Small Wild Goose Pagoda — Attraction in Xi'an

The Small Wild Goose Pagoda is one of the must see heritage sites for visitors to Xian. It was built between the years 707 and 709 AD during the reign of Emperor Zhongzong 唐中宗. The pagoda was designed to store precious Buddhist scriptures brought back to China from far away India, where Buddhism was born. Originally standing at 45 meters, the brick-built pagoda was shortened by a couple of meters after it was damaged in an earthquake in 1556. Not long ago, visitors were still allowed to scale its internal stairs and climb to the top of the 15 level pagoda. Then came the day when the condition of the pagoda deteriorated to the point when it had to be closed to the public over safety concern. My friends and I visited the pagoda on a day of dark clouds and a light drizzle. We reached its bottom after walking through a nice garden filled with assorted flowering trees like the cherry blossom. My friends didn’t find anything impressive with the pagoda and continued on after just a minute. Equipped with a camera with a telephoto lens, I was able to take a much closer look of the pagoda. With simple lines and a lack of intricacy, the Pagoda may look simple and unimpressive. However, when I reminded myself that this is a structure which was built 1410 years ago and has survived since then, the pagoda immediately earned a marked significance on its own right. The Small Wild Goose Pagoda has played an integral role in Chinese history, especially the part it played in the development and spread of...

Definitely one of the must-see attractions in Xi'an. Standing over 100 feet tall and composed of the exact same bricks in the exact same manner as when it was constructed over 13 centuries ago (save for some minor damage from earthquakes and time itself) this is one of the oldest original buildings you're going to find in the world. A center of scholarship and religion for centuries, as well as the terminus of the silk road, to say this place is full of history is an understatement. And to top it all off the entrance to the scenic area is free. There is a fee to climb the pagoda, but I can't say how much it is because the pagoda itself was closed for renovations when I went (although the renovations in no way affected the ability to see and marvel at its beauty, or appreciate its history). If you ever make it to Xi'an, this should be at or very near the top of your list of...

One of the popular tourist destinations in Xi'an. It shows the history of how the Buddhism spread into China during the Tang dynasty. The Pagoda structure in itself is not anything spectacular to view however the park in which the Pagoda is located is beautiful and serene. Such a calm place with some trees as old as around 800 years. Good place for a relaxed time. Pro tip: No entry charges. Get free entry by showing your ID cards (passport for foreign nationals and Chinese ID for Chinese nationals). The ticket includes the entry to the Xi'an museum. Don't buy the music show tickets. Not that...