According to the Beijing Municipal Administration Center of Parks, the south inner wall of Temple of Heaven and the Guangli Gate are currently under renovation. After finishing the work, about 2.24 hectares of the heritage site are going to open to the public.
According to the renovation plans, walkways will be constructed around the temple to provide visitors with a circular visiting area. The site of the ancient imperial path will be used as a green area for visitors to enjoy. After finishing the project, the green areas will be increased by 20,000 square meters.
2018 marks the 20th anniversary of the Temple of Heaven’s enrollment as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. Originally, this was the place where emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911) held the Heaven Worship Ceremony. It is the largest and most representative existing masterpiece among China's ancient sacrificial buildings. In 1988, it was opened to the public as a park, showing ancient philosophy, history and religion. Its grand architectural style and profound cultural connotation give an insight into the practices of the ancient Eastern civilization.