Little Wild Goose Pagoda (Jianfu Temple)

Xi'an, this ancient and modern city, carries a rich history, culture and food, attracting countless tourists. When it comes to the attractions of Xi'an, the first thing that comes to mind is the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. This Buddhist building of the Tang Dynasty is not only one of the symbols of Xi'an, but also one of the most famous ancient pagodas in China. However, do you know? There is another 'Big Wild Goose Pagoda' in Xi'an - the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. It is located in Jianfu Temple, opposite the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and is one of the two important landmarks of Tang Chang'an that have been preserved to this day. It is also one of the eight scenes of Guanzhong, 'Yanta Morning Bell'. Attraction information: ✅Must experience: The Small Wild Goose Pagoda scenic area includes the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Jianfu Temple, and the Xi'an Museum. We can visit them in order. The Small Wild Goose Pagoda is a dense eaves Buddhist pagoda built during the Jinglong period of the Tang Dynasty (707 AD) to house the Buddhist scriptures translated by the high monk Yijing who returned from India. When it was first built, it had fifteen floors, but due to multiple earthquakes, there are now thirteen floors. There is a wooden ladder inside the tower that spirals up to the top, where you can overlook the cityscape of Xi'an. Under the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, there are exquisite stone carvings from various dynasties, such as stone Buddhas, stone lions, stone horses, and hitching posts, which are not to be missed for tourists who like folk artifacts. In addition, the shadow of the Small Wild Goose Pagoda forms a unique landscape with the white wall, which is a popular place for internet celebrities to check in. The pool next to the tower is planted with willows, and a few geese are swimming on the lake, as if they are in the Jiangnan water town. Climbing to the top of the tower, you can overlook the cityscape of Xi'an, and you can also see the figure of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which is an excellent platform for viewing. ✅Must experience: Jianfu Temple is the temple where the Small Wild Goose Pagoda is located. It was founded in the first year of Wencheng of Tang Ruizong (684 AD). The original site was located at Kaihua Fang in Tang Chang'an City, but it was destroyed by war and rebuilt at the current site. The temple houses a large iron bell cast in 1192 (the third year of Jin Mingchang). Every New Year's Day, Jianfu Temple will hold a bell-ringing blessing event. Jianfu Temple in Tang Chang'an City is a Buddhist temple garden with water as its victory. The courtyard is elegant, with ancient trees towering, and its 'temple has a release pool in the east courtyard, about two hundred steps' around, and a wide variety of famous flowers and exotic plants are planted in the courtyard, especially peonies. The poet Wang Wei described the temple as 'different abandonments, group brilliance, hear the bell high tower, visit Buddha ascends the hall'. ✅Must experience: The Xi'an Museum is one of the highlights of the Small Wild Goose Pagoda scenic area. It is a city museum that displays the history and culture of Xi'an. The museum's exhibitions are divided into basic displays and temporary exhibitions. The basic display is divided into four exhibition halls: Xi'an History and Culture, Xi'an Folk Culture, Xi'an Urban Culture, and Xi'an Modern Culture, showing the historical changes, folk customs, urban construction, and modern development of Xi'an from ancient times to the present. The museum has many treasures, including the Tang Dynasty's auspicious beast grape mirror, the Qin Dynasty's jade high-footed cup, and the Tang Dynasty's tri-colored flying horse, all of which are not to be missed. 🕙Opening hours: The peak season (March 15 to October 31) opening hours are 9:00-18:00 The off-season (November 1 to March 14) is 9:00-17:30. Except for Tuesday, it is closed all day on New Year's Eve, and it is open normally at other times. 💰Ticket information: Free admission 🚉Transportation information: Subway: You can take the subway line 2/5 to Nanshaomen Station, and walk 500 meters after exiting the station, Bus: Take bus 18, 21, 29, 32, 14, 12, 21, 26, etc. to Xiaoyanta Station or Nanshaomen Station, and you can arrive in a few minutes.

It would be a sin not to share such a beautiful scene . Xi'an is a city I often visit, but I rarely stay. After a meeting on Sunday, I had half a day to spare before leaving, so I decided to take a stroll. The time was just right for a half-day city walk. I asked the chubby concierge at the front desk, and he suggested that I visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda or Xingshensi Temple, which are just a short walk from the hotel. He said that the autumn scenery at the Small Wild Goose Pagoda just below the Crowne Plaza Hotel is particularly beautiful. Being a bit lazy, I hesitated and finally chose the Small Wild Goose Pagoda because it was closer. Indeed, the seasons are different and the colors are vibrant, I love it... Here I omit a thousand words, the chubby concierge did not deceive me, the autumn scenery is picturesque, don't waste a good day, haha, even a mobile phone can capture such beauty. Next time I come, I will listen to the sound of falling snow and the morning bell of the pagoda...

The Small Wild Goose Pagoda, also known as the Jianfu Temple Pagoda, is located within the Jianfu Temple in Anrenfang of Tang Chang'an (present-day Xi'an Museum on Youyi West Road in Beilin District, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, China). It is a representative work of the early dense-eave style pagodas in China and, along with the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, serves as an important symbol of Tang Chang'an that has been preserved to this day. It is a national key cultural relic protection unit and one of the iconic buildings marking the introduction and integration of Buddhism into the Central Plains and Han Chinese culture. Originally a 15-tier dense-eave brick pagoda, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda has suffered damage from multiple earthquakes and undergone several restorations, now standing at 13 stories and 43.38 meters tall. The Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built during the Jinglong period of Emperor Zhongzong of Tang (707-710) to house the Buddhist scriptures brought back by the eminent Tang monk Yijing. At the end of the Chenghua period of Emperor Xianzong of Ming (1487), a major earthquake in Shaanxi caused cracks in the pagoda. In the 23rd year of Chenghua (1487) and December of the 34th year of Jiajing (January 1556), earthquakes in Guanzhong led to the collapse of the pagoda's top and cracks in the body. In 1978, as a famous cultural relic and historic site in Xi'an, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda began to welcome visitors. The Small Wild Goose Pagoda consists of three parts: the base, the body, and the top. The base is a square platform with an underground palace beneath; the body is a single-walled hollow structure with a brick-built staircase inside for ascending the pagoda, with the first floor being 6.83 meters high and each subsequent floor decreasing in height. The Small Wild Goose Pagoda and the ancient bell in the bell tower of Jianfu Temple are collectively known as the 'Morning Bell of the Wild Goose Pagoda,' one of the 'Eight Sights of Guanzhong,' and also a part of the Xi'an Museum, classified as a national AAAA-level tourist attraction. The Jianfu Temple, where the Small Wild Goose Pagoda is located, was one of the three major translation centers in Tang Chang'an, corroborating the history of Buddhism's eastward transmission from India and witnessing its popularity in Tang Chang'an.

After leaving the Xi'an Museum, we took a taxi, and the driver told us, 'Don't mind the rain; visiting the Small Wild Goose Pagoda in this weather is really delightful.' I quickly agreed, saying, 'Yes, yes, it's very beautiful and pleasant; we just spent a long time inside.' We went to the Xi'an Museum on a weekday, and after visiting, we headed to Jianfu Temple. It was raining, we were holding umbrellas, and the pitter-patter of the rain, along with the intermittent sounds of wishing bells, created a serene atmosphere. There were hardly any people, the air was fresh and clean, and the temple was peaceful and quiet. I felt calm and healed. Compared to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, I prefer this place; compared to the Shaanxi History Museum, I prefer the Xi'an Museum. When planning the trip, I actually excluded this place, but fate had it that we still came. If you go to Xi'an, you must visit here, and if it's drizzling, it's even more essential. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is bustling, while the Small Wild Goose Pagoda is a quiet retreat.

|Small Wild Goose Pagoda (Museum) Guide. The Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built during the Jinglong period of Tang Zhongzong (707-710), and is the Buddhist pagoda of the Jianfu Temple in Chang'an City of the Tang Dynasty. The Small Wild Goose Pagoda is a 15-level dense eave brick pagoda, currently 43.3 meters high, and is one of the precious examples of the Buddhist pagoda that was introduced to China along the Silk Road. It is also a building that integrates various cultural elements and displays the unique charm of ancient Chinese architectural art. 🍀Photo check-in guide: ✔The existing Jianfu Temple is built from south to north, including the South Mountain Gate, Cishi Pavilion, Bell and Drum Tower, Daxiong Hall, Sutra Collection Building, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, and Baiyi Pavilion. ✔Now the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and the Xi'an Museum belong to the same scenic spot. The Xi'an Museum is located on the west side of the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. The basic display of the Xi'an Museum is the 'Ancient Capital Xi'an' exhibition; there are special exhibitions such as 'Baoxiang Solemn', 'Spirit of Heaven and Earth', 'Three Zhen Six Grass Moon Carving Clouds', which are worth visiting. ✔In front of the Daxiong Hall, you can take a picture of the Daxiong Hall and the Small Wild Goose Pagoda in the same frame. This position is the most out of the picture when shooting the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. ✔The huge iron bell is the 'Wild Goose Pagoda Morning Bell' and is also known as one of the eight scenes of Guanzhong, which is a must-check-in place. ✔There is a small city tower, where you can take pictures and travel back to the prosperous Tang Dynasty in minutes. It is highly recommended to wear Hanfu for photos. Transportation guide 🚌Bus: Take bus 203/204/218/21/224/229/258 to the Small Wild Goose Pagoda station, and you can reach it by walking after getting off. 🚇Subway: Take subway line 2 and get off at Nanshaomen Station Exit F, or take line 5 to the Provincial People's Hospital, Huangyan Village Exit D, and walk forward. 📍Detailed address: Inside the Xi'an Museum on Friendship West Road, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province. ⏰Opening hours: 9:00—16:00 (Closed on Tuesdays) 🎫Ticket price: Free ❗Small tips: ●Remember to bring water, tissues, umbrellas, and wear comfortable shoes. ●1F is the ancient hall, worth a visit, but there is no air conditioning and it is very stuffy and hot. ●The museum 1F can be stamped, with a pass through the museum & gilded postcard.