Danbi Bridge 丹陛桥

Heading to the Entrance at the Temple of Heaven Park

Heading to the Entrance at the Temple of Heaven Park

I was walking back to the entrance of the Temple of Heaven Park and found myself walking on a nicely paved walkway. This walkway is called the Danbi Bridge 丹陛桥. From here you may wonder why it was called a bridge when it looks very much like a simple walkway. As it turns out, there is another path which passes underneath this walkway, thus correctly classifying it as a bridge. It is considered the oldest overpass in Beijing.

Walking on the Danbi Bridge 丹陛桥

Walking on the Danbi Bridge 丹陛桥

Interestingly, Temple of Heaven is built on a very gently rising mound, the Danbi Bridge is built on top of this mound. Naturally, the Temple of Heaven is at the top of this mound while walking on the Danbi Bridge is walking down the mound. Since Danbi Bridge is a path from the bottom of the mount to the Temple of Heaven, it can be said that walking on the Danbi Bridge is like walking up to heaven. It is amazing when you find out details like this have been planned right from the start.

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