It is no wonder that Tianmen Mountain in China is also called the Heaven Gate Mountain. The mountain measures up to 131 meters in height and runs 60 meters deep. Because of its high altitude, it is more like an open gate to heaven. Located in the Zhangjiajie city in China, the Heaven Gate Mountain is seven kilometers from the city. Adventures prefer hiking up to the mountain while tourists prefer a taxi or a car to get to the mountains. Apart from trekking and car rides, cable car facility is available too. The mountain boasts of a natural cave believed to have formed in 263 AD.
The Tianmen Mountain has a 500 year old temple called the Tianmenshan temple situated on its top and hence the mountain is the major place of worship for the Chinese. Written as Tien Men Shan in Chinese language, the mountain had longer days and shorter nights. The temperature is around 9 to 10 degree centigrade through most of the year. In July 1992, the Heaven Gate Mountain was established as a national park and a potential tourist attraction. To facilitate the tourism aspect, the Chinese government built the 7455 meter cable cars so that the tourists can marvel the beauty of the mountain.
The Tianmen cave is a natural formation and it’s naturally shaped like a door. It is believed to have formed when an old cliff broke and collapsed. Chinese people believe that this formation is unique. The Heaven gate Mountain takes pride in boasting the Chinese culture. Existing for more than centuries, the heaven gate mountain is regarded as the top most mountain in China. According to the Chinese people, the Tianmen Mountain is the ‘Closest Earth Landmark to God’ and rightfully said. The Tianmenshan temple is for people who are in need of spiritual assistance and for people who want to pray.
The Heaven Gate Mountain has 80% vegetation covering its area with approximately 556 species of flora and 433 species of woody species. Trees as old as 2000 years add to the beauty of the mountains. Further, the heaven gate mountain has 462 species of medicinal plants growing on its terrain. In addition, there are more than 300 species of fauna including more than 200 hundred species of animals and 100 species of birds. The Heaven Gate Mountain is a destination to be visited at least once in lifetime.
