Gateway to Heaven - Tianmen Cave, China

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Tianmen Cave known as Gateway to Heaven is a natural bridge/arch and is reportedly highest elevation (1520 metres) natural arch in the World. Although it is an arch but locals call it a cave. As per local history it used to be cave and in circa 263 there was a massive collapse of the cliff face, which changed the cave into an arch. At that time the mountain was called Songliang, which was then changed to Tianmen meaning sacred.

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It is 131.5 metres high, 57 metres wide and 60 metres deep. It is located close to Zhangjiajie city in western Hunan Province, China and is part of Wulingyuan Scenic Area - a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Co-incidentally or may be intentionally in 1999 stunt flyers flew through the arch.

On March 17, 2006, five Russian SU-27 fighter jets also flew through the arch in a stunt flight.


The whole area is very scenic and was not easily accessible. However Tianmen Mountain Cableway - reportedly the longest passenger cableway in the World with a length of 7200 metres and a height gap of 1277 metres, now brings thousands of tourists to this natural wonder.


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