The Tianmen Mountain cable car runs 7.5 kilometres from the city centre of Zhangjiajie to the upper station near the mountain's rim, making it one of the longest alpine gondola systems in the world. The 28-minute ride climbs nearly 1,300 metres, crossing deeply forested gorges and steep rock faces. The views from the gondola — down onto the forested ridgelines, back at the city receding below, and forward toward the mountain's dramatic cliffs — are arresting even before the Heaven Gate arch becomes visible.
The cable car is included in the combined ticket for the mountain (around ¥275 for entrance, cable car, and internal buses). The lower terminal is conveniently central; the upper terminal deposits visitors directly at the rim of the plateau, from which the internal bus circuit and the main walking routes begin. The return journey provides different views and is worth taking slowly.