A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, dating back to the Tang dynasty, is an ancient structure located within the Jianfu Temple in Xi’an. It is considered the little brother of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda.
Origins
Called ‘Jianfu Temple Pagoda’ in ancient times, this humble pagoda was built to store sacred Buddhist sutras brought by monk Yi Jing from India. Since it closely resembled its big brother in the Da Ci’en Temple, it was then called the Small Wild Goose Pagoda.
Structure
If you are based at a serviced apartment in Xi’an, the likes of Somerset Xindicheng Xi’an, the pagoda is mere minutes away. Discover its unique 13-storey structure measuring 43m in height. The once 15-storey pagoda suffered immensely over the years due to violent earthquakes but still stands strong. The pagoda, made of blue bricks, features a square-shaped base and branches out into a multi-eave structure, each eave decreasing in width.
The climb
The view at the pagoda’s top is worth the climb via the narrow, winding, wooden staircase inside. There is an open platform at the top, naturally formed due to the broken storeys.
Morning Bell Chime
The pagoda features a bell built during the reign of Emperor Zhangzong of the Jin dynasty. The bell now hangs in a bell tower adjoining the pagoda. A copy of it hangs within a steel frame in the vicinity allowing visitors to ring it.
