Which building in China has withstood over 70 earthquakes? That would be the Small wild Goose pagoda in Xi'an, built in 707 A.D.
I find the Small wild Goose pagoda to be much prettier than the Giant wild Goose pagoda, which is actually 50 years older and has been modified over the centuries, most recently in 1964. By contrast the Small Wild Goose Pagoda remains unrepaired from the 1556 Shaanxi earthquake.
That earthquake took 2m (6 ft) off the top of the structure which now tops out at 43 m (141 ft). The 1556 Shaanxi earthquake is the deadliest earthquake on record, killing 830,000 people!
The builders set the tower on a hemispherical base of packed earth. This allows the pressure to be divided evenly and protects the structure, enabling it to survive all those earthquakes.
I like the curved shape of this pagoda. The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda is a brutish, angular, construction. At the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, the height of each storey diminishes which results in the gentle curve towards the top.
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