Distant Clouds, Distant Heaven (explored 11-14-2025)
Heaven’s Gate Mountain (天门山), located in Tianmen Mountain National Park in Zhangjiajie, northwestern Hunan Province, is famous for its dramatic Tianmen Cave — a natural arch known as Heaven’s Door. A steep staircase of 999 steps, often called the “Stairway to Heaven,” leads up to this majestic opening.
When I visited, the mountain was wrapped in drifting clouds. From a distance, most of Tianmen Mountain disappeared into the mist, leaving only the great arch faintly visible. Watching it suspended above the clouds made me feel as though I were looking into heaven itself.
Distant Clouds, Distant Heaven (explored 11-14-2025)
Heaven’s Gate Mountain (天门山), located in Tianmen Mountain National Park in Zhangjiajie, northwestern Hunan Province, is famous for its dramatic Tianmen Cave — a natural arch known as Heaven’s Door. A steep staircase of 999 steps, often called the “Stairway to Heaven,” leads up to this majestic opening.
When I visited, the mountain was wrapped in drifting clouds. From a distance, most of Tianmen Mountain disappeared into the mist, leaving only the great arch faintly visible. Watching it suspended above the clouds made me feel as though I were looking into heaven itself.