Tao Xu
What's Inside
You booked your Zhangjiajie trip. Great. Now you're staring at the ticketing page — Route A or Route B? Which one? I've taken both dozens of times over the past five years leading groups here. And I can tell you: picking the wrong one can cost you two hours of waiting under the scorching sun. Or worse, missing the best photo light.
Here is the catch: neither route is inherently “better.” They are just two directions of the same loop. But depending on your schedule, crowd tolerance, and photography goals, one will feel like a dream and the other like a nightmare. Let me break it down so you never second-guess.
Why Your Route Choice Matters More Than You Think
Most travelers assume both routes are identical. Not true. The direction determines when you hit the cable car queue, which way the sun hits the mountain, and how many stair climbs you face. I've watched families with elderly parents struggle because they picked the route that forces a steep descent right after a long bus ride. Meanwhile, eager photographers miss the golden-hour glass skywalk because they ended up at the wrong exit.
Here is a fact: the cable car is the highlight — a 28-minute ride with insane 360° views. But the bus ride on the mountain road (Tongtian Avenue) is equally thrilling: 99 hairpin turns. You will experience both no matter what. The difference is when.
Route A: Up by Cable, Down by Bus
How It Works
Start at the city cable car station (near the center of Zhangjiajie). Board the cable car directly to the top of Tianmen Mountain. After exploring the cliff walkways, glass skywalk, and Tianmen Cave, take the escalator down to the mountain square, then board a shuttle bus that snakes down the 99-bend road to the mountain gate. Finally, a free transfer bus brings you back to where you started.
Who Loves It
- Early birds: The cable car at 7:30am has almost no line. You'll be on top before crowds arrive.
- Photographers: Morning light on the eastern cliff hits the glass skywalk perfectly.
- First-timers: The gradual descent (cable car up, then escalator, then bus) is less tiring on knees.
The Pain Points
By noon, the cable car boarding line at the city station can stretch to 90 minutes. I once saw a father with a toddler nearly faint in the heat. Also, if you linger too long on the mountain, you might catch the bus queue at the bottom — that one moves slower because buses have to wait for gaps in the winding road.
Route B: Up by Bus, Down by Cable
How It Works
Start at the mountain gate (take a free shuttle from the city). Board a bus up the 99-bend road to the mountain square. Take the escalator up to the top. Explore the mountain. Then take the cable car down from the top directly to the city station.
Who Loves It
- Late risers: The bus line in the morning is short because most people choose Route A. You can arrive at 10am and still move quickly.
- Thrill seekers: Riding the cable car down gives you a face-first view of the mountain dropping away — more dramatic.
- Those staying near the city station: You end your day right where you started, no extra shuttle needed.
The Pain Points
The bus ride up has those 99 bends — if you get carsick, pack motion sickness tablets. Also, the escalator from the mountain square to the top is long (12 sections). And during peak season, the cable car down queue in the late afternoon can be brutal — sometimes 2 hours if you wait until closing.
Quick Comparison: Route A vs Route B
| Feature | Route A | Route B |
|---|---|---|
| Start point | City cable car station | Mountain gate (shuttle from city) |
| First transport | Cable car (28 min) | Bus (30 min + 99 bends) |
| Peak queue time | Morning cable car ~90 min by 10am | Afternoon cable car ~120 min by 4pm |
| Best for | Early risers, photographers, elderly | Late risers, thrill seekers, car enthusiasts |
| Knee strain | Lower — mostly downhill | Slightly higher — stairs up then down |
| End point | City station (via shuttle) | City station (direct cable car) |
Which Route Should You Choose? (Scenarios)
Scenario 1: You Have Only 4 Hours
Go Route A. Start at 7:30am, cable car up immediately, spend 2 hours on top, then escalator + bus down. You'll be back by noon. Route B would waste time on the bus uphill during the hottest part of the day.
Scenario 2: You Are Traveling with Kids or Seniors
Route A again. The escalator down to the mountain square is much easier than climbing up later. The bus ride is at the end when everyone is tired — they can sleep.
Scenario 3: You Want to Avoid Crowds at Any Cost
Route B, but arrive at the mountain gate at 8:30am. The bus line is short, and you'll be on top by 9am. The cable car down queue starts building around 2pm, so by 1:30pm you can start descending with minimal wait.
Scenario 4: You're a Photography Fanatic
If you want sunrise on the cliff — impossible (park opens at 7:30am). But for golden hour (around 4:30-5pm in spring/fall), take Route B. You can stay on the western side until 5pm, then cable car down with the sun behind the mountain. Stunning.
Ticket Booking & Money-Saving Hacks
I always tell my clients: book online at least three days ahead. The official channel is the “Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain” WeChat mini-program. Yes, it's in Chinese — a pain. But you can also buy via Ctrip (Trip.com) or ask your hotel to help. The combo ticket (admission + cable car + bus) is 258 RMB as of my last visit. No discount for choosing one route over the other — same price for A and B.
Pro tip: avoid third-party touts at the station. They'll sell you a “priority pass” that doesn't exist. Also, bring your passport — the ticket is linked to your ID, and at the gate they will scan it.
One more thing: if you have a student card or are a senior (60+), you get a discount but you must buy at the physical counter with the card. That means arriving early. I've seen many foreign students miss out because they bought online without realizing the discount wasn't applied.
Frequently Asked Questions
Verified and fact-checked by the editorial team.
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