Religious site · SHAANXI
Small Wild Goose Pagoda
小雁塔 · Xiǎoyàntǎ
About
Quieter, older Tang-era pagoda (707 CE) with the Xi'an Museum next door. Calmer alternative to the Big Wild Goose.
The Small Wild Goose Pagoda was completed in 707 CE, built within the Jianfu Temple complex to house Buddhist scriptures brought back from India by the monk Yijing — one of several Tang-dynasty monks who followed the route pioneered by Xuanzang in collecting Sanskrit Buddhist texts. The pagoda predates its more famous companion, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, by about 50 years and reflects a different architectural approach: where the Big Wild Goose is squared and heavy, the Small Wild Goose is slightly more tapering, with thinner walls and slightly more elaborate decorative work on the external surfaces.
The pagoda originally stood 15 storeys; two upper storeys were lost in earthquakes, and the current structure reaches 13 storeys to a height of approximately 43 metres. A notable detail in the historical record: the pagoda cracked in a major earthquake in 1487, only to reportedly heal — the crack closed — in a subsequent earthquake in 1521. Whether this reflects actual seismic activity, later repair, or embellishment of the historical record is debated, but the story was sufficiently compelling that Ming-dynasty writers documented it. The pagoda can be climbed internally via a narrow staircase, with views across the Xi'an cityscape from the upper levels.
The Jianfu Temple grounds are now shared with the Xi'an Museum, a free municipal collection with a substantial Tang-dynasty ceramics and artefacts section. The combination of pagoda and museum in a single compound, with entry to both free (pagoda climb charged separately), makes this a good-value half-day. The grounds are considerably calmer than the Big Wild Goose Pagoda complex and the surrounding commercial strip, which is among the noisier parts of the Xi'an tourist circuit.
How to get there
Metro Line 2 to Nanshaomen.
When to visit
Weekday mornings.
Other attractions in Xi'an
Itineraries featuring this site
- Xi'an in 3 days
3d · Terracotta Army, City Wall, Muslim Quarter, the Wild Goose Pagodas.
- Xi'an and Pingyao heritage in 4 days
4d · Xi'an Terracotta Warriors, Muslim Quarter, and Tang dynasty sites followed by Pingyao — China's best-preserved Ming and Qing walled county town. A tight, focused circuit for heritage travellers who want depth over breadth.
- Family Beijing and Xi'an — 7 days, relaxed pace
7d · Seven days in Beijing and Xi'an at a pace that works for children: fewer sites per day, breaks built in, and activities with hands-on appeal — the Panda Base of the north and hands-on history at the Terracotta Army.
- Beijing + Xi'an + Shanghai — 7-day first-timer circuit
7d · The canonical first-time China loop: two days in imperial Beijing, one day in Xi'an for the Terracotta Army, and two days in Shanghai. Linked by HSR throughout.
Other religious sites in China
- Big Wild Goose Pagoda大雁塔
Tang-dynasty Buddhist pagoda, built 652 CE to house the sutras brought back by Xuanzang. 64m, seven storeys, climbable.
- Donglin Temple (East Forest Monastery)东林寺
One of the most important Buddhist monasteries in Chinese history, founded in 386 CE at the foot of Mount Lu and considered the birthplace of Pure Land Buddhism in China.
- Drepung Monastery哲蚌寺
UNESCO · Once the largest monastery in the world (10,000+ monks). 8 km west of Lhasa. Active Gelugpa monastery; debating courtyard sessions in the afternoon.
- Famen Temple法门寺
1,700-year-old Buddhist temple 110 km west of Xi'an. The 1987 discovery of a finger relic of the Buddha in its underground crypt was a major archaeological event.
- Ganden Monastery甘丹寺
The mother monastery of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, founded in 1409 by Tsongkhapa atop Wangbur Mountain 47 km east of Lhasa, offering sweeping plateau views and an important kora trail.
- Gyantse Kumbum Stupa江孜白居寺
A nine-storey mandala stupa built in 1427 containing 108 chapels on multiple floors, considered one of the finest examples of Tibetan religious architecture and the most important landmark in Gyantse.
- Hanging Temple悬空寺
1,500-year-old wooden temple complex pinned to the side of a 75m cliff at Mt Heng. Engineered with horizontal posts driven into the rock face.
- Jade Buddha Temple玉佛寺
Active urban Buddhist temple in central Shanghai. Famous for two life-size jade Buddhas brought from Burma in 1882.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does Small Wild Goose Pagoda cost to visit?
- Entry to Small Wild Goose Pagoda is free. Free; pagoda climb ¥30; museum free with reservation.
- When is Small Wild Goose Pagoda open?
- Small Wild Goose Pagoda opening hours: 9am–5pm, closed Tuesdays.
- How long do you need at Small Wild Goose Pagoda?
- Allow 2–3 hours for Small Wild Goose Pagoda. Add buffer time if you plan to visit at peak season or include nearby sights in the same trip.
- When is the best time to visit Small Wild Goose Pagoda?
- Weekday mornings.
- How do you get to Small Wild Goose Pagoda?
- Metro Line 2 to Nanshaomen.
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