Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
Official name	R06–CN Great Wild Goose Pagoda
Location	Xi'an, Yanta District, Shaanxi, China
Part of	Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor
Criteria	Cultural: (ii), (iii), (v), (vi)
Inscription	2014 (38th Session)

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

"Large Wild Goose Pagoda" in Chinese characters

Chinese

大雁塔

Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Dàyàn tǎ
IPA	[tâ i̯ɛ̂n tʰà]
Wu
Suzhounese	Dâ-iě thaeh
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanization	Daaih-ngaahn taap
IPA	[tàːi ŋàːn tʰāːp̚]
Jyutping	Daai6-ngaan6 taap3
Southern Min
Tâi-lô	Tuā-gān thah

Statue of Xuanzang in front of Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda (also called the Big Wild Goose Pagoda) is a very old and tall Buddhist tower in Xi'an, China. It was first built around 648 or 649 AD during the Tang dynasty. This was a time when China was very powerful and cultured.

The pagoda's main job was to keep important Buddhist writings called sutras. It also held small statues of Gautama Buddha. These items were brought to China from India by a famous Buddhist monk named Xuanzang. He was a scholar, traveler, and translator. Inside the pagoda today, you can see beautiful statues of Buddha carved into the walls. These were made by a well-known artist from the 7th century, Yan Liben.

In 2014, the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is part of the "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor". This means it's recognized as a very important historical place for everyone in the world.

History of the Pagoda
- How the Pagoda Was Built
- Damage and Repairs Over Time
Visiting the Pagoda
Gallery
See also

History of the Pagoda

How the Pagoda Was Built

The first pagoda was built during the rule of Emperor Gaozong of Tang. This was between 649 and 683 AD. It was about 60 meters (197 feet) tall. This early version was made mostly of packed earth with a stone outside.

However, this first building fell down about 50 years later. Then, Empress Wu Zetian ordered it to be rebuilt. She was a very powerful ruler. By the year 704 AD, the pagoda was rebuilt and had five new levels added.

Damage and Repairs Over Time

A huge earthquake in 1556 caused a lot of damage to the pagoda. It lost three of its stories because of the quake. That's why it is now seven stories tall.

You might notice that the pagoda leans a bit to the west. Another pagoda in Xi'an, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, also from the 8th century, was only slightly damaged in the same earthquake. The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda was fixed up a lot during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). It was also renovated again in 1964. Today, the pagoda stands about 64 meters (210 feet) tall. From the top, you can see amazing views of the city of Xi'an.

Visiting the Pagoda

The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda is located inside the Daci'en Temple complex. The name "Daci'en Temple" means "mercy and kindness temple." This temple was built in 648 AD to honor Empress Zhangsun.

The temple complex is open to everyone. Millions of visitors come to see it every year. You can get there easily by using the Xi'an Metro. Just take line 3 to the Dayanta station. There are a few entrances, including one at the northeast corner of the north plaza.