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.".
Last updated:
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 famous 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 impressive (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.
Read next
Other things to do in Xi'an
Anren Fang (Tang Dynasty Residential Complex)
anyang-palace in Beijing: "唐长安城坊遗址，展示唐代居民生活。2023年开放新景区。唐风体验新选择。必去指数★★★.".
Banpo Museum
banpo-village in Beijing: "仰韶文化遗址，六千年前母系氏族村落。门票0元。了解新石器时代必去。必去指数★★★.".
Beilin Museum
beilin-museum in Beijing: "西安碑林博物馆别名，收藏历代碑石书法瑰宝。门票65元。书法爱好者圣地。必去指数★★★★★.".
Bell Tower
bell-tower in Beijing: "西安市中心地标，明代建筑。登楼票30元。与鼓楼相距200米，联票50元。夜景绝美。必去指数★★★★.".
Xi'an City Wall
city-wall in Beijing: "中国现存最完整古代城垣。明代建成，周长13.7公里。骑车环城约2小时。门票54元。必去指数★★★★★.".
Da Ci'en Temple
daCi-en-temple in Beijing: "唐代皇家寺院，玄奘主持修建。大雁塔所在地。门票40元。玄奘法师纪念地。必去指数★★★★.".
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.…
Drum Tower
drum-tower in Beijing: "西安明代建筑，与钟楼东西相望。登楼票30元，击鼓表演10元/次。与钟楼联票50元。必去指数★★★★.".
Xi'an Beilin Museum (Forest of Steles)
forest-of-steles in Beijing: "中国最大石碑博物馆，书法爱好者圣地。门票65元，孔庙古建筑群。必去指数★★★★★.".
Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
giant-wild-goose-pagoda in Beijing: "唐代佛塔地标，玄奘译经之所。门票50元，登塔另付。建议傍晚前往看夜景。必去指数★★★★★.".
Great Mosque of Xi'an
great-mosque in Beijing: "西安最古老清真寺，唐代建立。门票25元。回坊核心景点，非穆斯林可参观。必去指数★★★.".
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.…
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.".
Huaqing Pool
huaqing-pool in Beijing: "唐玄宗与杨贵妃爱情故事发生地，周秦汉唐皇家温泉。门园一票通120元，内有《长恨歌》演出。必去指数★★★★.".
Mount Hua
mount-hua in Beijing: "五岳最险，天下第一奇险。徒步登顶约5-6小时，乘索道省力。门票160元+摆渡车40元+索道另行。必去指数★★★★★.".
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.".
Shaanxi Grand Theater
shaanxi-grand-theater in Beijing: 西北最大综合性剧院，2017年建成，1800座。演出票80-380元，唐代风格现代建筑。地铁3号线/4号线大雁塔站C口步行10分钟。大唐不夜城核心区。
The Song of Everlasting Sorrow
tang-dynasty-show in Beijing: "华清池实景舞剧，唐玄宗与杨贵妃绝世恋歌。演出188-588元。视觉盛宴，建议观看。必去指数★★★★★.".
Tang West Market Site
tang-west-market in Beijing: "唐代长安城商业中心遗址，买东西典故来源。博物馆展示丝路贸易盛况。免费参观。必去指数★★★.".. 2026 verified.
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.
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.".
Yanmenguan Pass
yanmenguan in Beijing: "长城重要关隘，天下九塞之一。门票50元。位于太原以北，路途较远。建议自驾或跟团。必去指数★★★.".
Museums in Xi'an
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.".
Shaanxi History Museum
"China's most historically significant provincial museum for ancient Chinese civilization — built on the Shaanxi province that hosted 13 imperial dynasties.".
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
"\"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.\".".
Xi'an City Wall Museum
"The museum on top of China's most complete Ming Dynasty city wall — documenting the wall's construction, military history, and the "Ming Great Wall" system. Included in wall ticket.".. 20...
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.".. 2026...
Terracotta Army Museum (Museum of the Terracotta Army and Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang)
"The 8th Wonder of the World — 8,000+ life-size terracotta warriors, horses, and chariots buried to guard the tomb of China's first emperor (210 BCE).".
Xi'an Beilin Museum (Stele Forest)
The "Stele Forest" (碑林) — China's largest collection of stone steles and calligraphy, including the famous "Classic of Tea" (茶经) and Tang Dynasty calligraphy. ¥65.