Big Wild Goose Pagoda

Big Wild Goose Pagoda is located in Xian city and stands among the complex of “Da Cien Temple"The Pagoda was constructed in Yong Hui three years of Tang dynasty (652AD) to store the Buddhist scriptures brought to China by hierarch Xuanzang. The Pagoda was originally five layers, affix to nine, after many times of change in height, finally fixed at seven layers as we see today. The pagoda is 64.517 meters high and has bottom side length of 25.5 meters. It is rated as a National Key Cultural Relic Preserve as well as an AAAA Tourist Attraction. On June 22, 2014, the pagoda was added to the World Heritage List, together with other sites along the ancient Silk Road.RTjSilk Road Adventure & Private Tours - Silk Road China Tours

As for the reason why it is called Big Wild Goose Pagoda, there is a legend. According to ancient stories of Buddhists, there were two branches, for one of which eating meat was not a taboo. One day, they couldn't find meat to buy. Upon seeing a group of big wild geese flying by, a monk said to himself: 'Today we have no meat. I hope the merciful Bodhisattva will give us some.' At that very moment, the leading wild goose broke its wings and fell to the ground. All the monks were startled and believed that Bodhisattva showed his spirit to order them to be more pious. They established a pagoda where the wild goose fell and stopped eating meat. Hence its name.RTjSilk Road Adventure & Private Tours - Silk Road China Tours

Daci'en Temple is the home of Big Wild Goose Pagoda. In 648, the temple is built to commemorate the dead virtuous queen, for which the status and scale far exceeded all others. Today, with an area of 12.5 acres (50,738 square meters), one seventh of the original area, it still retains its grandeur.RTjSilk Road Adventure & Private Tours - Silk Road China Tours

Before the temple, there stands a statue of hierarch Xuanzang, the meritorious hierarch. With guarding lions at both sides of the gate, the temple seems stately for lions were said to function as talismans. Entering the temple you will see two buildings - Bell Tower in the east and Drum Tower in the west. Along the central axis are arranged the Hall of Mahavira, Sermon Hall, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and the Hall of Xuanzang Sanzang.RTjSilk Road Adventure & Private Tours - Silk Road China Tours