At Xuan Zang’s request, the Dayan Ta (Big Goose Pagoda; daily 8am-5pm; RMB20) was built at the centre of the temple as a fireproof store for his precious sutras. No one seems to know where the name “goose” comes from - perhaps from the tale in which Xuan Zang and Monkey, heroes of the popular classic XiYouJi (Journey to the west), are saved by a goose when they get lost in the not far from the original. On tile first floor is all exhibition of different pagoda styles and, at either side of the south entrance, stone tablets hold calligraphy by two Tang emperors, surrounded by bas-relief dragons and flying angels, also Tang, as is a fine carving of Buddha and his disciples sitting in a Chinese building over the lintel of tile west door. The pagoda has seven stories, each with large windows (out of which visitors throw money for luck). The view from the north windows is the most impressive for the rigorous geometry of the streets below, though it’s hard to believe that when built the temple was at least 3kin inside the Tang city, a great beauty spot dotted with pavilions and praised by poets.
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