Things to know when climbing the Dayan Pagoda
based on 3,479 reviewsThe Big Wild Goose Pagoda is located in the Da Ci'en Temple in the southern part of the city. The Da Ci'en Temple was a magnificent royal temple in Chang'an during the Tang Dynasty. It was built during the reign of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty by Crown Prince Li Zhi in memory of his mother, Empress Wende, and was first abboted by Master Xuanzang, who had returned from his journey to the West to seek Buddhist scriptures. During this period, the master supervised the construction of the Dayan Pagoda.
Master Xuanzang translated Buddhist scriptures and promoted Buddhism in Da Ci'en Temple for 11 years, and founded the "Appearance-Only School" of Buddhism, making Da Ci'en Temple the ancestral temple of the Appearance-Only School (also known as the "Faxiang School"). During this period, the master personally supervised the construction of the Dayan Pagoda to enshrine the scriptures, statues and relics brought back from India.
The current Da Ci'en Temple was built in the Ming Dynasty on the basis of the original temple "West Pagoda Courtyard", and most of the existing halls are buildings from the Qing Dynasty. The main buildings on the central axis of the temple are the Great Hall, the Dharma Hall, the Dayan Pagoda, and the Xuanzang Tripitaka Courtyard. Among them, the Buddha's relics enshrined in the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the parietal bones of Master Xuanzang are respectively enshrined in the Xuanzang Tripitaka Courtyard, which are the "treasures of the temple" of Da Ci'en Temple.
To the east of the central axis of the temple is the Pagoda Garden. Within the garden are nine stupas housing the relics of nine eminent monks of the temple since the Qing Dynasty.
There are squares to the south and north of Da Ci'en Temple. There are also Shaanxi History Museum and Tang Paradise Souvenir .

Other visitors' reviews of Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Show More ReviewsDa Ci'en Temple is where Xuanzang translated Buddhist scriptures. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is ancient and solemn, the ancient cypress trees in the courtyard are serene, and the murals in the Sanzang Courtyard are full of stories, showcasing a rich historical heritage. The only drawbacks are that it gets quite crowded and noisy during peak season, and there's an extra charge to climb the pagoda due to the narrow steps. Those interested in Silk Road history should definitely visit the temple for a closer look; for those simply looking to take photos, the outer plaza offers ample opportunities for capturing scenic views.