One of the pagoda's many functions was to hold sutras and figurines of Gautama Buddha that were brought to China from India by the seventh-century Buddhist monk, scholar, traveller, and translator Xuanzang.

Its related structure, the 8th century Small Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, only suffered minor damage in the 1556 earthquake (unrepaired to this day).

[citation needed] In the third year of Tang Yonghui (652 AD), Xuanzang, in order to preserve the hundreds of Sanskrit scriptures he brought back from India, oversaw the construction of a pagoda in the western style at the Da Ci’en Temple.

[5]: 64  By the time of the Northern Song Dynasty, only the Big Wild Goose Pagoda remained of Ci’en Temple.

In the second year of the Chenghua reign of the Ming Dynasty (1466), Ci’en Temple, including the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, underwent a complete renovation.

In the thirty-second year of the Wanli Era (1604), a special restoration was carried out on the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, during which the ladders inside each level were reinstalled[3]: 20–21 ，and an additional sixty-centimeter-thick layer of cladding was built around the original Tang Dynasty structure.

After the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda received special protection measures.

The length of the lowest side of the tower body is 25 meters, and the upper levels gradually taper, forming a cone-like shape.

A coiled chi dragon is engraved on the top of the stele, the sides are adorned with carvings of curly-leaf trailing grass, and the pedestal features patterns of celestial beings dancing and playing music.

[10] In 1990, after receiving approval from the State Bureau of Cultural Relics, the custodians of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda organized personnel to carry out maintenance work, which continued until 1992.

The main tasks included reinforcing the eaves of the second level, repairing the top of the pagoda, and replacing some damaged bricks on the ground floor.

In June 1995, the lightning protection system of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda underwent a comprehensive upgrade, which lasted for one year.

In 1983, the management of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda Custodian Office was transferred to the Xi’an Municipal Committee of Ethnic Affairs.

[13] Due to the over-exploitation of local groundwater, the tilt of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda began to accelerate from 1945 onwards.

In response, the Xi’an municipal government began implementing well-sealing measures in 1996 for over 400 captive wells in the units surrounding the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.

[6] In 1988, the design of Xi’an’s city emblem was officially completed,[14] with the silhouette of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda as its main component.

[15] In early 2001, the South Square of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda was officially completed in front of Daci’en Temple.

Covering an area of 32.6 acres, the square includes a statue of Xuanzang, landscaped gardens, granite paving, and a water bridge, among other facilities.

It mainly consists of a central water feature, the Tang Culture Theme Plaza, open gardens, an art promenade, and commercial facilities.