Small Wild Goose Pagoda Scenic Area is located in the southern suburb of Xian City, about 2 kilometers to the south of the City Wall. Covering an area of 16.3 hectares, it mainly consists of the Xian Museum, the ancient Jianfu Temple built in the year 684 A.D during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and the famous Small Wild Goose Pagoda. The scenic area has become a wonderful leisure site for the appreciation of cultural relics, sightseeing and entertainment.
The Xian Museum in the west displays more than 2,000 precious historical relics. In the central axis, there are the White-Clothing Pavilion, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, the Sutra Depository, the Mahavira Hall (Daxiongbaodian) and the Maitreya Pavilion in the Jianfu Temple. Verdant trees, grass and beautiful flowers can be found throughout the time-honored building complex. Moreover, beside the museum sits a big circular square and an artificial lake with two stone arch bridges featuring delicate designs.
The scenic area incorporates an intelligent guide system which offers a audio guide device to visitors. When visitors come to a scenic spot, the device will automatically give a detailed explanation. Besides the Chinese version, the museum will introduce a version designed for children and versions in other languages. Tourists need to deposit CNY 100 for such a device, which will be refunded to them when returning it at either the west gate or the north gate.
The Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built in the year 707 A.D during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). As it is newer and smaller than the Big Wild Goose Pagoda the name was given to distinguish the two. Unlike the grand Big Wild Goose Pagoda, it is dainty and exquisite in its appearance. It is an important cultural relic and one of the remaining symbols of ancient Chang'an (the name of Xian in the Tang Dynasty).
