The Big and Small Wild Goose Pagodas

Situated in Ci'en Temple in the southern suburbs of Xi'an in Shaanxi Province, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda is regarded as a symbol of the ancient capital. It was the place especially dedicated to the then widely renowned Master Xuanzang (Monk Tripitaka) for translating and storing the Buddhist scriptures he had brought back from India. Modeled and named after its Indian counterpart, the pagoda is a square brick construction built on a 45-meter foundation that's 5 meters in height. The brick-laid pagoda has seven stories, with the side length of the bottom storey being 25 meters and the height from the ground to the pinnacle being 64 meters. There are spiraling stairs inside the pagoda and there's an arch door opening on each of the four sides of each storey. Looking outside through the opening, you'll get a panoramic view of Xi'an.

Jianfu Temple was one of the key sites for Buddhist scripture translation during the Tang Dynasty. The Small Wild Goose Pagoda is located in the temple. It is a typical Buddhist pagoda of tight tiles to the west of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. The pagoda is smaller than the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, hence its name. It may not be quite as magnificent as the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, but the pagoda is gracefully built, with a gorgeous structure. The width of the pagoda tapers off from bottom to top, taking on a sleek cone shape. The "morning bell chimes" of the small pagoda was one of the top eight scenic attractions of the central Shaanxi plain during the Qing Dynasty. There's a gigantic iron bell weighing more than 10,000 kilos kept intact in the temple. Every morning, its resounding chimes can be heard dozens of kilometers away. 

Today, the Big and Small Wild Goose Pagodas are world-famous scenic spots of historical significance, attracting throngs of tourists and pilgrims.