Zhangjiajie's Tianmen Mountain has emerged as a must-visit winter destination this February, with its recent snowfall transforming the landscape into an ethereal spectacle. Known locally as "Heaven's Gate Mountain," the UNESCO Global Geopark now features ice-encrusted pine forests and crystalline rime formations that glow under diffused winter light, creating what visitors describe as "a scene from frozen folklore."
Meteorological conditions following a late-January cold front created perfect conditions for the natural ice sculptures, with temperatures hovering around -5°C maintaining the fragile formations. Tourism authorities report a 40% increase in visitors compared to last winter, with many international travelers adding Zhangjiajie to their Lunar New Year itineraries.
While the mountain's 999-step "Stairway to Heaven" remains closed for safety, the cableway continues operating at reduced capacity. Local guides advise early arrivals to beat crowds, noting that the sea of clouds phenomenon appears most frequently between 6:30-8:00 AM.
