Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Xian (must see)

The Small Wild Goose Pagoda is one of the two pagodas in Xian that date back to the Tang Dynasty (618 to 907 AD). It has a unique architectural design that helped the structure withstand the earthquakes that shook the city.

The Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built in 707 AD during the reign of the Tang Dynasty. It has 15 floors and starts reducing in size from the 6th to the 15th floors giving it a spiral shape. The semicircular base helped the structure to withstand the earthquake of 1487. Despite the magnitude of the earthquake, the stress was distributed equally to prevent the collapse of the structure. The earthquake caused cracks in the building which were covered by a subsequent earthquake. This phenomenon was called Magic Healing by the local people.

The Small Wild Goose Pagoda is made of bricks with eaves on each story. The lintels have intricately carved figures of Arhats and grasses. Each floor has a wooden floor and a low roof with windows on the north and south. The interior of the pagoda has a tubular structure. A winding wooden staircase takes visitors to the top floor. The Small Wild Goose Pagoda is one of the last remaining monuments from Chang An, the name of the city of Xian during the reign of the Tang Dynasty.