Why the
Small Wild Goose and
Big Wild Goose Pagodas
are special

These two giant Buddhist pagodas in Xi'an date back about 1300 years during the Tang Dynasty. They are the only tall pagodas of the historic Tang era still standing.

Wild Goose Pagodas
tips & insights

Optical illusion

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.

Names

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".

History in brief

Big Wild Goose Pagoda
It was built to store and translate Sanskrit Buddhist Scriptures that a monk brought from India. It was initially built in 652 with only five floors. Several decades later, two more floors were added. Today, it is 64 meters (211 feet) high.

Small Wild Goose Pagoda
It was built in 709. It was originally 15 floors high. A 16th century earthquake shook down the top two floors. Today, it is 43 meters (142 feet) high.

The two pagodas stand a couple of kilometers (a little over a mile) apart.

View

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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©2010 HQP / Hillman Quality Publications