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As the legendary Vladimir Vysotsky sang, "only mountains can be better than mountains." And it is even better if any sights are located on their peaks or at their foot. And a good example of this is Tianmen Mountain in China.
Car Cable
This cable car transports visitors from downtown Zhangjiajie (Hunan Province) to Air Garden, located at the top of Tianmen Mountain. It is presented to tourists as the longest cable car in the world, but in reality it should have been called "the longest high-altitude passenger route." It will take about 28 minutes to cover the entire distance. Tianmen Mountain rises 1279 meters above sea level, and the cable car slope is 38 degrees. Yes, this is just a cable car, but it is simply breathtaking, and the views from its cabins are simply incredible.
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| Road Tianmen Mountain |
Walking through the air
A very long serpentine road surrounds the top of Tianmen Mountain. Most of it is made of concrete, but some have a completely transparent floor made of 6.4 centimeters thick glass. The path winding along one side of the cliff is located at an altitude of 1430 meters above sea level. The glass section is only 200 meters long, but believe me, it won't seem short to you. Moreover, this very place, according to the results of numerous polls, is recognized as the scariest attraction in the world. Anyone want to tickle your nerves?
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| Road Tianmen Mountain |
Monastery
The Heavenly Gate Monastery is the center of Buddhism in the western part of Hunan Province. The first temple on this site was built during the reign of the Ming dynasty, but over time it collapsed. Later, the monastery was rebuilt and looked completely different - a massive 10,000 square meter structure with architectural elements of the Qing Dynasty, the last Chinese dynasty.
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| Temple Tianmen Mountain |
Tongtian highway
Tongtian Road got its bizarre names "The Path to the Great Gate", "Heavenly Avenue", "The Road to Heaven" for the fact that it really takes visitors to the "Gate to Heaven", a natural cave located at the top of Tianmen Mountain (oh her later). But you can get to the sky without reaching the top: meandering along steep slopes, this 11-kilometer serpentine makes 99 sharp turns! Only a couple of tens of centimeters separates you from the mortal danger of falling down the slope.
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| Road Tianmen Mountain |
Gateway to Heaven: Tianmen Cave
This cave is nothing more than a hole created by nature itself in Tianmen Mountain. It is the tallest natural arch in the world (1520 meters above sea level). The cave itself is 131.5 meters long, 57 meters wide and 60 meters deep. But this was not always the case - before it was the most ordinary cave. Long ago this mountain was called Songliang, until 263, when one part of the rock collapsed and created a hole that looked like an open door. After that, the name of the mountain was changed to Tianmen, which means "Sacred". Today, this "gateway" is recognized as one of the most iconic places in the Hunan province. It can be reached by a 999-step staircase that takes you straight to the base of the arch. Nine is a lucky number in many Chinese cultures (Tongtian Road, remember, there are exactly 99 turns) therefore, in 1999, a performance was organized here, during which planes flew through a hole in the mountain. This significant event was shown live on Chinese television.
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| Tianmen Mountain Cave China |
Sunset in Zhangjiajie
Try taking the cable car back to town during sunset. Sitting in the lift cabin, you will have a 360-degree viewing angle, and if you choose the right time, you will see a celestial show - the sun will dive behind the peaks and peep out from behind them, floating along the horizon. See the city and its slopes, dyed in bright orange by the retiring sun. This is the most beautiful way to end your unforgettable trip to Tianmen Mountain.
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| Tianmen Mountain |