CHINA 5A TRAVEL
The 64-meter brick pagoda Xuanzang built in 652 AD to house the scriptures he carried from India - still standing straight after thirteen centuries, anchoring Xi'an's Tang-dynasty quarter of fountains, squares and lantern-lit avenues.
The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda rises from the Da Ci'en Temple in a series of seven brick tiers, 64 meters of pavilion-style masonry built in 652 AD under the personal supervision of Xuanzang - the monk whose 17-year journey to India brought back 657 Buddhist scriptures. The pagoda was their library; its spiral stair still climbs past arched openings on every floor, each facing the four directions, to a view over the old Tang capital's grid.
The tower is Xi'an's most durable icon, having survived earthquakes and dynasties without losing its lean-free stance. At its base stand two steles in the calligraphy of Chu Suiliang - the 'Preface to the Sacred Teaching' texts composed by emperors for Xuanzang's translations - while the stone door lintels retain fine Tang line-carvings, all that survives of the murals once painted here by Wu Daozi and Wang Wei.
Around the temple spreads the Tang-themed quarter: the North Square's musical fountain (Asia's largest), the South Square's bronze Xuanzang striding westward, and the lantern-strung Great Tang All Day Mall glowing after dark. The pagoda pairs naturally with the Shaanxi History Museum 1 km away - the two anchors of any Xi'an first day.
Highlights
The pagoda climb
Spiral brick stairs through seven tiers, each floor's arched openings framing the modern city beyond the temple roofs - sunset from the top is the classic.
Xuanzang's steles
The two Chu Suiliang-inscribed Tang steles at the south gate base - emperor-composed prefaces to Xuanzang's translations, erected by the monk himself.
Tang door lintel carvings
Exquisitely incised line-drawings on the pagoda's stone door frames - the survivors of a lost age of temple painting.
North Square musical fountain
The vast plaza's dancing water-and-light show - evening performances with the pagoda fully lit as backdrop.
Xuanzang's bronze statue
South Square's pilgrim monk mid-stride, staff in hand, facing west toward India - the meeting point of all tours.
Great Tang All Day Mall
The lantern-lit Tang-dynasty themed avenue south of the pagoda - costume portraits, street snacks and full-immersion night glow.
Photo Gallery
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