Among the most unique experiences China has to offer, the Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park stands out. The mountain is over 1,500 meters high and is often called the most beautiful mountain in the world by visitors. It also houses the entrance to a cave that the Chinese call the “Stairway to Heaven”.
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Tianmen Mountain has the longest passenger cable car in the world. This cable car helps visitors get the full Tianmen experience by reaching the top from the bottom. In addition, the mountain has many cliff paths and stairs for other visitors who want to reach the top by themselves.
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One of these stairs is different from the others as the Chinese believe that it actually leads to heaven. The Stairway to Heaven consists of 999 steps that lead to the Plaza de la Cueva on the mountain. The stairway starts at 1,105 meters and ends at 1,170 meters with a total length of 218 meters.
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The word “tianmen” comes from “tian” which means Heaven in Chinese. Tianmen means gate of heaven, which literally represents its importance as a gate to the higher levels of Chinese spirituality.
The reason why Tianmen Mountain is sacred to the Chinese goes back to their Taoist beliefs. According to legend, one day there was a great noise that came from heaven. 5 clouds hung over the mountain and the Jade Emperor, the supreme God in Taoism, spoke to the people.
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The Jade Emperor gave his blessings to the listeners and disappeared. After this event, the Chinese renamed the mountain because they believed that the mountain had a connection to the Gods and Heaven. The Stairway to Heaven is a representation of this legend.
At the bottom of the stairs and after the cave, there is a temple called Tianmen Altar where people pray. The fact that there are exactly 999 steps is neither coincidence nor convenience. The Chinese associate the number 9 with infinity and the steps signify the infinite nature of Heaven and Earth.
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Along the stair, there are 5 platforms to rest and receive blessings which are “You Yu”, “Qin Se”, “Chang Sheng”, “Qing Yun” and “Ru Yi”. The names represent the five blessings that are essential to all life in Taoism, such as wealth, happiness, long life, power, and luck. Tianmen and the staircase hold an important place in Chinese culture and are a beautiful tourist attraction for others.
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