Giant Wild Goose Pagoda / Datang Everbright City
大雁塔·大唐不夜城
A Tang-dynasty square pagoda associated with the monk Xuanzang’s translation work, plus the brightly lit Tang-style pedestrian street to the south with its music fountain, tumbler doll, and crowds in Hanfu. It is a top attraction for Xi’an nightlife.
The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda stands inside the Great Ci’en Temple. It was built in 652 under the supervision of the monk Xuanzang to store the sutras and Buddha images he brought back from India. The surviving pagoda has seven stories and stands 64 meters tall. It is a square tower in the Tang-dynasty pavilion style, built of brick, and it was listed as a World Heritage Site in 2014 as part of the Silk Roads. Admission to the temple is 40 yuan, and climbing the pagoda costs an extra 30 yuan. From the top, you can look out over the north and south squares. Inside the temple are the Xuanzang Tripitaka Hall and the Great Hero Hall.
The north square has the largest music fountain in Asia. Shows usually run at 12:00 and 21:00, with extra performances on weekends and holidays. In winter the fountain may be closed, so check the on-site notices. The south square is where you find the statue of Xuanzang and the start of the Datang Everbright City. The pedestrian street is about 1.5 kilometers long, lined with Tang-style buildings and light installations. In the evening, there are street performances such as the Tumbler Girl, the “Great Tang Secret Box” interactive quiz, and “Return to Tang.” Visitors in Hanfu are everywhere. Nearby, Hanfu rental and hair and makeup services cost about 100–300 yuan. At the southern end are Kaiyuan Square, the west gate of Datang Furong Garden (with the “Dream of Chang’an” show at night, about 120 yuan), and the Shaanxi Grand Theater.
All of this is free to visit, including the music fountain and street performances.
Suggested route: climb the pagoda at the temple from 4:00 pm, see the fountain and the sunset at the north square from 6:00 pm, enter Everbright City for the lights and shows from 7:30 pm, and expect the biggest crowds after 9:00 pm.
Getting there: take Metro Lines 3 or 4 to Giant Wild Goose Pagoda station (north square), or Line 4 to Datang Furong Garden station (south end). Metro and taxis are very crowded in the evening. You can also walk to the nearby Qujiang Pool Ruins Park, or book accommodation in Qujiang in advance.
Opening hours
Da Ci'en Temple 08:00–18:30 (until 19:30 in summer); Datang Everbright City open all day, lights and shows 18:30–22:30
Nearby sights
- Chang'an Twelve Hours Theme Block
- Shaanxi History Museum
- Tang Paradise
- Xi'an Qujiang Ocean Polar Park
- Daxingshan Temple
- Sui-Tang Dynasty Heaven Altar Site
- Qujiang Pool Heritage Park
- Qinglong Temple