I had been longing to visit a city with fresh air and a peaceful atmosphere. After much deliberation, I decided on Western Hunan—not the scandal-ridden Phoenix, but the scenic Zhangjiajie. I didn’t bother with a detailed itinerary, just wanted to wander, snap photos, and take things as they came. Far from the heavy PM2.5 of the big city, I was ready to breathe in the fresh mountain air.
And so, with a heart full of curiosity and wonder, I dragged my sleep-deprived best friend and set off on our adventure.
The train ride from Beijing to Zhangjiajie was long and bumpy. We bought hard sleeper tickets for just over 300 yuan and endured a grueling 26-hour journey (we were absolutely exhausted by the time we arrived). We had booked a hostel in advance through eLong, right next to the Tianmen Mountain cable car. Once we arrived, we dropped our stuff and collapsed into bed. I slept fitfully until around 7 p.m., then got up, freshened up a bit, and we went out for a simple dinner. No surprise—Hunan cuisine is seriously spicy.
The next morning, we rose early and made the glass skywalk of Tianmen Mountain our first stop in Zhangjiajie. It was the closest attraction to our accommodation—just a few minutes’ walk away—and both my best friend and I are thrill-seekers, so we thought this Eastern “sky road” would be the perfect way to kick off our trip. Experiencing the “thrill” of walking on clouds and taking in the breathtaking “heaven-on-earth” views of Zhangjiajie was truly an unforgettable experience.
The Tianmen Mountain Glass Skywalk is suspended along the western ridge of Tianmen Mountain, stretching 60 meters in length and 1.6 meters in width.
Its highest point sits at an altitude of 1,430 meters. It’s part of the Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area in Zhangjiajie, following the Cliffside Guiguzi Plank Road and the glass observation deck that juts out from the mountainside.
At the foot of Tianmen Mountain, we purchased entrance tickets to the scenic area for 225 yuan (which felt a bit pricey, but it included the round-trip cable car and eco-friendly shuttle bus, so it seemed worth it).
We first took the cable car, stopping at a midway station before reaching the mountaintop. Along the way, we saw one of China’s top ten most beautiful highways—the Tianmen Mountain Mountain Road—with its 99 hairpin turns winding around the mountain like a jade ribbon, an absolutely spectacular sight. Recent movies like *Breakup Buddies* and *Girls*, have filmed scenes on this mountain road. The cable car itself is worth mentioning—it’s incredibly long, taking about half an hour to reach the top, and is said to be the longest in the world. Most importantly, it’s very safe.
(Mihuai Platform)
Wulingyuan in winter is best enjoyed from high vantage points. It’s a pity we didn’t catch a snowy day—the scenery would’ve been even more stunning. The biggest regret of this Zhangjiajie trip was not getting better photos. Next time, we’ll come in spring or autumn.