Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, or Big Wild Goose Pagoda, is a South Xi’an, Shaanxi, China, Buddhist pagoda. During the Tang dynasty it was built in 652 and originally had five story.

Quick facts

• Name: Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
• Location: Xi’an, China
• Type of attraction: Architectural/Pagoda
• Built: 652
• Ticket price: From $8

During Empress Wu Zetian’s reign, the building was reconstructed in 704, and its external brick façade was restored during the Ming dynasty.

One of the many purposes of the pagoda was to keep Gautama Buddha sutras and figurines brought to China from India by Buddhist monk, scholar, traveler, and translator Xuanzang from the seventh-century.

Today, the pagoda’s interior walls feature embossed Buddha statues by the renowned artist Yan Liben.

There are seven levels and each one is distinctively decorated and with different artifacts showcased.

This is one of the top attractions in Xi’an and in China as well and it’s a must see when visiting this part of world.

Covering approximately 110,000 square meters, the music fountain in the Big Wild Goose Pagoda’s North Square is the largest in Asia.

The myth

There is a myth explaining why the pagoda is called Big Wild Goose Pagoda. There were supposedly two Buddhist sects, one of which permitted the consumption of meat. One day, there was a complete shortage of beef.

A monk was thinking, “Today we have no meat,” when he saw a flock of large wild geese flying by. I’m going to pray to the compassionate Bodhisattva that we get some. The leading wild geese promptly crashed to the ground after its wings gave out.

The monks were shocked and saw it as a sign from Bodhisattva that they needed to be more religious. Where the wild goose had fallen, they built a pagoda and eventually gave up eating meat altogether. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda received its moniker for this reason.

Interesting facts about Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

Here are some interesting facts about this amazing historic landmark:

• Pagoda was added to the World Heritage List on June 22, 2014.
• The North Square garden outside Pagoda is boasting the largest musical fountain in Asia
• Inside the pagoda there are wooden steps and one arched window on each of the four sides of each landing, where tourists can enjoy a panorama of the surrounding area.

Read more: Interesting facts about Giant Wild Goose Pagoda