Adress:No 117 Huanta Rd Xian city
Admission Fee: CNY 25 (Entrance Fare) CNY 30 (Ascending the pagoda)
Opening Hours:8:00 - 18:00
Show time of the music fountains
Monday, Wednesday - Friday 12:00, 20:30
Tuesday 20:30
Weekend and other statutory holidays 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00, 20:30
Transportation:bus No.5,21,22,23,24,242,401.
Hotels nearby: Xian Orient Hotel,Canaan International Hotel - Xian,
Sinic Spots nearby:Xian museum

Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayan Ta)

Location:
Big Wild Goose Pagoda, as the symbol of the old-line Xian, Big Wild Goose Pagoda is a well-preserved ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists. It is about 4 kilometers from the urban center.
History:
Big Wild Goose Pagoda originally built in 652 A.D during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), It was named Cien temple when Emperor Li Zhi, when still a crown prince, sponsored a repair project on it. This was a symbol of thanksgiving to his mother for her kindness, after she had suffered an early death. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda was built to house the Buddhist sutras brought to China from India by the monk Xuan Zhang.
Xuanzang started off from Chang'an (the ancient Xian), went along the Silk Road and through deserts, finally arriving in India-the cradle of Buddhism. He obtained Buddha figures, 657 kinds of sutras, and several Buddha relics by enduring 17 years and traversing 100 countries. Xuanzang, as the first abbot of Da Ci'en Temple, supervised the building of a pagoda permitted by Emperor Gaozong (628-683). With the support of royalty, he asked 50 hierarchs into the temple to translate Sanskrit, totaling 1,335 volumes, which heralded a new era in the history of translation.

Architectural Complex
The storied pagoda was an architectural marvel. It was built with layers of bricks but without any cement in between. The bracket style in traditional Chinese architecture was also used in the construction. The seams between each layer of bricks and the "prisms' on each side of the pagoda are clearly visible. The grand body of the pagoda with its solemn appearance, simple style and high structure, is indeed a good example of ancient people's wisdom and talent. North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda is situated at the root of the big wild goose pagoda. The big wild goose pagoda is an axes of the north square, as a point of intersection, gate and pillars connect Yanta north road and square axes. The entire square is composed of waterscape fountains, a cultural square, gardens and tourist paths. There you can taste real Chinese culture and traditions and fully enjoy the truly attractive views. With relieves on the theme of the prosperous Tang Dynasty, 200-meter-long (656-foot-long) sculpture groups, 8 groups of sculpted figures, 40 relievos on the land, and 22 styles of musical fountains, it has become a must-see when you visit Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
There are some must-see attractions below:
Da Ci'en Temple
Da Ci'en Temple is the home of Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty in older to commemorate the dead virtuous queen, he ordered the building of a temple named 'Ci'en' (Mercy and Kindness).
Before the temple, there stands a statue of hierarch Xuanzang, the meritorious hierarch. Go across a small bridge, you will see two lions guarding the gates of the temple. the temple seems stately for lions were said to function as talismans.
Go into the temple visitors will see two Bell Tower in the east and Drum Tower in the west. there is an iron bell 15 tons (14.76 gross tons) in weight hangs in the Bell Tower. Along the central axis are arranged the Hall of Mahavira, Sermon Hall, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and the Hall of Xuanzang Sanzang. Statues of Sakyamuni, Xuanzang as well as 18 arhats.
Tang Culture Pillars and Buddha Beacons
As the entrance signs of the North Square, The eight Tang Culture Pillars, 6 meters high each, embody the Tang style by using lotus base, temple tower, lucky grain and so on, perfectly combining the Tang Culture with classic Buddhism poetry and Buddhism language. The two Buddha Beacons, 9 meters high each, echo with wild Goose Pagoda. The magnificent beacons with exaggerated shapes embody the Tang aesthetics spirits; its body displays Buddhist theme by using the forms of Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes.
Sculptures of Great Characters in Tang Dynasty
Tang dynasty was a prosperous and flourishing period in china history. Kinds of industries developed well. Eight great characters such as Li Bai, Du Fu, Lu Yu, Wang Wei, Huai Su, Seng Yixing, Han Yu, and Sun Simiao were particularly selected from the fields of poetry, calligraphy, tea ceremony and medication etc. These eight sculptures are made by using vivid and realism carven tact.

The entire square attraction includes waterscape fountains, a cultural square, gardens and tourist paths. Visitors can taste real Chinese culture and traditions and enjoy the truly attractive views there. Come to Big Wild Goose Pagoda! You will have a memorable trip to Xian!