Tian'anmen Rostrum closed to public during renovation

The iconic Tian'anmen Rostrum in downtown Beijing will undergo a major renovation starting on Friday, according to the administration committee of the Tian'anmen area.

The gate will be closed to public visitors to ensure security until April, a committee notice said, and the entire renovation will be completed by the end of May.

The Tian'anmen Rostrum was where Chairman Mao Zedong declared the founding of the People's Republic of China on Oct 1, 1949, making it a symbol of New China. In 1988, visitors were first allowed to step onto the rostrum.