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Why the Small Wild
Goose and Big Wild Goose
Pagodas are special
These two giant Buddhist pagodas date back about 1300 years
during the Tang Dynasty. They are the only tall
pagodas of the historic Tang era still standing.
Interesting insights
about the two Wild
Goose Pagodas
 In
photographs, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda looks
taller than the Big Wild Goose, but it is actually
one third shorter. This optical illusion occurs
because the small pagoda has 13 floors while the
big one has just 7 floors. Yet, the small pagoda's
individual floors are exceptionally short in
height.
Originally,
the big pagoda was known simply as the Wild Goose
Pagoda. When the small pagoda was built about a
half century later, it, too, was given the name
Wild Goose Pagoda. To verbally distinguish the
two, the locals prefixed the words "big"
and "small".
Wild Goose
Pagodas tidbits
The
Big Wild Goose Pagoda was built to store and
translate Sanskrit Buddhist Scriptures that a monk
brought from India.
The
big pagoda was initially built in 652 with only
five floors. Several decades later, two more
floors were added.
The
small pagoda was built in 709. It was originally
15 floors high. A 16th century earthquake shook
down the top two floors.
The
big pagoda is 64 meters (211 feet) high. The small
one is 43 meters (142 feet) high.
The
two pagodas stand a couple of kilometers (a little
over a mile) apart.
Tips for your
vacation tour or trip
Walk
up the Big Wild Goose Pagoda's spiral staircase for an
excellent view of Xi'an and countryside.
Do
this early or late in the day during the tourist
season to avoid long waits.
Location
The two Wild Goose Pagodas are a 5 to 10 minute drive south
from the inner city of Xi'an, the
capital of Shaanxi province.
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