Big Wild Goose Pagoda - the Largest and Earliest Tang-Style Tower

It's said: "one who fails to reach Big Wild Goose Pagoda has not been to Xi'an". As one of the most remarkable highlights of Xi'an, Big Wild Goose Pagoda is the largest and earliest example of a Tang-style pagoda. It has witnessed the fusion of Chinese and Buddhist cultures while condensing the wisdom of the ancient Chinese people.

Highlights

Experience Buddhist culture in this former capital. In the Tang Dynasty, Xi'an was not only the capital of the country but was also the Buddhist center in China.
Admire the largest Tang-style pagoda. It is an exquisite treasure, which has blended the architectural highlights of ancient China and ancient India.
Overlook the panoramic scenery of ancient Xi'an. Relax and think about the meaning of life in a Buddhist way.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda

Why Was Big Wild Goose Pagoda Built?

Da Ci'en Temple, where Big Wild Goose Pagoda is located, was a holy area where precious scripts and translated Tibetan scripts were housed. The first Buddhist abbot of Da Ci'en Temple, Xuan Zang, carried plenty of precious scripts from India after a long and hard journey in 652. To worship and store these rare classic Buddhist scripts and Buddhist sarira, he applied to the emperor to build a tower — Big Wild Goose Pagoda.

Seven Floors of Big Wild Goose Pagoda

Big Wild Goose Pagoda is a square tower that’s 64.7 meters tall and consists of three sections: the base of the tower, the body of the tower, and the pagoda finial. The body of Big Wild Goose Pagoda is a seven-story tower, and every floor is different. The founder of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda

The First Floor

The first floor is a Buddhist exhibition hall, which displays photos of famous ancient towers in China. Travelers will learn about the origin, development, structure, and classification of Buddhist towers by visiting the first floor.

The Second Floor

A bronze figure of Sakyamuni Buddha is enshrined and worshiped in the room on the second floor, being regarded as "the treasure of the tower".

The Third Floor

There is a wooden throne set in the middle of the third floor's room and there are plenty of precious Buddhist sarira and models of Big Wild Goose Pagoda.

The Fourth Floor

Two pieces of Sanskrit manuscripts made from palm leaves, measuring 40 centimeters long and 7 centimeters wide, are worshiped in the room on the fourth floor. It's rare to see this type of manuscript in other places because it's said that there are no more than ten scholars in the world who are able to understand this rare language.

The Fifth Floor

There is a footprint tablet displayed on the fifth floor, which was created according to the Buddha's footprints found in Yuhua Temple. Abundant Buddhist patterns carved in the tablet express the deep Buddhist culture.

The Sixth Floor

Poems by five famous ancient Chinese poets are hanging on the wall of the sixth floor. These poems were created in 752. One day in late autumn, Du Fu, Cen Can, Gao Shi, Xue Ju, and Chu Guangxi made an appointment to climb Big Wild Goose Pagoda, drink, and inscribe poems.

The Seventh Floor

The seventh floor is the highest floor of the tower where you can overlook the panoramic scenery of the ancient city. On top of it, a large lotus is carved. Some verses that have been carved on it can explain the reason for the creation of Big Wild Goose Pagoda.

Musical Fountain of Big Wild Goose Pagoda

Another highlight of Big Wild Goose Pagoda is its attractive musical fountain, which is located in Dayanta North Square. Besides the fountain show, a number of delicate sculptures will also dazzle you.

Opening times: all day
Duration of fountain show: 20 minutes
Show times:
Winter — 12pm, 8:30pm
Summer — 12pm, 9pm
PublicHolidays — 12pm, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm, and 8:30pm or 9pm

Musical Fountain of Big Wild Goose Pagoda

Travel Tips

Chinese: 大雁塔 (Dàyàntă, dah-yen-tah)
Location: Yanta West Road, Yanta District, Xi'an
Theme: Buddhist pagoda
Opening hours: 8am to 5:30pm
Visiting duration: 1 to 2 hours
Entrance fee: Da Ci'en Temple — 50 yuan; climbing to the top of Big Wild Goose Pagoda — 30 yuan
Best seasons: During March to May or September to October the weather is fine, so you will have a nice day and take a nighttime stroll in the square.

How to Get There?

By bus: Take bus 5, 19, 21, 22, 27, or 41, and get off at Big Wild Goose Pagoda Station.
By taxi: It costs about 15 yuan to travel from the city center of Xi'an to Big Wild Goose Pagoda Station by taxi.