Big Wild Goose Pagoda, built in 652 by the hierarch Xuanzang, is a seven-story square tower. It is said that Xuanzang traveled along the Silk Road from Chang'an (now Xi'an) to India, where he learned and preached Buddhism. Seventeen years later he came back with many volumes of sutras, Buddha figures and relics. In order to preserve these treasures, Emperor Gaozong permitted him to build the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. At first, the pagoda was only five-stories, but during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian it increased to the current size. The Wild Goose Pagoda is now 64 meters (about 210 ft) high, with a square base of 45 meters (about 147.6 ft) long. Murals and steles preserved in the pagoda are treasures of Chinese art. Visitors can climb to the top via the stairs inside. Standing on the top floor, visitors can overlook the beautiful landscape of Xi'an as well as the marvelous scenery of South Hill.