The cable car from Zhong Tianmen (Middle Heaven Gate, about 600m elevation) to the South Gate of Heaven (about 1,460m elevation) covers the upper half of the mountain in about 10 minutes, saving the most strenuous section of the climb. It operates from 7:30am to 5:00pm (earlier closing in winter). The cable car is useful both for those who don't want to climb the full trail and for those who climbed up and want to save their knees on the descent.
The viewing from the cable car as it rises above the cliff faces and over the valleys is excellent; you can see the South Gate of Heaven perched at the top of the Shiba Pan cliff staircase and understand why centuries of pilgrims considered this part of the mountain a threshold between worlds. Tickets are ¥100–120 each way; factor in queuing time of 30–60 minutes at peak periods.