Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda is a seven-story brick tower with a square footprint standing about 64 meters (210 feet) tall on the southern side of Xi'an. Wooden stairs wind through the interior, allowing visitors to climb toward the top and observe how each level connects the ceremonial spaces below.

Construction began in 652 during the Tang Dynasty when the monk Xuanzang returned from India with Buddhist texts after years of travel. The building became the main center where these sacred writings were translated and preserved for generations.

The name comes from an old legend about a wild goose delivering a message to monks, and it remains a place where visitors gather to meditate and pay respect. Walking through the grounds, you notice how local people treat the space with reverence, and decorations reflect centuries of religious practice.

The site is open during daylight hours, with separate tickets needed for the temple complex and the tower climb itself. Wear comfortable shoes and light clothing, as the internal stairs are narrow and can get warm while climbing.

The tower leans slightly from ground settling over many centuries, giving it a distinctive tilt that visitors notice right away. The inner walls hold carved names and inscriptions from people who passed important imperial exams, creating an unusual historical record on stone.