Which one to choose in Xi'an
Giant Wild Goose Pagoda vs Great Mosque of Xi’an
Two temples in Xi'an. Giant Wild Goose Pagoda has 12 tickets and tours to book; Great Mosque of Xi’an has 1 ticket or tour to book. The table and the two notes below put them side by side; the full pages have what to see, the ticket and the timing for each.
Xi'an, China
The pagoda stands inside the working Da Ci'en Temple, and the basic product is simply admission to the temple grounds, sold online and at the gate; climbing the tower itself requires a second, small supplementary ticket bought inside. Online versions of the entry ticket sometimes add a digital map, a photo package or an incense offering at the main hall, which is a pleasant way to take part in temple life but not essential. The large squares and fountain gardens around the temple are free.
Guided options fall into a few clear types. A small-group walking tour covers the temple, the pagoda and the surrounding Tang-themed boulevards with a local guide.
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Xi'an, China
Entry to the Great Mosque of Xi'an is paid at the gate in Huajue Lane, and no advance booking is needed for the mosque alone. The ticket admits non-Muslim visitors to the courtyards and gardens; the prayer hall is open only to Muslims, who enter free to pray. Remember to carry your passport, as is now usual for sights in China, and expect payment by mobile app or cash.
The organised option is an evening or afternoon walk that combines the mosque with the surrounding Muslim Quarter and its street food. Such walks include the guide, the mosque entry and a series of tastings in the lanes, such as cumin lamb skewers, flatbread soaked in mutton soup, persimmon cakes and the glutinous rice sweets sold from carts.
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