These squared stone towers are traditionally located on the edge of Qiang villages and on the top of nearby hills as well. A small stone pagoda-like structure is also sometimes built on the roof of a house, and a pottery jar that contains five varieties of grain is placed within the pagoda. On top of the pagoda, a white stone is placed together with ox and sheep horns. By tradition, the door of a Qiang house is supposed to face south and the pagoda is built on the northern end of the roof in line with the door. Every morning, the Qiang family will burn incense sticks or cedar twigs in the pagoda and kneel to it, praying for the protection of the family by the god of the white stone.