Tianmen Cave - Heaven Gate 天門洞

Tianmen Cave is the natural water-eroded cave with the highest elevation in the world. In year 263, the thousand meter high cliff of Songliang mountain suddenly broke up into a door-like cave which became a rare wonder of the world. Hence the name of Songliang mountain changed to Tianmen(heaven gate) mountain.

Tianmen cave runs south-northward with a height of 131.5 meters, a width of 57 meters and a depth of 60 meters. It rises above the ground and nears the sky with a lofty and towering  posture. The shadow of it reaches the north of the vast sea, the clouds over it near the south of the handle of the Dipper. It is much like a gate towards the heaven. The wonder attracted the visits and appreciations by emperors, officials, sages, hermits, dignitaries and men of letters of different dynasties.

 

After the accumulation over the dynasties, the unique profound Culture of Heaven is buit up. In 1999, the masters of International stunt flying piloted the planes to fly through Tianmen Cave. The activity gave rising to sensational reactions in the world. There were 800 millions audiences watching the live broadcasting. (quoted from a tourist guide book)

The number of stairs is nine hundreds and ninety nine.  The figure 9 means many to them. Then 999 means many many stairs?  The construction of the 999 stairs seemed well engineered in terms of shape and safety.                        

On December 11, 1999 the first class aerobatics pilots flew through the Tianmen Cave for the first time in human histroy. The cave is 131.5 meter high and 57 meters in width.

At the Tianmen Cave - Heaven Gate(天門洞)

a Gate top at high above over my head.

When I returned to the cablecar station, the sun already set and it was dark.... and my China trip ended with satisfaction at having finally wonderful sunny day.

The Most Scary Roadway

I have seen this scary roadway through internet several times before and I had thought I myself would never have an opportunity to take this road but it happened to me during this trip to Zhang Jia Jie, China. It is literally thrilling to look down at the mountain roadway from the sky. I was wondering all the way up and down how this road was built. Anybody can give me an idea? :)

Heaven-linking Avenue has 99 turns symbolizing that the Heaven has nine palaces. The avenue runs upward with the posture of the mountain like the soaring of great dragon and also hangs like a jade belt with zigzag turns circling the hills. It is worth the title wonder of highway in the world. Through heaven-linking avenue, one reaches directly the Tianti-celestial ladder. The grand celestial like scene came into view.(quoted from a tourist guide book)

Tianmendong(天門洞) or Tianment Cave( Heaven Gate) is up there.

Tianwang Temple

Tianmen Mountain Temple was built in the Tang Dynasty as a center of Buddhism in the area of western Hunman. The present Tianmen Mountain Temple was rebuilt on the basis of the original site with a plot area of more than 10,000 sqm. It adopts an official style of the Qing Dynasty and the building in the temple compare well with the famous classical houses at home. The temple is located in the mountain hollow with a broad vision. If one gazes into the southeast, all the hills seem t be so small that the temple is really like an overlord.(quoted from a tourist guidebook)

I see the color painting on the pillars, roof edges and wall of temple is more flamboyant than that of Korean buddhist temples.

Tianmenshan Ghost Valley Plank Road 鬼谷棧道

The Ghost-Valley plank road is located at the scenic and panoramic area and with a whole length of 800 meters and suspended from the cliff more than 1,400 meter above sea level on the upper side of the Ghost-valley cave. All walking the plank were overwhelmed by the extreme shock and stimulation.

Who built this walkway?  How is it possible to build a walkway on a cliff that dose not have a base to support an infrastructure of construction? Do you think it is possible to build this walkway on a vertical rock cliff?

Click the photos below and above to have a close look at the walkway built to the vertical cliff. It was really amazing and thrilling to walk on the way.

My tiptoe and deep valley down below..