Helan Shan

Helan Shan, or the Helan Mountains, is a north-south mountain range on the western edge of the Ningxia Plain in north-central China. Peaks in the range rise above 3,000 meters and the mountains form a distinct climatic and geographic boundary in the region.

The range is notable for large concentrations of prehistoric rock art and petroglyphs carved on exposed rock faces, and for the viticulture on its eastern foothills that supports the Ningxia wine region. Rugged slopes, cliffs and seasonal streams define the terrain.

Human activity around Helan Shan dates back thousands of years, as shown by the petroglyphs; more recently the mountain’s lower slopes have been used for grazing and for planting vineyards that take advantage of altitude and drainage.

Geographically the range runs roughly north to south along the western margin of the Ningxia Plain, near the city of Yinchuan, and forms part of the transition between the plain and more arid interior plateaus.

• Petroglyphs: Extensive prehistoric rock art and petroglyph panels are found on slopes and cliffs, documenting human activity in the region over millennia.
• Vineyards: The eastern foothills are an established wine-producing area for the Ningxia region, with vineyards planted on the mountain's lower slopes.