My 29 days to Southern Xinjiang, Gansu & Shaanxi, China (Aug 27 > Sept 24 2025) Day 27 > 29 Xian, Shaanxi (Part 2)

Small Wild Goose Pagoda (UNESCO)
Xi'an, Shaanxi, China 

Day 28 (Tuesday Sept 23 2025) - drizzling in the morning, walked to nearby hotel to pick up a parcel on behalf of a travel buddy from Kuala Lumpur. Spent the morning visiting the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. Bought bitter gourd, mushroom, packet  noodles  &  smoked chicken thighs  from a nearby supermarket for our home cooked style evening meal preparation - yummy yummy taste ! 

1) Small Goose Pagoda (UNESCO), Xian, Shaanxi, China - built between 707 > 710AD, Small Wild Goose Pagoda was a Buddhist pagoda of the Jianfu Temple in Chang'an city during the Tang Dynasty which was  originally a 15 storey multi-eaved brick pagoda, presently it stands 43.3 metres high, a component of Silk Road, the route network of Chang'an Tianshan Corridor, Small Wild Goose Pagoda was inscribed on to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014. currently under renovation, free admission for seniors above 65+. 

2) Ancient tablets & famous steles on poems, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Xi'an, Shaanxi

3) Steles engraved with name of military jurens & top scholars in Jianfu Temple, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Xi'an, Shaanxi - the steles in Jianfu Temple in Ming & Qin dynasties were used for the military juren in Shaanxi & Gansu provinces to engrave their names on. The new jinshi had made an impromptu inscription of his name on the wall of the Great Wild Goose Pagoda since the Shenlong period of Emperor  Zhongzong of Tang dynasty (705 > 707). Empress Wu Zetian in 2nd year of Chang'an (702) set up the military examination system for talents selection. Provincial capital cities held the military examination every 3 year in Ming & Qing dynasties & the winners called the military Juren. The Shaanxi provincial government imitated the custom in Tang dynasty, engraved the military  Juren names on steles in Jianfu temple. It was abolished in 27th year of Emperor Guangxu (1901). There are 17 steles in Jianfu Temple site which recorded more than 500 names of the military Juren in Shanaxi & Gansu provinces. All of them are imporatnt materials of the military Juren in examination system in Ming & Qing dynasties study. 

4) Ancient Gate, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Xi'an, Shaanxi. 

5) Huge Iron Bell, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Xian, Shaanxi - dates back to the Jin dynasty (1192), the sound of the bell is crisp & pleasant, & can be heard as far as 5km away, the local natives often called it the "Magic Bell", it is said that if one missed his beloved relations far away from him, the only thing he could do was to strike the bell & the sound of the bell would pass the message to her. The bell chimes which used to be one of the Eight Famous Scenic Attractions in the Central Shaanxi plain. Locals believe that striking the bell can stop calamities & striking the bell can bring happiness & good luck. By paying Y10, one could strike the bell three times seeking blessings for their loved ones ! A wet morning awaited us when we visited the Small Goose Pagoda but a great show-up for me since my last visit in 2006, a lapse of 19 years ! 

6) Towering old sophora trees, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Xi'an, Shaanxi

7) Animated stone & Buddhist style sculptures, art, ancient ruins & modern cafes, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Xi'an, Shaanxi.

8) Flower garden, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Xi'an, Shaanxi - flowers in full bloom making the morning (despite a drizzling rain) bright & cheerful ! 

9) Xianyang Airport, Xian, Shaanxi, China - an early check out (16.15) from our hotel in downtown Xi'an & we took a Metro (Y9) from Yongninmen Metro station > Xianyang Airport T5 terminal (transit in North Railway Metro station) for our airport check in, immigration clearance etc ! Our return flight by Loong Air from Xi'an > Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia took 5 hours (departing 20.35 arriving KLIA at 13.45). KF drove me home after e-hailing a Grab from KLIA2 to his Kota Damansara home - a tired body for both of us but my soul felt great & alive in this wee hour of the night when I arrived home sweet home in Subang Jaya !  

Day 29 (Final Day - Wednesday, Sept 24 2025) - Home Sweet Home ! Looking forward to resume my normal LIFE & a well earned rest in my home place after an exciting 28 days adventure rewarding trip to the wild wild & dry dry west of Xinjiang, Gansu & Shaanxi provinces in China !  Bye bye China as in 3 weeks time, I will have another challenge joining my travel buddy (KF Wong) for a 24 days free & easy visit (4 in a group) to Central Asia covering Azerbaijan, Georgia & Armenia ! 

Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA2), Malaysia - very soothing to see a Welcome You Home sign at the KLIA 2 Airport, Malaysia ! Welcome home KM & KF - the 2 travel bugs from Kuala Lumpur !