Xi'an · Visitor Guide
Small Wild Goose Pagoda (小雁塔, Xiǎo Yàn Tǎ)
The Small Wild Goose Pagoda is a 43-meter Tang Dynasty brick pagoda built in 707 AD within the Jianfu Temple complex to house Buddhist scriptures the monk Yijing brought back from India. It lost its top two stories in the 1556 Shaanxi earthquake but has stood for over 1,300 years, and is one of 33 component sites of the Silk Roads UNESCO World Heritage listing (2014). Most travelers skip it for the bigger, more famous Big Wild Goose Pagoda 3 km east — which is exactly why it is the better visit.
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Quick Answer
Is Small Wild Goose Pagoda worth visiting?
A 1,300-year-old Tang Dynasty brick pagoda inside Jianfu Temple — quieter, free, and climbable for ¥30 (as of 2026). Pair it with the on-site Xi'an Museum; allow 2–3 hours.
Quick facts
| Ticket | Free entry to temple grounds and the on-site Xi'an Museum (passport required, no advance reservation). Climbing the pagoda: ¥30 (as of 2026). |
|---|---|
| Hours | 9:00–17:30 (last entry 17:00). Closed Tuesdays. Pagoda climbing ends 30 minutes before closing. |
| Recommended duration | 2–3 hours (gardens + Xi'an Museum + pagoda climb). About 1 hour if you skip the museum. |
| Best time to visit | Weekday mornings, Wednesday to Friday. Gardens are best in April (pagoda-tree blossoms) and October (autumn foliage). |
| How to get there | Metro Line 2 to Nanshaomen (南稍门), Exit A2. Walk west 5 minutes on Youyi West Road. |
| English signage | partial |
| Wheelchair accessible | partial |
| Built | 707 AD (completed 709, Tang Dynasty) |
| Height | 43 m today (originally ~45 m) |
| Stories | 13 today (originally 15; top 2 lost in 1556 earthquake) |
| Temple | Jianfu Temple (荐福寺), founded 684 AD |
| Scriptures | Texts brought by monk Yijing (义净) from India by sea |
| UNESCO | 2014 — Silk Roads: Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor (list 1442) |
What to expect
You enter through the south gate of Jianfu Temple onto a tree-lined axis that runs straight to the pagoda. The grounds are flat, gardened, and oddly peaceful for a city of 13 million — ancient pagoda trees (国槐), some claimed to be over 1,000 years old, throw shade across the courtyards. The pagoda itself is a tapering square brick tower of 13 stories, finer and slightly thinner than its Big sibling, leaning about half a degree to the west from centuries of earthquake settlement. For ¥30 you can climb the internal staircase — narrow, dim, and increasingly tight near the top — for a view south over Xi'an's modern high-rises and north toward the Bell Tower. The semi-subterranean Xi'an Museum sits at the compound's north end, its 130,000 objects focused on Tang Dynasty daily life: gold banquet vessels from the Hejiacun hoard, sancai-glazed horses and camels, and Buddhist stone sculpture recovered from Guanzhong temples.
Jianfu Temple was founded in 684 AD by Empress Wu Zetian in memory of Emperor Gaozong, and the pagoda went up around 707 AD (completed by 709) to store Buddhist sutras and relics the monk Yijing (义净, 635–713) carried back from a 25-year maritime journey to India and Srivijaya. Unlike Xuanzang — who walked the overland Silk Road and is honored at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda — Yijing traveled by sea through Southeast Asia, returning with over 400 translated texts. The pagoda was originally 15 stories and roughly 45 meters; the great Shaanxi earthquake of 1556 (estimated magnitude ~8, the deadliest in recorded history, with roughly 830,000 deaths) sheared off the top two stories, leaving the 13-tier, 43-meter silhouette you see today. In 2014 UNESCO inscribed it as one of 33 component sites of the Silk Roads: Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor, alongside the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Daming Palace, and Weiyang Palace.
Here is the contrarian bit: most guidebooks and tour itineraries send you to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and skip this one, treating it as the lesser sibling. That is backwards. The Big Pagoda costs ¥50, draws bus-loads, and its interior is mostly empty; the Small Pagoda's grounds are free, the on-site Xi'an Museum is one of the city's most underrated collections (Tang gold, sancai, Buddhist sculpture), and on a June 2026 weekday morning the whole compound had fewer than a dozen other visitors. The one thing the Big Pagoda has that this one does not is the massive free north-square fountain show at night — worth doing separately, not a reason to skip the Small Pagoda. Budget at least two hours so you actually walk the museum; most day-trippers rush through in 40 minutes and miss the point.
How to get there
Metro Line 2 to Nanshaomen (南稍门), Exit A2 — walk west 5 minutes down Youyi West Road (友谊西路) to the south gate. From the Bell Tower / Muslim Quarter: one stop south on Line 2, or a 10-minute DiDi (¥15–20). From Xi'an Railway Station: about 20 minutes by metro. From Xi'an North Station (HSR): about 40 minutes via Line 2 with a transfer. Buses 18, 21, 203, 204, 218, 224, 229, 258, 407, 410, 508, and 713 all stop at the 'Small Wild Goose Pagoda' (小雁塔) stop. A DiDi from anywhere in central Xi'an runs ¥15–25.
Best photo spots
- The south-gate axis — the pagoda framed between the ancient pagoda trees, best in morning light
- Inside the bell tower, the 1192 AD iron 'Jianfu Morning Bell' (one of the Eight Views of Guanzhong) with the pagoda behind
- From the pagoda's upper landing, looking north toward the Bell Tower over the temple rooftops
- The reflection of the pagoda in the Xi'an Museum's entrance pool at dusk
Tips
- Bring your passport — it is required for the free entry scan, and there is no walk-in alternative for foreigners without one
- Do the museum first (opens 9:00, quietest then), then walk the gardens, then climb the pagoda last when your legs are warmed up — the staircase gets genuinely tight near the top
- Skip the climb if you have knee problems or claustrophobia; it is narrow brick stairs with low headroom, not a modern staircase
- Pair it with the Shaanxi History Museum only if you already scored that reservation (it books out weeks ahead) — otherwise this compound covers similar Tang material with zero booking stress
- The Big Wild Goose Pagoda's free fountain show runs at 12:00 and 20:30 (summer) — do that in the evening as a separate stop, not a substitute for this visit
Scams to avoid
- Self-styled 'monks' near the south gate offering blessings or amulets for a donation — real Buddhist clergy at an active temple complex do not solicit cash from tourists on the street
- Touts at Nanshaomen metro exit offering 'cheap' rides or 'special access' — the site is free and walk-in; there is no special access to sell
Frequently asked questions
How is the Small Wild Goose Pagoda different from the Big Wild Goose Pagoda?
The Small Pagoda (小雁塔, 43 m, 13 stories today, built 707 AD) sits in Jianfu Temple and houses scriptures the monk Yijing brought from India by sea. The Big Pagoda (大雁塔, 64 m, 7 stories, built 652 AD) sits in Da Ci'en Temple and houses Xuanzang's scriptures brought overland. The Small Pagoda's grounds are free and far quieter; the Big Pagoda charges ¥50 and has the famous night fountain show. See both if time allows — but if only one, the Small Pagoda gives you a pagoda, a museum, and gardens without the crowds.
Can I climb the Small Wild Goose Pagoda?
Yes, for ¥30 (as of 2026). The climb is 13 stories of brick stairs that get progressively narrower and lower-ceilinged — the top few flights are tight enough that tall or broad visitors will hunch. The view from the top looks south over modern high-rises and north toward the Bell Tower. The pagoda leans about 0.5 degrees west from earthquake settlement, which you can feel. Skip it with knee, heart, or claustrophobia issues.
Is the Small Wild Goose Pagoda free?
Entry to the temple grounds, gardens, and the on-site Xi'an Museum is free — you scan your passport at the gate, no advance booking. The only charge is ¥30 (as of 2026) if you want to climb the pagoda itself.
Is the Small Wild Goose Pagoda really a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Yes. It was inscribed in 2014 as one of 33 component sites of 'Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor' (UNESCO list 1442), alongside the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Daming Palace, Weiyang Palace, and Xingjiao Temple in the Xi'an area.
Why did it lose its top two stories?
The 1556 Shaanxi earthquake — estimated magnitude ~8 and the deadliest earthquake in recorded history, with roughly 830,000 deaths across the region — sheared off the top two of the original 15 stories. The pagoda has stood at 13 stories and about 43 m ever since, surviving further earthquakes over the next 470 years.
How much time should I spend there?
Allow 2–3 hours if you do the gardens, the Xi'an Museum, and the pagoda climb. You can do a quick 45-minute loop of just the grounds and pagoda exterior, but you would be skipping the museum, which is the best part. It pairs well with the Xi'an City Wall South Gate, 2 km east (¥54).
Who was the monk Yijing?
Yijing (义净, 635–713) was a Tang Dynasty Buddhist monk who spent 25 years (671–695) traveling by sea to India and the Srivijaya kingdom (modern Sumatra) to collect and translate Buddhist sutras. He returned with over 400 texts. Unlike Xuanzang, who walked the overland Silk Road, Yijing went by sea — and the Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built to house his scriptures, just as the Big Pagoda housed Xuanzang's.
What is the Xi'an Museum and is it worth it?
It is a semi-subterranean museum inside the Jianfu Temple compound, holding about 130,000 objects with a Tang Dynasty focus — gold and silver banquet vessels from the Hejiacun hoard, sancai-glazed pottery, and Buddhist stone sculpture. It is free, rarely crowded, and in some ways a better experience than the overloaded Shaanxi History Museum across town. Yes, it is worth it — that is the main reason to budget extra time here.
When is the best time of day to visit?
Weekday mornings, ideally Wednesday–Friday, right at the 9:00 opening. The museum is at its quietest, the gardens have good light, and you beat the small number of school and tour groups that trickle in after 11:00. Avoid Tuesdays (closed) and weekends. April and October are the best months for the gardens — blossoms and autumn foliage respectively.
How do I get there from the Bell Tower or Muslim Quarter?
Metro Line 2 one stop south to Nanshaomen (南稍门), Exit A2, then a 5-minute walk west on Youyi West Road. Total about 15 minutes from the Bell Tower. A DiDi from the Muslim Quarter area runs ¥15–20 and takes about 10 minutes.
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Terracotta Army
UNESCO site with 8,000+ life-sized warriors buried 2,200 years ago. 1.5 hours from Xi'an. Allow 3-4 hours.
Muslim Quarter
Xi'an's 1,200-year-old Hui Muslim food district — 10+ blocks of lamb skewers, hand-pulled noodles, persimmon cakes, and the 1,300-year-old Great Mosque. Free entry. Food ¥5–50 per item.
Xi'an City Wall
The best-preserved ancient city wall in China — 13.7 km of Ming Dynasty fortifications you can bike on top of. ¥54 entry, ¥45 bike rental. 2–3 hours to bike the full loop.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
7th-century Buddhist pagoda built to house scriptures brought from India by the monk Xuanzang (the real Tripitaka). ¥50. Evening fountain show is free.
Huaqing Palace
Tang Dynasty imperial hot springs resort — Yang Guifei's bathing pool, scene of the 1936 Xi'an Incident. ¥120 entry. 30 km east of Xi'an. Combine with Terracotta Army.
Shaanxi History Museum
China's richest provincial museum, holding roughly 1.7 million artifacts from 13 dynastic capitals across 1,100 years. Budget 2-3 hours for the free halls, 4-5 with the ¥270 Tang tomb-mural gallery — one of the most remarkable museum experiences in the country.
Great Mosque of Xi'an
A 1,280-year-old mosque site down Huajue Lane that looks like a Ming temple but serves Xi'an's Hui Muslim community — four courtyards, a pagoda-style minaret, no domes. ¥25 entry (as of 2026), allow 45–60 minutes; go at the 8:00 opening, not noon.
Grand Tang Mall (Datang Everbright City)
A 1.5-km free pedestrian avenue of lit-up Tang-style pavilions, costumed performers, and food stalls running south from the Big Wild Goose Pagoda through Xi'an's Qujiang district. Budget 2–3 hours after dusk; the lights and shows peak 19:00–21:00.
Drum and Bell Towers
Two 14th-century Ming-dynasty towers anchoring Xi'an's old-city centre — the Bell Tower (1384) at the crossroads, the Drum Tower (1380) at the Muslim Quarter gate. ¥30 each to climb, 1-1.5 hours total, best at dusk when both light up.
Museums in Xi'an
Shaanxi History Museum
370,000 artifacts from the cradle of Chinese civilization — Tang Dynasty gold, Zhou bronzes, and Qin terracotta figurines. Free but book weeks ahead. Xi'an's must-see museum.
Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum
The world-famous Terracotta Army viewed through the museum lens: excavation in progress, bronze chariot conservation, and the science behind 2,200-year-old polychrome preservation. ¥120.
Banpo Museum
A 6,000-year-old Neolithic village preserved in situ — walk through a matriarchal Yangshao Culture settlement with houses, kilns, and a burial ground. ¥65. China's first prehistoric site museum.
Xi'an Museum
Tang Dynasty artifacts inside the Small Wild Goose Pagoda temple complex — a calmer, more intimate alternative to the Shaanxi History Museum. Free entry with garden and pagoda access. Jianfu Temple grounds.
Shaanxi History Museum — Qin-Han Branch
New branch opened 2024 near the Qin Dynasty palace ruins. Focuses exclusively on the Qin and Han dynasties (221 BC-220 AD). Free. Book ahead.
Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum (Terracotta Warriors)
About 8,000 life-size clay soldiers buried in 210 BCE to guard China's first emperor — plan 3 to 4 hours on site plus 90 minutes each way from central Xian.
Forest of Steles Museum (Xi'an Beilin Museum)
Xi'an's 1,094-year-old "Forest of Steles" holds more than 3,000 carved stone tablets and rewards 2–3 hours of close looking — most visitors should skip the calligraphy trance and head straight for the six horses of Zhaoling Tangseng.