Tianmen Mountain Road
China, asia
11 km
1,300 m
difficult
April to October
Tianmen Mountain Road, known as Tongtian Avenue or "The Road to Heaven," is an 11-kilometer mountain road in Hunan Province, China, that ascends Tianmen Mountain near the city of Zhangjiajie. The road features 99 hairpin bends (a number considered sacred in Chinese culture, symbolizing heaven having nine palaces) and climbs from 200 meters to 1,300 meters above sea level. Completed in 2005, the road was purpose-built as part of the Tianmen Mountain National Park development.
The road rises steeply through lush subtropical forest, with each hairpin bend numbered and named. The turns are exceptionally tight, and the gradient is severe in places, making the ascent a white-knuckle experience even by bus, which is the primary means of transport on the road (private vehicles are not permitted). At the summit, visitors encounter Tianmen Cave, a massive natural arch 131 meters high and 57 meters wide that pierces through the mountain, visible from the city of Zhangjiajie below. The cave is reached by climbing a further 999 steps from the road's terminus.
Tianmen Mountain is also famous for its glass skywalk, a transparent walkway bolted to the cliff face 1,432 meters above the valley floor, and the world's longest commercial cable car ride (7,455 meters), which connects the city to the summit. The road has been used for various automotive stunts and challenges, including racing events and promotional drives by car manufacturers eager to showcase their vehicles on one of the world's most dramatic switchback roads. The park is open year-round, though mountain-top conditions are cold and foggy in winter.
Where is it?
Tianmen Mountain Road is located in Hunan Province, China (asia). Coordinates: 29.0458, 110.4767
Driving Tips
Private vehicles not allowed; take the park bus. Buy tickets in advance during peak season. Walk the glass skywalk if you dare. Climb the 999 steps to Tianmen Cave. Foggy conditions are common at the summit.
Road Surface
Paved asphalt
Road Details
- Country
- China
- Continent
- asia
- Region
- Hunan Province
- Length
- 11 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,300 m
- Difficulty
- difficult
- Surface
- Paved asphalt
- Best Season
- April to October
- Coordinates
- 29.0458, 110.4767
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