Giant Wild Goose Pagoda: Xi'an's Silk Road Pagoda Guide

Walk through the gates of Da Ci'en Temple (大慈恩寺) at 4 PM and the afternoon sun casts the pagoda's shadow right at your feet. Spend ninety minutes exploring the courtyards and climbing seven floors. Step back out and the North Square's free musical fountain — the largest in Asia — is about to start its evening show. By the time the water stops, the pagoda is glowing gold against the night sky. This is Xi'an's best "cross-sunset" attraction: one ticket, three faces.

[图:大雁塔正面全景.jpg]

What Is the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda?

Xuanzang's 18-Year Journey

In 627 AD, a 26-year-old monk named Xuanzang (玄奘) left Chang'an alone on a westward quest for Buddhist scriptures. He had no official permit — technically, he was an illegal border-crosser. He crossed deserts, climbed the Pamir Plateau, traversed Central Asia, and after 18 years reached Nalanda (那烂陀寺) in India, the world's largest Buddhist academic center at the time. He studied there for five years, then returned to Chang'an carrying 657 volumes of Sanskrit sutras, Buddha statues, and relics.

Emperor Taizong of Tang personally received him and established a translation bureau for him at Da Ci'en Temple in southern Chang'an. Xuanzang spent the remaining 19 years of his life here, translating Sanskrit texts into Chinese — a total of 1,335 volumes, the largest translation project in the history of Chinese Buddhism. Yes, the monk Tang Sanzang in Journey to the West is based on Xuanzang — though the real version had no Monkey King or white dragon horse, just a stubborn scholar and an almost unbelievable true journey.

In 652 AD, Xuanzang personally oversaw the construction of a tower to store the scriptures and statues he had brought from India. That tower is the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda.

Five Floors to Seven: The Pagoda's History

The original pagoda had five stories in a rammed-earth-and-brick structure. About 50 years later, the mortar joints had sprouted so much vegetation that the structure deteriorated. During Empress Wu Zetian's reign (around 701–705 AD), the imperial court funded a full rebuild, replacing the original with a seven-story square pavilion-style brick tower. Later, during the Dali era under Emperor Daizong (766–779 AD), it was expanded to ten stories — Tang-dynasty poet Zhang Bayuan wrote, "ten towering floors pierce the empty sky." Subsequent war damage reduced it back to seven. A final major restoration during the late Tang / Five Dynasties period (around 930 AD) set the basic form. In 1604 (Ming Dynasty, Wanli era), workers added a 60-centimeter-thick outer layer of blue brick, creating the exterior we see today — seven stories, 64.5 meters tall.

It is the earliest and largest surviving square pavilion-style brick pagoda from the Tang Dynasty, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014 as part of the Silk Roads: Chang'an–Tianshan Corridor.

[图:大雁塔侧面角度展示砖贴面.jpg]

Temple and Pagoda — Two Tickets, One Site

This is what confuses first-time visitors most: the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda is not a standalone attraction — it stands inside the Da Ci'en Temple compound. You need a temple ticket (¥50) to enter the temple grounds, then a separate pagoda ticket (¥30 peak / ¥20 off-peak) to climb the tower. If you only want to see the pagoda's exterior and the temple courtyards, the temple ticket alone is enough.

The North Square (where the fountain is) is outside the temple — completely free, no ticket required.

Tickets, Hours, and Best Season

Tickets and Opening Hours

• Book via the "大慈恩寺" WeChat mini-program — passport number required for registration
• Half-price for students; free for military, disabled visitors, and seniors 70+
• The North Square (musical fountain) is entirely free, open all day

Best Season and Time of Day

• Best months: April–May and September–October — temperatures at 15–25°C, soft light, ideal for extended outdoor time. Summer in Xi'an is scorching (38°C+); winter is dry and cold but nearly tourist-free
• Best entry time: 4 PM (our core recommendation) — spend 1.5–2 hours on the temple and pagoda climb, walk out just in time for the evening fountain show and the pagoda's night illumination. One ticket, three faces: the brick tower in daylight, its orange silhouette at sunset, its golden glow after dark

[排版文字卡片:4PM策略时间线——入场→寺庙→登塔→出来→喷泉→夜景]

Getting to the Pagoda

The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda sits in Xi'an's Yanta District (雁塔区), about 6 km from the city center (Bell Tower).

Metro (Recommended)

Take Metro Line 3 or 4 to Dayanta Station (大雁塔站). Exit A, then walk about 8 minutes to the Da Ci'en Temple main gate. This is the most convenient option.

Taxi

From the Bell Tower: about 15 minutes, ¥15–20. From the railway station: about 25 minutes, ¥25–30.

Bus

Routes 21, 22, 23, 24, 44 and several others stop at Yantaxilu Dongkou (雁塔西路东口), a 5-minute walk to the temple.

Inside Da Ci'en Temple

Temple Courtyards and Halls

Da Ci'en Temple was founded in 648 AD — four years before the pagoda — by Crown Prince Li Zhi (later Emperor Gaozong of Tang) in memory of his mother, Empress Wende. The temple grounds cover approximately 73,000 square meters. Walking along the central axis from the entrance, you pass through:

• Bell and Drum Towers: Flanking the entrance, with scheduled daily bell-ringing
• Mahavira Hall (大雄宝殿): The temple's core worship hall, housing Ming-dynasty bronze Buddha statues
• Xuanzang Memorial Hall (玄奘三藏院): Displays tracing Xuanzang's life, his overland route, and his translation achievements. A set of detailed murals (modern creation) depict the entire pilgrimage — from his unauthorized border crossing through desert hardship, mountain passes, and arrival at Nalanda
• The Pagoda: At the northern end of the temple compound

The temple grounds are quiet and well-maintained — a striking contrast to the bustling North Square just outside. Walking through all the halls takes about 30–40 minutes.

[图:大慈恩寺庭院.jpg]

Climbing the Pagoda

With your pagoda ticket, enter at the base. Inside, narrow wooden staircases connect each floor, with small windows offering outward views at every level. The seven-floor climb is manageable — roughly 15–20 minutes to the top.

What to see on each floor:

• First floor: Introduction to Xuanzang's translation work; palm-leaf manuscripts (original Sanskrit texts written on palm leaves)
• Third floor: Buddhist relics display
• Seventh floor (top): 360° panorama — the Xi'an skyline stretches north, and the silhouette of the Qinling Mountains rises to the south. On clear days, visibility is excellent

Pagoda Name Inscriptions: The Tang Dynasty had a proud tradition — newly minted imperial examination graduates would come to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda to carve their name and hometown onto its walls. This practice was called "yanta timing" (雁塔题名) and was considered the highest honor for a scholar. The poet Bai Juyi, after passing the exam at age 27, wrote triumphantly: "At the inscribing wall below Ci'en Pagoda, the youngest among seventeen." Some Tang-era and later carved inscriptions survive on the tower walls — standing before those weathered characters, you are touching the proudest moment in a young person's life from 1,300 years ago.

[图:大雁塔顶层俯瞰西安.jpg]

After Hours — Fountain, Night Views, and Tang Boulevard

North Square Musical Fountain

The North Square of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda hosts Asia's largest musical fountain plaza — completely free. Each show runs 10–15 minutes, synchronized with music and lighting. Water jets reach up to 60 meters.

Show schedule (subject to change — check the official notice):

• Monday–Friday: 12:00, 20:30
• Weekends and holidays: 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00, 20:30
• Tuesdays: daytime maintenance, evening shows only

Best viewing: The evening show (20:00–20:30) delivers the strongest effect — the fountain, lighting, and illuminated pagoda all in one frame. Arrive 20 minutes early and position yourself along the central axis of the square. Side angles work too, but the frontal view is best.

[图:北广场音乐喷泉夜景.jpg]

The Pagoda After Dark

Don't leave after the fountain ends. The pagoda is lit with warm golden light at night. Looking south from the North Square, the seven-story brick tower glows softly against the deep blue sky — this is the pagoda's most photogenic moment. If you followed the 4 PM strategy, you have now seen the same pagoda in three forms in a single evening: ancient brick in daylight, orange silhouette at sunset, golden glow after dark.

Tang Dynasty Ever-Bright Boulevard

Walk south from the North Square through the pagoda's South Square and you reach the Tang Dynasty Ever-Bright City (大唐不夜城) — a roughly 2 km Tang-themed pedestrian boulevard. Both sides are lined with Tang-style architecture and modern shops, with Tang-dynasty figure sculptures, performance stages, and light installations running down the center.

By day, this is an ordinary commercial street. After dark, it transforms — lights, performances, and crowds turn the entire stretch into a large-scale Tang-dynasty-themed spectacle. If you still have energy after the fountain, walking the first 15–20 minutes south along the boulevard is a solid evening extension. No ticket required; come and go freely.

[图:大唐不夜城步行街夜景.jpg]

What Most Visitors Miss

The World's Largest Sutra Translation Center

Most visitors come to the pagoda, see the tower, take photos, and leave — few realize what this place once was. In the 7th century, the translation bureau at Da Ci'en Temple was the largest Buddhist scripture translation center in the world. Xuanzang led a large team that spent 19 years translating 657 Sanskrit texts into Chinese — a total of 1,335 volumes. The scale and systematic rigor of this project had almost no precedent in the history of human translation. It reshaped Chinese Buddhism and profoundly influenced Buddhist traditions in Japan and Korea.

The pagoda itself was built as the "archive" for these translations — the sutras were stored on its various floors. Standing inside the tower, the space above and below you was once packed with palm-leaf manuscripts carried from India.

Small Wild Goose Pagoda — The Quieter Sibling

About 3 km from the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda (小雁塔) inside Jianfu Temple (荐福寺) is a treasure that most foreign visitors don't know about. Built between 707 and 709 AD, this close-eaved brick tower originally had 15 stories — 13 survive today at a height of about 43 meters, the top damaged by earthquakes. Its style is completely different from the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda's square pavilion form — the Small Wild Goose Pagoda is a classic example of Chinese close-eaved brick architecture.

The key: the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and Jianfu Temple are completely free, with one-tenth the crowd of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and a much quieter atmosphere. The temple grounds also house the Xi'an Museum (also free). If you find the crowds at the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda wearing, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda is a perfect counterpoint.

[图:小雁塔全景.jpg]

Practical Tips Before You Go

What to Bring

• ID: Passport or ID card required for both ticket purchase and entry
• Comfortable shoes: The pagoda stairs are steep; the North Square is large — expect a lot of walking
• Water: No vendors inside the temple; shops are available on the North Square
• Power bank: If you plan to stay from afternoon through evening (the 4 PM strategy), your phone battery will drain fast

Rules and Facilities

• Inside the temple: Keep quiet; photography is prohibited in some halls (check signage); dress modestly (no revealing clothing)
• Pagoda climb: Stairs are narrow and steep — not suitable for those with a fear of heights or limited mobility
• North Square fountain: Extremely crowded during shows — watch your belongings. Don't stand in the center of the fountain area — you will get soaked, and the water quality is not ideal for skin contact
• Restrooms: Available inside the temple grounds and on the North Square

[排版文字卡片:必带物品清单]

Nearby Attractions

Shaanxi History Museum

A 15-minute walk from Da Ci'en Temple. One of China's four national-level museums, with over 370,000 artifacts spanning from prehistory to the Qing Dynasty. Free but advance booking via WeChat required (slots are limited — book 3–5 days ahead). Allow 2–3 hours. If you visit only one museum in Xi'an, make it this one.

Tang Paradise

A 20-minute walk southeast of the pagoda. A large-scale Tang-dynasty imperial garden–themed park covering 1,000 mu. Admission: peak season ¥120 / off-season ¥90 (some visitors qualify for free entry — advance booking via the "大唐芙蓉园" WeChat account required). A standard park by day; at night, a large-scale water and light show takes over. Allow 2–3 hours; add 1.5+ hours if you stay for the night show.

Muslim Quarter

About 6 km from the pagoda (15 minutes by taxi, or metro to the Bell Tower). Xi'an's most concentrated street food district, centered on halal cuisine — lamb paomo, roujiamo, liangpi, zenggao, hulatang. See our Xi'an food guide for the full breakdown.

Beyond This Guide

The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda anchors one of Xi'an's richest clusters of Silk Road and Tang-dynasty heritage — from the temple and its pagoda to the musical fountain, the night boulevard, and the world-class Shaanxi History Museum just down the road. If you are building a Xi'an itinerary that connects these dots, we can help you design a route that covers the highlights without the rush.

Exploring more of Xi'an? Check out these guides:

• Terracotta Warriors Guide
• Xi'an City Wall Guide
• Xi'an Food Guide
• Xi'an destination hub → Xi'an (when available)