Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Travel Guide: Tips, Photo Spots, Highlights, History

Written by Candice Zhao | Updated May 29,2026

Welcome to Giant Wild Goose Pagoda! This guide is shared from a local senior travel consultant who has over 10 years of experience in inbound tourism. Featured in most our tailor-made itineraries, the pagoda is a must-see landmark and a favorite among visitors during their Xian tours.

More than just a Buddhist pagoda with over 1,300 years of history, it stands as a living symbol of Tang dynasty culture, Silk Road heritage, and Buddhist tradition. Now, follow this guide to see how to explore the scenic area. Its history, top highlights, best photography spots and practical visiting tips are all included.

• Location: 1, Cien Road, Yanta District, 20 minutes’ drive from the city center (Bell Tower area)
• Reservation: Not required
• Recommended visiting time: 1.5 to 2 hours
• Ticket: CNY 10 (USD 1.4)
• Pagoda Admission: CNY 25 (USD 3.5)
• Opening hours: 08:30 – 17:00

Content Preview

• Overview
• What to Do and See?
• Best Photography Spots
• Practical Travel Information
• Stories About Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
• Giant vs. Small Wild Goose Pagoda
• Nearby Attractions
• Explore with China Xian Tour
• FAQs

Overview of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

Architectural Style of the Pagoda

• Height: Giant Wild Goose Pagoda has 7 storeys with a height of 64.5 m. Its base measures 25.5 meters on each side.
• Design: A pavilion-style brick pagoda with an imitated timber structure and a square layout
• Composition: composed of three main parts: the base, the body and the spire.

Why Was the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Built?

The story begins with the monk Xuanzang. In 629 AD, he set out from Chang’an on a legendary journey to ancient India and returned 17 years later with numerous Buddhist scriptures and artifacts. To preserve and translate these texts, the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda was constructed in 652 AD under the direction of Xuanzang. Since then, the pagoda has been a Buddhist center.

What to Do and See in the Big Wild Goose Pagoda?

Explore the Daci’en Temple

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda is actually situated within the Daci’en Temple. Inside this imperial temple, visitors can learn about Buddhist culture and Xuanzang’s journey to obtain Buddhist scriptures through attractions such as the Bell and Drum Towers, the Great Buddha’s Hall, the Dharma Hall, the Pagoda Forest and the Xuanzang Tripitaka Monastery.

Recommended Visiting Route

Enter from the South Square → Daci’en Temple → Climb the pagoda/Visit the Xuanzang Tripitaka Monastery → Exit from the North Square → Night tour at the Datang Everbright City (optional)

Ascend the Big Wild Goose Pagoda

After paying the admission fee, climb the wooden staircase to the top (7^th floor) and enjoy panoramic views of the city.

At each storey, there are precious cultural relics and surprises waiting for you to discover:

• 1^st floor: The stone tablets inscribed with calligraphy by famous artists of the Tang Dynasty and stone inscriptions of ancient scholars’ names
• 2^nd floor: The serene Buddha statue of Sakyamuni, a key highlight of the pagoda
• 3^rd floor: The birch bark Sanskrit scriptures brought by Xuanzang, which are of great historical significance.
• 4^th floor: Precious Buddhist sarira and ancient architectural relics, creating a sacred and serene atmosphere.
• 5^th floor: Tang Dynasty ancient bricks with lotus patterns and thousand-year-old wind chimes, showing artifacts of the flourishing Tang era.
• 6^th and 7^th floors: Panoramic viewing platforms where tourists can overlook the city, music fountain, and Datang Everbright City below.

Best Photography Spots for Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

1. South Square of Giant Wild Goose Pagoda: Photograph the bronze statue of monk Xuanzang together with the pagoda to capture a sense of history. It is advised to use the telephoto lens. The light is soft and warm after 16:00.

2. Daci’en Temple Heritage Park: Capture the Buddha statues, such as the Jianzhen Statue, and the pagoda in the same frame. In the morning, the park is quiet and less crowded. Please make sure you navigate to Heritage Park, rather than the main temple.

3. The red wall near the ticket office on the south square: The pagoda is framed by ancient red walls and surrounded by greenery, creating a serene scene with few tourists around. The best time for photography is in the afternoon when the sunlight is soft and angled.

4. The viewing platform on the 4^th floor of Joy City: From here, you can take a top-down shot using a long lens to compress the landscape, with modern architecture afar in the background. An excellent silhouette of the pagoda can be shot at sunset (the shopping mall opens at 10 a.m.).

5. The second floor of MAANUP Coffee: There is a terrace to take the Chinese characters “Chang’an (长安)” with the pagoda in one frame.

6. The steps at the cross of Ci’en Road and West Yanta Road: Capture the pagoda against the vibrant, illuminated backdrop of the Datang Everbright City, breathtaking when the lights come on at dusk.

Practical Travel Information about the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

Best Time to Visit

• Best Season

Spring (April – May) and late autumn (November) are the best times to visit. In spring, the peonies in the temple are in full bloom, creating a colorful spectacle. In late autumn, the persimmon trees are laden with fruit. The ancient pagoda paired with the autumn scenery makes for fantastic photo opportunities.

• Best Time of the Day

1. Visit between 08:30 and 09:00 for fewer crowds and a tranquil experience. You may also encounter the monks chanting sutras.
2. The light is soft after 16:00, making it ideal for taking photos. For a night tour, there is no need to enter the ticketed scenic area. You can appreciate the night view of the ancient pagoda illuminated by lights from outside, creating a highly immersive atmosphere.

How to Get There

By Metro: Convenient and no traffic congestion. Take metro line 3 or 4 to Dayanta Station, Exit B or C, and walk southward for about 900 meters.

We recommend using our private car service, as the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda is in the bustling downtown area and the area can easily get congested during holidays. The professional local driver will take the optimal route and save your time.

Recommended Food & Restaurants Near the Pagoda

As a local travel consultant in Xi’an, I have put together a list of the restaurants within a 15-minute walk of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda:

Category	Restaurants	Walking Distance	Must-Try Dishes
Classic Shaanxi Cuisine	Food Gallery of Xian (Joy City Branch)	5 min	Traditional Hulu Chicken, Creative Brush Pastry, Osmanthus Cool Pastry, Clear Broth Noodles with Minced Meat
Classic Shaanxi Cuisine	Benpaoba Shancai Restaurant	2 min	Braised Three Delicacies, Lychee-Style Shrimp Balls, Zenggao with Ice Cream, Oil-Splashed Noodles
Classic Shaanxi Cuisine	Babaili Qinchuan (Joy City Branch)	5 min	Handmade Biangbiang Noodles (Non-Spicy), Guanzhong Steamed Dishes in Bowls, Specialty Crispy Fried Pork, Mixed Grain Platter
Western Cuisine	Steak House (Joy City Branch)	5 min	Original-Cut M5 Wagyu Steak, French Mushroom Soup, Fruit & Vegetable Salad, Western Desserts
Western Cuisine	Tom’s Steak	10 min	Black Pepper Steak (sauce on request), Cheese Baked Rice, Western Appetizer Platter, Fresh Juice
Western Cuisine	Pizza Hut (Ci’en Road Branch)	6 min	Classic Pizza, Spaghetti Bolognese, Teppanyaki Steak, Corn Chowder

The Characteristic Souvenirs Worth Purchasing

• “Tabao” plush toy: An adorable official souvenir modeled after the pagoda, one of the most representative cultural and creative products.
• Night-light fridge magnet: 3D representations of Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and Datang Everbright City, exquisite craftsmanship, some feature lights.
• Blessed souvenirs in Daci’en Temple: The bells and vajras made from wind-polished copper, symbolizing prosperity and protection, simple and timeless design

Stories About Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

As a local, I’d like to share some interesting and lesser-known facts with you.

The Story Behind Its Name

The name of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda originated from a touching Buddhist legend. In ancient India, there were monks who wanted to eat meat. Suddenly, a flock of wild geese flew by. The leading goose broke away from the flock and fell to the ground right before them, as if saying, “Don’t you want to eat meat? Take my meat and eat it.” The monks were shocked and realized that this was the Buddha enlightening them.

From then on, they became vegetarians and built a pagoda for memorization, which was called the “Wild Goose Pagoda”. Xuanzang used this name when building the pagoda in Chang’an. Later, to distinguish it from the “Small Wild Goose Pagoda”, it was renamed “Big Wild Goose Pagoda”.

Inscription in Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

In the Tang Dynasty, scholars who passed the imperial exams would carve their names there, a symbol of ultimate honor. Today, local students and their families will flock here before the college entrance exams to pray for top scores and a bright future.

The Pagoda’s Lean

It is said that the Big Wild Goose Pagoda is inclined. That’s true! In the Ming Dynasty, the pagoda cracked in the middle and seemed to topple due to a big earthquake. Remarkably, after a few years, the crack closed by itself mysteriously! Now, it remains stable and the lean is barely noticeable, unlike the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Come to see if you can spot it!

Giant vs. Small Wild Goose Pagoda: Which to Visit?

Both pagodas were built in the Tang Dynasty, but each has its own history.

1. Giant Wild Goose Pagoda is the only world-class Tang Dynasty pagoda landmark in Xi’an, which is internationally renowned and has been a symbol of the city.
2. Giant Wild Goose Pagoda was built under Xuanzang’s supervision to store Buddhist scriptures he brought back from ancient India. It also carries the Silk Road culture.
3. GiantWild Goose Pagoda is one of the few ancient Tang Dynasty pagodas that visitors can climb to the top to enjoy a panoramic view of the city. Inside, it houses many thousand-year-old cultural relics.
4. Giant Wild Goose Pagoda offers stunning views both during the day and at night. Travelers can admire ancient buildings and cultural relics at daytime and appreciate its illuminated night view and watch a wide variety of performances in the nearby Datang Everbright City in the evening.

In contrast, Small Wild Goose Pagoda is more like a low-key “hermit”, featuring a more serene and secluded environment. It is also a UNESCO-listed site.

If you can only visit one place due to the limited schedule, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda is the better choice. If you prefer a tranquil atmosphere, Small Wild Goose Pagoda will be a surprise and you can also visit Xi’an Museum nearby.

	Giant Wild Goose Pagoda	Small Wild Goose Pagoda
Year Built	652 AD, Early Tang Dynasty	707 AD, Late Tang Dynasty
Construction  History	Built under imperial decree and supervised by Master Xuanzang to store the Buddhist scriptures he brought back from ancient India	Built with funds raised by the public, supervised by Master Yijing, and used to store the Buddhist scriptures he obtained during the maritime journeys
Cultural Significance	A royal landmark of the prosperous Tang Dynasty, a symbol of Silk Road culture, inscribed names of scholars on it	Represents lesser-known ancient architecture, famous for its morning bell, and reflects the serene culture of the ancient capital
Accessibility	Yes, visitors can enjoy a panoramic city view and marvel at the cultural relics	No, visitors can only admire it from the outside

Nearby Attractions

• Datang Everbright City: 10 minutes’ walk away and free to enter. Visit after 19:00 to enjoy dazzling night lights, Tang-style performances, traditional hanfu parade. It is an ideal place to experience the lively night market atmosphere of the prosperous Tang Dynasty.
• Joy City (Shopping Mall): Just 2 minutes’ walk away. You can find both trendy items and digital products here, such as POPMART, DJI, Insta 360, etc. Besides, a variety of local snacks is available on the basement floor, like cold noodles, roujiamo, Biangbiang noodles. You’re sure to find something you like.
• Music Fountain on the North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda: 10 minutes’ walk away, one of Asia’s largest music fountains. Admission is free and the fountain light show at night is breathtaking and unmissable.

Explore the Historic Xian with China Xian Tour

Famous for its profound history and culture, Xi’an also treats every traveler to many other iconic attractions, like the Terracotta Army and Bell Tower. If you want an in-depth tour, consider joining a tour. China Xian Tour, as a local travel agency, is very familiar with these scenic spots. And our travel experts can give you insider tips and customize a trip for you based on their years of experience. We will also assign a knowledgeable local guide to give you vivid interpretations. Just contact us now.

FAQs about Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

Is there an English audio guide or any English signage available at the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda?

Yes. You can rent a multilingual audio guide or hire a foreign language guide at the tourist center in the north square of Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. The cost is about CNY 150 – 200 & CNY 30 – 40, respectively. And inside the scenic area, the guide maps, cultural relics and signs have basic English interpretation.

Can I take photos inside the pagoda, or are there restrictions?

To protect the cultural relics, photography is prohibited in most storeys. Please pay attention to the signs on each floor. In the permitted area, you can capture the city view outside the pagoda, this is also the highlight of boarding the pagoda.