What one of the longest cable cars in the world looks like
Footage of an incredible descent from Tianmen Mountain in Zhangjiajie Park in China has been posted online. It is known for having one of the longest cable cars in the world.
It's no coincidence that this cable car is called the road to heaven because in some sections it rises up at an angle of 70 degrees. The corresponding video was published on YouTube.
The distance to the top is 7455 metres, with the ascent taking 40 minutes. Those who manage to overcome it will see the world's highest man-made cave, the Heavenly Gate, which, according to locals, has supernatural powers.
Legend has it that a person who has walked all 999 steps to the Heavenly Gate is able to achieve enlightenment and become closer to God.
It is known that Mount Tianmen is located in the Tianmen Mountain National Park in the northwestern part of Hunan Province.
The famous cable car was built in 2005 by the French company Poma from the neighbouring Zhangjiajie railway station to the top of the mountain. In travel publications, the Tianmen Mountain Cableway has been called "the longest high-altitude passenger cableway in the world". The largest gradient is 37 degrees.
Tourists can also walk along the kilometres of paths laid along the cliff at the top of the mountain, including sections with glass floors. An 11-kilometre road - Tongtian Avenue - with 99 turns also reaches the top of the mountain and leads visitors to the natural arch of the 131.5-metre-high Tianmen Cave in the mountain.
The Tianmenshan Temple is located at the top, accessible by an elevator or a walking path. The original temple there was built during the Tang Dynasty and destroyed in the first half of the 20th century. The construction of a new temple with Tang Dynasty architecture began in 1949. Now the temple is located on a landscaped area covering 2 hectares.
If you are interested in unusual tours to China like travelling along the Silk Road and the rainforest, see the list of interesting locations from TravelWise.
