Xi'an · Visitor Guide
Big Wild Goose Pagoda (大雁塔, Dàyàn Tǎ)
The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is a 64-meter brick pagoda built in 652 AD during the Tang Dynasty within the Da Ci'en Temple complex. It was commissioned by Emperor Gaozong to house the 657 volumes of Buddhist scriptures brought from India by the monk Xuanzang (602–664), whose 17-year pilgrimage inspired the classic novel "Journey to the West." The pagoda is Xi'an's most recognizable landmark and a UNESCO World Heritage site as part of the Silk Roads listing.
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Quick Answer
Is Big Wild Goose Pagoda worth visiting?
7th-century Buddhist pagoda built to house scriptures brought from India by the monk Xuanzang (the real Tripitaka). ¥50. Evening fountain show is free.
Quick facts
| Ticket | ¥50 (Da Ci'en Temple + pagoda entry). ¥25 to climb the pagoda interior. As of June 2026. |
|---|---|
| Hours | 8:00–17:30 (temple). Pagoda climbing ends 30 minutes before closing. |
| Recommended duration | 1.5–2 hours for temple + pagoda climb. |
| Best time to visit | Morning (8:00–10:00 AM) for quiet temple grounds. Evening for the free north square fountain show (see FAQs). Spring (March–May) when the temple gardens bloom. |
| How to get there | Metro Line 3 or Line 4 to Dayanta station (大雁塔), Exit B or C. Walk 5 minutes south. |
| English signage | partial |
| Wheelchair accessible | partial |
| Built | 652 AD (Tang Dynasty, Gaozong Emperor) |
| Height | 64 m (7 stories) |
| Architect | Xuanzang (玄奘) — supervised construction |
| Scriptures housed | 657 volumes brought from India |
| UNESCO | 2014 (Silk Roads World Heritage) |
What to expect
The Big Wild Goose Pagoda was built at Xuanzang's request to store the Sanskrit scriptures and Buddhist relics he brought back from India after a 17-year pilgrimage (629–645) along what would later be called the Silk Road. Xuanzang traveled 10,000+ km through the Gobi Desert, the Tian Shan mountains, and across the Hindu Kush to reach Nalanda University in Bihar, India — then the greatest center of Buddhist learning in the world. He returned with 657 sutras, 150 relic fragments, and seven Buddha statues carried on 22 horses.
The pagoda was originally five stories and built of rammed earth faced with brick. It was rebuilt and expanded to seven stories during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian in 704. The pagoda has survived earthquakes, wars, and 1,370+ years relatively intact — it leans slightly to the west. Visitors can climb the narrow spiral staircase to the top for a view across modern Xi'an that underscores how much the city has grown around this Tang Dynasty remnant.
The north square (free) features the largest musical fountain in Asia — a choreographed water-and-light show with a 1,000-meter-long axis of fountains leading north from the pagoda toward the modern Xi'an skyline. The juxtaposition of the ancient pagoda and the dancing water jets is very Xi'an — the city has been a crossroads for 2,000+ years and this is just the latest layer.
How to get there
Metro Line 3 or Line 4 to Dayanta station (大雁塔). Exit B for the north square (fountain), Exit C for the south gate of the temple complex. The pagoda is visible from the station — walk toward it. From central Xi'an (Bell Tower area): 15 minutes by metro or 20 minutes by DiDi (¥20–30).
Best photo spots
- The south gate with the pagoda behind the Xuanzang bronze statue — the iconic shot
- Pagoda reflected in the north square water features at dusk
- Inside the temple — the bell and drum towers framing the pagoda
- North square fountain show at night — pagoda illuminated, fountains lit in color
Tips
- The pagoda climb is 7 stories with narrow, steep stairs — skip if you have mobility or claustrophobia issues
- The north square musical fountain show is free and runs at 12:00 and 20:30 (summer) — check seasonal times
- Visit the pagoda in the afternoon (3:00–4:00 PM), then walk the north square, have dinner nearby, and return for the 8:30 PM fountain show
- The temple grounds have excellent Tang Dynasty-style gardens — allow time to walk them
Scams to avoid
- Fortune-tellers and "monks" outside the south gate offering blessings for money — real monks do not solicit payment on the street
- Souvenir sellers near the metro exit selling "ancient Tang Dynasty coins" — they are modern replicas worth ¥1–2
Frequently asked questions
Is climbing the Big Wild Goose Pagoda worth it?
The pagoda interior is mostly empty — the climb (narrow 7-story staircase) is for the rooftop view of Xi'an. The view is good but not spectacular (Xi'an's skyline is modern and flat). The temple grounds and the pagoda's exterior are the real attraction. Climb if you want a workout and a view; skip if you have mobility issues or claustrophobia.
What is the fountain show at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda?
The north square fountain show is a free 20-minute choreographed water-and-light display — the largest musical fountain in Asia with a 1,000-meter axis. Shows at 12:00 PM and 8:30 PM in summer (8:00 PM in winter). The fountains are choreographed to Chinese classical and Western classical music. Free, crowded, and genuinely fun.
Who was Xuanzang and why does he matter?
Xuanzang (玄奘, 602–664) was a Tang Dynasty Buddhist monk who spent 17 years traveling to India and back to collect authentic Buddhist scriptures. His journey covered 10,000+ km through deserts and mountains and is fictionalized in "Journey to the West" (西游记) — one of China's Four Great Classical Novels. The pagoda was built to house the scriptures he brought back. He is one of the most important figures in East Asian Buddhism.
How do I get to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda?
Metro Line 3 or Line 4 to Dayanta station (大雁塔), Exit B or C. From Xi'an Railway Station: 30 minutes by metro. From Xi'an North Station (HSR): 50 minutes by metro. From the Terracotta Army: 1.5 hours by bus + metro.
Is the Big Wild Goose Pagoda near the Terracotta Army?
No — the Terracotta Army is 40 km east of Xi'an (1 hour by bus). The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is in the southern part of central Xi'an. They cannot be visited in the same half day. The pagoda pairs well with the Shaanxi History Museum (10-minute walk south) and the Tang Paradise theme park (adjacent).
What is the difference between the Big and Small Wild Goose Pagodas?
Big Wild Goose Pagoda (大雁塔, 64 m, 7 stories, 652 AD): larger, more famous, built to house scriptures. Small Wild Goose Pagoda (小雁塔, 43 m, 13 stories, 709 AD): smaller, older-looking (top two levels collapsed in a 1556 earthquake), quieter, free. The Big Pagoda is the landmark; the Small Pagoda is the local favorite.
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Terracotta Army
UNESCO site with 8,000+ life-sized warriors buried 2,200 years ago. 1.5 hours from Xi'an. Allow 3-4 hours.
Muslim Quarter
Xi'an's 1,200-year-old Hui Muslim food district — 10+ blocks of lamb skewers, hand-pulled noodles, persimmon cakes, and the 1,300-year-old Great Mosque. Free entry. Food ¥5–50 per item.
Xi'an City Wall
The best-preserved ancient city wall in China — 13.7 km of Ming Dynasty fortifications you can bike on top of. ¥54 entry, ¥45 bike rental. 2–3 hours to bike the full loop.
Huaqing Palace
Tang Dynasty imperial hot springs resort — Yang Guifei's bathing pool, scene of the 1936 Xi'an Incident. ¥120 entry. 30 km east of Xi'an. Combine with Terracotta Army.
Shaanxi History Museum
China's richest provincial museum, holding roughly 1.7 million artifacts from 13 dynastic capitals across 1,100 years. Budget 2-3 hours for the free halls, 4-5 with the ¥270 Tang tomb-mural gallery — one of the most remarkable museum experiences in the country.
Great Mosque of Xi'an
A 1,280-year-old mosque site down Huajue Lane that looks like a Ming temple but serves Xi'an's Hui Muslim community — four courtyards, a pagoda-style minaret, no domes. ¥25 entry (as of 2026), allow 45–60 minutes; go at the 8:00 opening, not noon.
Grand Tang Mall (Datang Everbright City)
A 1.5-km free pedestrian avenue of lit-up Tang-style pavilions, costumed performers, and food stalls running south from the Big Wild Goose Pagoda through Xi'an's Qujiang district. Budget 2–3 hours after dusk; the lights and shows peak 19:00–21:00.
Drum and Bell Towers
Two 14th-century Ming-dynasty towers anchoring Xi'an's old-city centre — the Bell Tower (1384) at the crossroads, the Drum Tower (1380) at the Muslim Quarter gate. ¥30 each to climb, 1-1.5 hours total, best at dusk when both light up.
Small Wild Goose Pagoda
A 1,300-year-old Tang Dynasty brick pagoda inside Jianfu Temple — quieter, free, and climbable for ¥30 (as of 2026). Pair it with the on-site Xi'an Museum; allow 2–3 hours.
Museums in Xi'an
Shaanxi History Museum
370,000 artifacts from the cradle of Chinese civilization — Tang Dynasty gold, Zhou bronzes, and Qin terracotta figurines. Free but book weeks ahead. Xi'an's must-see museum.
Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum
The world-famous Terracotta Army viewed through the museum lens: excavation in progress, bronze chariot conservation, and the science behind 2,200-year-old polychrome preservation. ¥120.
Banpo Museum
A 6,000-year-old Neolithic village preserved in situ — walk through a matriarchal Yangshao Culture settlement with houses, kilns, and a burial ground. ¥65. China's first prehistoric site museum.
Xi'an Museum
Tang Dynasty artifacts inside the Small Wild Goose Pagoda temple complex — a calmer, more intimate alternative to the Shaanxi History Museum. Free entry with garden and pagoda access. Jianfu Temple grounds.
Shaanxi History Museum — Qin-Han Branch
New branch opened 2024 near the Qin Dynasty palace ruins. Focuses exclusively on the Qin and Han dynasties (221 BC-220 AD). Free. Book ahead.
Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum (Terracotta Warriors)
About 8,000 life-size clay soldiers buried in 210 BCE to guard China's first emperor — plan 3 to 4 hours on site plus 90 minutes each way from central Xian.
Forest of Steles Museum (Xi'an Beilin Museum)
Xi'an's 1,094-year-old "Forest of Steles" holds more than 3,000 carved stone tablets and rewards 2–3 hours of close looking — most visitors should skip the calligraphy trance and head straight for the six horses of Zhaoling Tangseng.