Trip to China March, 2013
~~ Tianmen Mountains in the Northern Hunan Province of China ~~
Mountain is located only 7 miles from the city. Cable car (constructed by the French
Company Poma) from Zhangjiajie Railway Station to the top of the mountain, is claimed in
tourist publications as the “Longest Passenger Cableway of high mountains in the world.”
The total length of 7,455 meters and ascent of 1,279 meters; the highest gradient is an unusual 37 degrees.
Cable car that starts from the city and travels 4.7 miles, raising in elevation 4200’ and
reaching the Upper Station of the mountain (see sketch below). We (March 24, 2013)
walked on the paths built onto the cliff face at the top of the mountain, including sections with glass floor.
We then took the cable car from Upper Station to the Mid Station, then changed to the
Government Car drove on Tongtian Highway to the hill of the Tianmen Cave.
The Tongtian Highway is an 11 km road with 99 bends to reach the Tianmen Cave.
The road rises 3600’(1100 m) from an elevation 200 m to 1300 meter above sea level. Constructed (1998 – 2005).
The Tianmen cave is a collapsed cave and is now a natural stone arch.
This cave is the natural water-eroded cave with the highest elevation in the world.
The entire opening formed in one cataclysmic event when the back of a huge cave
collapsed in 263 AD. Tianmen Cave runs south-north having a height of 434’ a width of 188’ and a depth of 200’.
At the end you have to climb the Tianti (ladder to heaven) stairs which has 999 steps.
On March 26, 2013, we took a cable car to the top of Tianzi Mountain.
Tianzi Mountain is located in Zhangjiajie in the Hunan Province of China close to the Suozi Valley.
We were surprised to find out that the movie Avatar was filmed here.
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