XIAN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS: BIG WILD GOOSE PAGODA

Big Wild Goose Pagoda

The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is one of the most famous Chinese pagodas and was built inside the Ci En Temple in the south of Chang'an city (today's Xian) in 652 BC in Tang Dynasty (618-907). It is said that the pagoda was designed and built to consecrate and store the Sankrit Classics and Buddhist statues and relics by the eminent monk, Xuan Zang, who brought them from the ancient Indian. At the southern square of the Ci En Temple, there stands a bronze statue of Xuan Zang to commemorate the great achievement he has made in developing the Buddhism.

This brick-build 7-story pagoda is over 64 meters high and used to be the highest building of the Chang'an City, so is regarded as a symbolic building of the city. According to the recent survey, the pagoda has leaned more than one meter so far.

the night scene of the pagoda and the fountain

To the east of temple, there is a traffic-free street standing many bronze statues showing the traditional Chinese life and arts. The street leads people to the northern square of the pagoda, which has the biggest fountain square in Asia. To the west of the temple there is a green hill adorned by many statues displaying the local folkways of Shaanxi people. Both of these places attract many people everyday, especial during weekends.

Admission Fee:

25.00 (excluding ascending the pagoda, extra

20.00)

Opening Hours: everyday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Public Transportation: many buses have stops at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Bus No. 5, No. 19, No. 21, No. 22, No. 320, No. 408, No. 610 etc. The stop is located to the north of the Northern Square of the Pagoda, and you need to take the underpass to cross the road and walk for 10 minutes to reach the gate. Most of them have stops at the Southern Square of the pagoda, and you can get off at that stop alternatively.

Tips:
There are many restaurants on the northern square of the pagoda, also a KFC, a pizza restaurant and some places for local snacks. More are available on the northern side of the road.

The Shaanxi History Museum is only one stop away west of the Northern Square, within 10 minutes' walking distance.

The official website of Big Wild Goose Pagoda: http://www.xiandayanta.com/english/egindex.htm

The downloadable .gif file for the name of the Pagoda and the Temple (in which the Pagoda stands) written in Chinese characters and pinyin:

For the Big Wild Goose Pagoda

For the Ci En Temple

XIAN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS: BIG WILD GOOSE PAGODA

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