Xi’an Museum is centered around the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and is divided into three main areas: the museum section, the Tang Dynasty historical site including the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and Jianfu Temple, and the garden and scenic area. The museum houses a collection of 130,000 artifacts from various periods of Xi’an’s history, including 14,400 precious items rated at or above the national level. Many of these artifacts were unearthed from significant historical periods such as the Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang dynasties.
Through the museum’s thematic exhibition “Ancient Capital Xi’an,” visitors can explore Xi’an’s millennia-long history as a capital and the development of the city. The museum also features city models from the Zhou to the Ming and Qing dynasties, which reveal the scale, layout, and living conditions of the capital cities throughout different historical periods.
Travel Information about Xi’an Museum
Tickets and Opening Hours
Admission: Free (Tickets available with ID; limited to 30,000 per day). An additional fee of 30 RMB is required to visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda.
Opening Hours:
- March 15 to October 31: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- November 1 to March 14: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Closed on Tuesdays (except national holidays)
Getting There
Location: 72 Youyi West Road, Yanta District, Xi’an.
Transportation: Take Metro Line 2 to the Nan Shao Men Station.
Attraction Rating
- Cultural Significance: ★★★★★
- Special Features: ★★★★★
- Leisure: ★★★★
- Scenery: ★★★
- Romance: ★★
- Excitement: ★
Highlights of Xi’an Museum
Small Wild Goose Pagoda
The Small Wild Goose Pagoda is a classic example of a dense-eaved Buddhist tower. Along with the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, it stands as one of the two major historical landmarks from the Tang Dynasty preserved in the ancient capital of Chang’an. The “Morning Bell of the Wild Goose Pagoda” is also one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Guanzhong during the Qing Dynasty. The Small Wild Goose Pagoda, located to the east of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, is smaller in scale, hence the name “Small Wild Goose Pagoda.”
Set in a tranquil environment, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda contrasts sharply with the majestic and solemn style of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. It represents a fine example of Tang Dynasty Buddhist architectural art and adds a distinct charm to the ancient city.
Built during the Jinglong era of the Tang Dynasty (707 AD), the pagoda was constructed to house the translated Buddhist scriptures of the Indian monk Yijing, who had returned from his journey. The interior of the Small Wild Goose Pagoda is designed as a hollow cylindrical structure with wooden floors, and visitors can ascend to the top via a spiral wooden staircase. From the top, they can enjoy panoramic views of the ancient city of Xi’an. The pagoda’s outline presents a gracefully tapering, conical shape, characterized by its elegant design and harmonious proportions.
Related Details:
The Small Wild Goose Pagoda is a square, brick-built tower with dense eaves. Originally constructed with fifteen tiers, it stands about 46 meters tall, with a base side length of 11 meters. Each tier of the pagoda gradually recedes as it ascends, creating a graceful and streamlined outline. The pagoda features a door on both the north and south sides.
The door frames are made of carved blue stone, and the lintels are adorned with intricate line carvings of celestial beings and floral patterns. These carvings are exceptionally fine and reflect the artistic style of the early Tang Dynasty.
Jianfu Temple
Jianfu Temple, originally named Xianfu Temple, was founded during the Tang Dynasty. It was established by Emperor Ruizong Li Dan in 684 AD to honor his deceased father, Emperor Gaozong. The temple was renamed Jianfu Temple in 690 AD during Empress Wu Zetian’s reign. It houses various relics, including Buddhist halls, pagodas, golden statues, and murals.
During Emperor Zhongzong’s reign, between 707 and 709 AD, the 15-tiered Small Wild Goose Pagoda was constructed in the nearby Anrenfang area of Kaifa District, south of Jianfu Temple. The temple also preserves a massive iron bell cast in 1192 AD during the Jin Dynasty, weighing over 10,000 kilograms. This bell was famously rung every morning during the Qing Dynasty, known as the “Morning Bell of the Wild Goose Pagoda.” Each year on New Year’s Day, the temple holds a bell-ringing ceremony to pray for good fortune.
Jianfu Temple was one of the significant Buddhist scripture translation sites during the Tang Dynasty. The pagoda is a dense-eaved brick structure with no columns on its four walls. Its eaves are layered with bricks, featuring two layers of diamond-shaped ridges beneath. Each tier of the pagoda has a vaulted door on the north and south sides. The entrance doors are framed with blue stone and adorned with exquisite vine and celestial figures carved in relief.
The temple’s courtyard is serene and elegant, with grand halls and ancient trees, such as 300-year-old sophora and catalpa trees, making it a notable sightseeing area in Xi’an.
Xi’an Museum
Xi’an Museum features over 2,000 exquisite cultural relics and is organized into three main sections: permanent exhibitions, thematic exhibitions, and temporary exhibitions.
The permanent exhibitions are themed “Ancient Capital Xi’an” and focus on Xi’an’s history as the capital of thirteen dynasties over a thousand years. This section highlights the city’s development through various historical periods.
The thematic exhibitions cover a range of topics. “Majestic Treasures” presents Buddhist statues and related art, while “Three Truths and Six Grasses, Carved Moon and Cut Clouds” displays ancient calligraphy and painting. “Spirits of Heaven and Earth” features ancient jade artifacts, and “Treasures of the World” showcases ancient seals.
The temporary exhibitions, under the theme “Precious Relics of the Capital,” bring together valuable artifacts from Xi’an’s districts and counties for the first time, providing a concentrated look at the region’s historical treasures.
Small Wild Goose Pagoda Grand Temple Fair
The Small Wild Goose Pagoda Grand Temple Fair features unique activities such as the “Pagoda Blessings” event, alongside large lantern displays, cultural performances, and specialty foods. Traditional performances like Qin opera and folk skills are part of the fair. While the fair may not be as grand as Beijing’s Longtan or Ditan Temple Fairs, or as focused as the lantern festivals in Sichuan’s Zigong or Guangzhou’s flower market, it offers a rich experience of Han and Tang cultural heritage with distinct local characteristics.
Historical records note that the Small Wild Goose Pagoda has withstood six earthquakes without collapsing, which is considered a remarkable phenomenon. Consequently, many people visit the pagoda (or Xianfu Temple) during New Year festivals and seasonal celebrations to pray for health and prosperity in the coming year.
- Blessings and Good Fortune: A special feature of the Chinese Lunar New Year, this includes activities such as writing wishes on the blessing wall, lighting blessing lanterns, and hanging blessing knots. These activities aim to transform this historic royal temple into a place for public blessings. Popular spots for visitors include the blessing bell-ringing, blessing wall inscriptions, lantern lighting, and knot hanging.
- Lantern Displays: Essential for creating a festive atmosphere, lantern displays add a romantic touch to the celebrations. The fair features various themed zones that incorporate traditional and modern lighting, as well as high-tech multimedia displays, allowing visitors to experience the cultural depth of the “New Year” and enjoy a visual feast of historical and technological innovation.
- Performances: The fair hosts nearly 30 performances each day, running for over 22 hours. Traditional cultural exhibitions include Qin opera, Shaanxi storytelling, Beijing quickboard, Peking opera, folk music, traditional fire performances, Chinese martial arts, and a circus performance from Russia.
- Cultural Exhibitions: Reflecting contemporary trends and utilizing historical resources, the fair features various themed exhibitions, including specialized displays of the museum’s collections, Shaanxi folk customs and traditions, and folk art and crafts.