The Small Wild Goose Pagoda is located about 1 kilometers south of Jianfu Temple in Xian City of Shaanxi Province. Together with the Big Wild Goose Pagoda it was an important landmark in Chang'an, capital of the Tang Dynasty. Since it was smaller and built later than the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, it was named the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. It was built in 707 during the Tang Dynasty. The scenic area has become a wonderful leisure site for the appreciation of cultural relics, sightseeing and entertainment. The Small Wild Goose Pagoda is covering an area of 16.3 hectares (40.4 acres), it comprises the Xian Museum, the ancient Jianfu Temple which was built in the year 684 A.D during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and the famous Small Wild Goose Pagoda.The Xian Museum in the west displays more than 2,000 precious historical relics. The White-Clothing Pavilion, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, the Sutra Depository, the Mahavira Hall (Daxiongbaodian) and the Maitreya Pavilion in the Jianfu Temple are in the central axis.
Characteristic of the ancient architecture
As ancient architecture, however, it has kept all its Tang Dynasty features. The shape and structure of the pagoda are typical of early multi-eave pagodas and influenced many brick and stone multi-eave pagodas built later in other parts of the country. Because the steeple was destroyed, it is 43.3 meters high now. It has a square pedestal and a huge first storey, whose side measure 11.38 meters long each. Doors on the north and south sides of the first storey have frames built of black stone. The pagoda has fifteen pent roofs. Every storey is very low with small windows just only on the south and north sides in older to let light and air in. From the first to the fifth storey it tapers very little, but from the sixth storey up, it reduces drastically, enduing the pagoda a smooth curved contour. There is a huge bell -- 4.5 meters in height standing in one of the courtyards, 7.6 meters in diameter along the rim, and 10 tons in weight -- dating back to the Jin Dynasty (1192). It was named the "Magic Bell" for an interesting legend that the one who missed his beloved, living far away from him, could write down their names on a piece of yellow paper and send a message by the sound of the Bell. So the "Morning Bell Chimes of the Pagoda" is one of the Eight Famous Scenic Features in Shaanxi.
In 1965 the people's government distributed funds to repair the pagoda and consolidate its internal structure. The second, fifth, seventh, ninth and eleventh storey were reinforced with hidden steel girdles; facilities were set up on the roof to protect it from rain and a lightning rod was installed. They also set up an office to take care of the pagoda and other relics. The ancient Small Wild Goose Pagoda and the newly-built museum echo each other; and the striking bell chimes response to the melodious Chang'an ancient music played here. The Small Wild Goose Pagoda Scenic Area, with its brand-new appearance, welcomes tourists from both home and abroad.