Our final evening in Xian was spent at the spectacular Datang Everbright City (大唐不夜城). But before immersing ourselves in the vibrant night scene, we first visited the nearby Wild Goose Pagoda, one of China's most iconic Buddhist landmarks.
The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda built in 652AD during the reign of Tang Emperor Gaozong, is a revered symbol of Xian rich Buddhist heritage. It was originally constructed to house the Buddhist scriptures, figurines, and relics brought from India by the famous monk, Xuanzang, who undertook a grueling 17-year pilgrimage to the west for the purpose of studying and translating the Buddhist texts. The pagoda was initially built with 5 stories, but was later reconstructed to 7 stories, standing at a height of 64.5m.
The name "Wild Goose" originates from a Buddhist legend. It is said during a time when monks were struggling to find food, they prayed for divine intervention. Miraculously, a wild goose fell from the sky, providing sustenance and inspiring the monks to adopt vegetarianism as a spiritual discipline.
Beyond its religious importance, the pagoda is also a cultural monument symbolizing the historic Silk Road exchanges, representing the spiritual and scholarly links between China with India forged during Xuanzang's epic journey.
After the cultural and historic immersion, we made our way to Datang Everbright City (大唐不夜城) also known as Grand Tang Mall, which offers a striking contrast - a showcase of Xian's dynamic modern energy intertwined with ancient grandeur.
As its name suggests - "Everbright City" - this sprawling pedestrian zone comes alive brilliantly after sunset. The entire area, stretching approximately 2,100m in length and 500m in width, is illuminated by stunning display of colourful lights, digital projections, lanterns, and artistic installations, transforming the boulevard into a growing tribute to the Tang Dynasty's prosperity and cultural brilliance.
Before venturing into this lively district, we took time to explore a nearby shopping complex and enjoyed a relaxing dinner to fuel ourselves for the evening adventure.
When night fully descended, Datang Everbright City revealed its true charm. The place buzzed with activities as a sea of average 100,000 to 300,000 visitors flooded the area during peak hours between 8.00pm and 11.00 pm. The vibrant atmosphere resembled a grand urban carnival, with families, tourists, and locals strolling leisurely along the broad avenues lined with Tang-styled architecture.
The nightly entertainments are spectacular and varied. Lantern displays, fountain shows, roly-poly (tumbler) performers, shadow puppetry, and street acts breathe life into the space. Costumed characters from Chinese history, such as Tang court ladies and scholars, roam the streets posing for photos, while modern digital projections on building facades blend ancient art with futuristic technology.
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| Statute of Xuanzang and 7-Storey Wild Goose Pagoda. |
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| Dinner at a nearby restaurant. |
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| Photo of fully lighted city sourced from Internet. |
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| Photo of fully lighted city sourced from Internet. |
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| Photo of fully lighted city sourced from Internet. |
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| Photo of fully lighted city sourced from Internet. |
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