Tianmen Mountain Route A vs B vs C: Only C Runs Now

Which Tianmen Mountain routes are running now?

Only Route C. From 13 October 2026 the long Tianmen Mountain cable car from downtown Zhangjiajie carries no passengers, so Routes A and B, plus the one-way routes, are off sale. The scenic area gives the reason as a cableway upgrade and construction of a new lower-station complex, and has not announced a reopening date.

The upper section of the long cable car had already been closed since November 2025, when Routes A and B used a road shuttle from the middle station. Guides written before October 2026 describing a ride “from the city center to the summit” are out of date.

How do Routes A, B and C compare?

Children under 14 enter free, including the cable car and escalators, but need their own real-name free ticket registered with their passport.

How does Route C work, step by step?

Route C is an out-and-back from the Mountain Gate, with the summit loop at the top.

1. Get to the Mountain Gate. If you are downtown, take the free shuttle from the long cable car’s lower station, which keeps running. Tell your taxi driver the Mountain Gate (山门), not the cable car station.
2. Express cable car up to Tianmen Cave.
3. Tianmen Cave. The natural arch is 131.5 m high. Climb the 999 steps or ride the escalator beside them (CNY 32 (≈ USD 5), not included in the package).
4. Seven-level escalator through the mountain up to the summit.
5. Summit loop. Cliff paths and the glass skywalks (East Line, West Line and Coiling Dragon Cliff). A chairlift runs to the temple area for approx. CNY 25 (≈ USD 4) one way (sources differ by a few yuan).
6. Back the same way: escalator down, express cable car down to the Mountain Gate.

Ticket sales run 07:30–16:00 and the cable cars start at 08:00. Allow Full day, 6-8 hours (min. ~4 hours) in total.

What did Routes A and B offer, and will they come back?

Routes A and B used the long cable car, 7455 m from downtown to the summit, opened in 2005. Its draw was the ride itself: low over the city, then up over the 99 bends of Tongtian Avenue.

• Route A: long cable car up, summit, escalator down to Tianmen Cave, express cable car down. It suited travelers staying downtown.
• Route B: the reverse, starting at the Mountain Gate and finishing with the long ride down into the city.

When the upgrade finishes, the choice will come down to logistics. Route A was usually better in the morning, because the summit is quietest early, and Route B suited travelers heading to the city afterward. No official reopening date exists; some reports mention 2027, but the scenic area has not confirmed it. We will update this page when it does.

Choose your route: a quick checklist

Route C is your only choice now. It suits you if…

• you want Tianmen Cave, the cliff paths and the skywalks — all included
• you are traveling with children or older relatives (the escalators avoid the long stair climbs)
• you want a predictable day with one start and end point

When Routes A/B reopen, consider A if…

• you are staying downtown near the lower station
• the long cable car ride over the city is the experience you came for

…and B if…

• you are going on to the city, the station or the airport afterward

Is Route C still worth it without the long cable car?

Yes, for most travelers. Everything most visitors come for — Tianmen Cave, the 999 steps, the cliff paths and the glass skywalks — is on Route C. What you lose is the long cable car ride and the view down onto the 99-bend road from it; you still see the road from the cliff paths.

Route C is also simpler. There is one start point and no need to decide which direction to go, which was the most common source of confusion on booking apps.

What local tips help with Route C?

• Set your map pin to the Mountain Gate. Many travelers still go to the old downtown cable car station. If you end up there, use the free shuttle rather than a taxi.
• Arrive for the 08:00 start. The summit paths are quietest early, before tour groups come up.
• Check skywalk status on the day. The glass skywalks can close at any time for weather or maintenance, and icy days in winter often close them for a while.
• Wear layers. The summit is several degrees cooler than the city.

Want Route C booked, with a guide who knows the Mountain Gate setup? See our 1-day Tianmen Mountain private tour, compare Tianmen Mountain with the forest park, or send us your dates.