Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayanta)

Admission: Free

ATTRACTION Keywords:
Holy Place, Religious Experience, Temple

7:26 AM Monday, May 20
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While the Big Wild Goose Pagoda - or Dayanta - follows the familiar pagoda format of successive levels diminishing in size the higher they get, this solid stone tower is largely free of the frills associated with such buildings. One of Xian’s oldest structures, it was built in 652 and originally had 10 levels, though the top 3 were later lost in an earthquake.

The pagoda played an important role in the spread of Buddhism in China. Relics, figurines and writings associated with the Buddha were brought here from India along the Silk Road which ends in Xian. You can still see statues of the Buddha and other religious figures inside.

Latest Reviews

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All Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayanta) Reviews

Review by DONALD C, USA, March 2012
Doing what: Xi'an Full Day Sightseeing Tour - Shaanxi History Museum, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Ancient City Wall

Excellent tour. With foreign tourists down over 80% since 2008, this tour through Viator turned out to be a private tour for my wife and I! Small but nice air conditioned van us + driver + English speaking guide. Guide was very informative and knowledgeable. With just 2 of us in the tour, we could ask a lot of questions to learn more of the city and culture. Lunch was very good with lots to eat.

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Review by Stephen W, United Kingdom, July 2010
Doing what: Xi'an Full Day Sightseeing Tour - Shaanxi History Museum, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Ancient City Wall

This was a really good tour to take the hassle out of trying to find all of these places on foot or by taxi. It does everything that is missing on the Essential Xi'an Full Day Tour. Make sure you give yourself an extra 3 or 4 hours on one day to cycle around the city wall, though; it's really worth doing!

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Review by Anonymous, July 2010
Doing what: Xi'an Half-Day City Tour - Shaanxi History Museum and Big Wild Goose Pagoda

Truly enjoyed my tour. My guide was extremely knowledgeable, and the driver drove with care and safety. My guide was courteous and helpful and took very good care of me as I was taking the tour by myself. Yes, I would recommend it. The car was comfortable and clean.

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The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is to the south-west of the Xian City Walls, near the Shanxi History Museum. Numerous bus routes go past the site, including tourist bus number 4.

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