The Temple of Heaven, also known as Tiantan, which is an imperial complex of sacrificial buildings in the southern part of Beijing, will expand its open area by 2.24 hectares. The famous site is expected to fully recover its historical landscape by 2030.

According to Li Gao, head of the Temple of Heaven Park, in the past the altars of the temple were occupied by offices and residents, currently leaving 72 hectares out of the 273-hectare complex still occupied by offices and residential communities.

A total of 19 households within the inner altar of the temple will be relocated this year, and a footpath for sightseeing will be built surrounding the altar walls, Li said. After this round of relocation and renovation, the complex will see its greenery grow by 20,000 square meters and the areas open for tourists will increase by 2.24 hectares. 

Meanwhile, part of the inner altar walls are now being renovated with the original materials and in line with the original style. A new version of the planning for the temple and its cultural relics will be submitted to authorities and after that archeological surveys will be carried out at the relocated area. 

The Temple of Heaven was inscribed to the World Heritage List in 1998. Originally built in 1420, it is the world's largest existing building complex for offering sacrifices to the heaven.