Daqin Pagoda

[2] Daqin is the ancient Chinese name for the Roman Empire or, depending on context, the Near East, especially Syria.

His younger brother Su Zhe also wrote an "echoing" poem referring to the monks at the temple.

[3] Supporters of Palmer's claims have drawn attention to details which suggest that the monastery was earlier a Christian church, including a supposed depiction of Jonah at the walls of Nineveh, a nativity scene (depiction of the birth of Jesus) and Syriac graffiti.

[6] As a potential stimulus to the district's tourist trade, Palmer's claims have been given wide publicity by the local authorities but have also received approbation by Chinese academics.

The exterior of the pagoda and its surroundings were featured in the first episode of the 2009 BBC program A History of Christianity.