Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
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Giant Wild Goose Pagoda or Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Chinese: 大雁塔; pinyin: Dàyàn Tǎ), is a pagoda located in southern Xi'an, China. The structure was built in 652 during the Tang Dynasty and originally had five stories. The pagoda was built to hold sutras and figurines of Buddha that were brought to China by the Buddhist translator and traveller Xuanzang.
Early in the 8th century under the ruling of Empress Wu Zetian five more stories were added; however, later wars damaged the pagoda reducing it to its current height of seven stories. It stands 64 meters tall and from the top it offers great views over the city of Xi'an.
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[edit] Surroundings
Closeby is the Temple of Great Maternal Grace; Da Ci'en. This temple was originally built in AD 589 and then rebuilt AD 647 in memory of his mother Empress Wende by Li Zhi who later became the Tang Emperor Gaozong.
Xuanzang's statue stands in front of the temple area.