Giant Wild Goose Pagoda.

Standing as a definitive symbol of Xi’an’s imperial past, the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda is a multi-layered monument to 7th-century scholarship. Originally constructed in 652 within the Daci’en Temple complex, this seven-tiered brick fortress was built to house the Buddhist sutras and relics brought back from India by the legendary monk Xuanzang, who spent years translating them on this very site. While the exterior reflects Ming-dynasty restorations, the core remains a triumph of Tang-era design. Inside, visitors can climb the wooden staircases for sweeping city views and view rare stone carvings of the Buddha attributed to Tang artist Yan Liben. Surrounded by peaceful temple gardens that contrast with the bustling modern plazas nearby, the pagoda offers a tangible link to the ancient Silk Road.