Big Wild Goose Pagoda Travel Guide

The Big Wild Goose Pagoda, one of the main constructions in the famous Buddhist temple Da-Ci-En Temple, is situated at south of the Xian city. It is located in the southern suburb of Xian City, about 4 kilometers (2.49 miles) from the downtown of the city.

The pagoda is one of the most distinctive and outstanding landmarks for Xian. It can be divided into three parts: the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the Da Ci´en Temple, and the North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Known as the best-preserved Buddhist temple complex, the Da-Ci-En Temple was initially built in 589, during the Sui Dynasty (581-618), named as Wulou Temple. Later in 647 AD of the Tang Dynasty, the temple was rebuilt in memory of Empress Wende-the mother of Emperor Tang Gaozong. The temple subsequently gained its present name.

In 652 AD, the Big Goose Pagoda was built to store the sutras and the figurines of Buddha, which were brought from India by a famous Buddhist translator and traveler Tang Sanzang, also known by his Buddhist name as Xuanzang.

The Big Goose Pagoda is brick-tower architecture, with a height of 64 meters (210 miles), occupies a base 25 meters by 25 meters (82 feet) square. Its walls and doors are carved with vivid and exquisite figures of Buddha, reflecting the profundity in the paintings of the Tang Dynasty.

Because The Big Goose Pagoda was built of brick, its structure is very firm. Inside the pagoda, stairs twist up so that visitors can climb and overlook the panorama of Xian City from the arch-shaped doors on four sides of each storey. On the walls are engraved fine statues of Buddha by the renowned artist Yan Liben of the Tang Dynasty. Steles by noted calligraphers also grace the pagoda.