Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

     Giant Wild Goose Pagoda (Chinese: 大雁塔) is located within Daci’en Temple (Chinese: 大慈恩寺) in the southern part of Xi’an City, Shaanxi Province. It is the earliest and largest extant square brick pagoda of the Tang Dynasty. Giant Wild Goose Pagoda is a typical representative of the architectural form of ancient Indian Buddhist temples that was introduced to the Central Plains and integrated into Chinese culture. It is a symbol of the wisdom of the ancient Chinese people. In 2014, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as a site along the Silk Road. Giant Wild Goose Pagoda was built under the supervision of master Xuanzang in 652. It has undergone several renovations and reconstructions. It currently stands at a height of 64.7 meters, with a square cone-shaped body and a total of seven stories. It is constructed in imitation of the wooden structure and is well-organized. Inside the pagoda, there are Buddhist scriptures, statues and relics brought back by Xuanzang, which witness the cultural and religious exchange along the Silk Road.

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.