Xingjiao Temple

Xingjiao Temple, located in Chang’an District, Xi’an City, is one of the significant Buddhist temples in the region where Han Chinese live and serves as the final resting place of the renowned monk Xuanzang. Xingjiao Temple Pagoda is a five-story brick tower standing at a height of 21 meters, designed in the architectural style of a wooden pavilion. At the entrance gate of the pagoda, there is a statue of Xuanzang, and the back of the gate is engraved with a stone tablet that records his life story.

The Tang Dynasty witnessed a flourishing period of Buddhism, characterized by close exchanges between China and Buddhist nations. Xuanzang, as a cultural envoy of Buddhism, embarked on a journey to India to study Buddhist scriptures and explored the six major Buddhist  sacred places. After eighteen years, he returned with over 600 volumes of Buddhist scriptures and the renowned work “Great Tang Records on the Western Regions”. This comprehensive book documents his observations along the Silk Road, serving as a valuable source for studying ancient Indian religion, history, customs and geography, thereby significantly contributing to our understanding of the countries along the Silk Road.

From the moment Xuanzang set foot on his westward journey, his mission was to bring back Buddhist scriptures and propagate Buddhist teachings, which made him a great figure in the history of worldwide cultural exchange. Xingjiao Temple Pagoda symbolizes the indomitable spirit of Xuanzang and has withstood the test of time, earning profound admiration. In 2014, Xingjiao Temple Pagoda was included in the World Heritage List as part of the “Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor”.

Based on the Discover China series published by Beijing Publishing Group and Beijing Publishing House, this column integrates Chinese history, customs, traditional culture and artistic treasures to introduce China's ancient capitals, cultural landmarks, humanistic and natural wonders.

    The editor of the Discover China series, Lin Detang, is the president of the Beijing Tourism Derivatives Association and a visiting professor at the School of Hotel Management of the China University of Labour Relations. Mr Lin has long been committed to theoretical research and entrepreneurial promotion of the integrated development of the cultural tourism industry.