The pagoda
Seven storeys.
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A towering seven-storey pagoda in southern Xi'an, first built in 652 when the city, then Chang'an, was the Tang capital, under the direction of the famous monk and translator Xuanzang, to house the texts he brought back from India on his long journey. It was rebuilt and restored in later eras, and its present brick form dates from the Ming; it is one of Xi'an's best-known symbols and part of the «Silk Roads» World Heritage Site. Wide squares and gardens surround the pagoda; the north square hosts one of Asia's largest musical fountain shows several times a day for free, and to the south stretches the Tang Paradise boulevard, lit up at night in Tang-dynasty style. Entry to the surrounding temple is about CNY 50 and climbing the pagoda CNY 30 more, per visitor guides, while the squares and fountain show are free. Evening is best, with the show and the lights.
Seven storeys.
Free shows.
Lit at night.
Southern Xi'an
Several times a day in the north square, free; the evening shows are the best, and times can change, so check before you go.
