The Altar of Earth was no longer used after the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty in 1911; it became a public park in 1925. It was once badly plundered and, because of years of neglect, became a wilderness choked with head-high weeds. 

The People's Government gave the Altar of Earth a new look in 1957, when it was once more turned into a park. The buildings were repaired and an orchard built as well as a large number of trees and flowers were planted. 

An overall renovation of the park started in 1981. The People's Government allocated a large sum for the renovation. Most of the buildings already have taken on a new look. A 'pailou' or archway and a Bell Tower, neither of which had existed before, have been built on the spots. 

Built in the same year with the Altar of Earth were the Altar of the Sun in the eastern city, the Altar of the Moon in the western city and the Altar of the Creator of Agriculture in the southern city. The emperor worshipped the God of the Sun at the Altar of the Sun at the spring equinox and the God of the Moon at the autumn equinox. Both the Altar of the Sun and the Altar of the Moon, more or less like the Altar of Earth but smaller, are now public parks. The emperor used to make annual sacrifices to the Altar of the Creator of Agriculture and perform the rite of ploughing the first furrow there at the beginning of spring each year. It is now the site of a stadium that accommodates 30,000 people.