snake-from-above photos. Shuttle bus down lets you experience the hairpins from inside. The reverse direction (bus up, cable car down) means you see the bends from below first, weakening the cable car payoff.
- Is the shuttle bus dangerous on those hairpins?
- No — drivers are veteran specialists trained for the road, and the buses run at 15-25 km/h on the tight turns. No fatal accidents in the road's 20+ year history. Motion sickness is the actual risk — sit toward the FRONT of the bus, look at the horizon, and avoid heavy meals beforehand if you're prone.
- How long is the shuttle bus ride down the 99 bends?
- About 30 minutes for the full 11km descent. The bus stops once for photos at the most photogenic bend (around hairpin 30-40 on the way down). Plan to spend 5 minutes at the photo stop; buses run continuously so you don't need to stay with the same one.
- Can I see the 99 bends without doing the cable car?
- Yes — there's a dedicated 'Avenue Toward Heaven' viewing platform at the cable car upper station with direct overhead sightlines. Even foreigners who don't want the cable car ride can buy a separate viewing ticket. But practically, everyone who comes to Tianmen Mountain takes the cable car anyway since it's part of the combo.
