The Helan Mountain rock paintings are located on the eastern foothills of Helan Mountain in Helan County, near Yinchuan, Ningxia, about 50 kilometers from the city center of Yinchuan, which takes about an hour by car. The entrance ticket and electric car ride cost a total of 70 yuan.
Upon entering the scenic area, the first stop is the Yinchuan World Rock Art Museum, which features introductions to rock paintings from China and other parts of the world, as well as replicas of exquisite rock paintings. This provides a basic background on rock art and does not require a long visit. After that, take the electric car for a few minutes to the rock painting site on the third floor.
The rock paintings are mainly located on the stone walls of the mountains on both sides of the canyon, separated by a riverbed with only a small amount of water, which can be crossed by stepping on stones. There are circular paths leading up the mountain on both sides, and on the northern side, after climbing about 20 meters, you can see the most famous rock painting called "Sun God," which depicts a human figure adorned with radiating decorations, hence the name Sun God. Other relatively clear and distinctive rock paintings include "Woman Flower" and "Hunting Scene." Most of them are essentially ancient graffiti, and due to the nature of the stone, they cannot be too detailed, mainly providing insight into the living conditions and artistic tastes of ancient people. Due to long-term exposure to wind and rain, many rock paintings have become unclear, requiring visitors to use their imagination.
In addition to viewing the rock paintings, the scenery in this canyon is quite nice. The shape of Helan Mountain is different from other northern mountains, with rugged peaks and jagged stones that create a striking atmosphere. It is said that there are many wild goats on the mountain, but we only saw a few at the ancient altar at the foot of the mountain, blending in with the color of the rocks, making them hard to distinguish without getting close.
From the rock painting site, it takes a few minutes by electric car to reach the Yinchuan Han Meilin Art Museum near the exit, which mainly features paintings and sculptures that imitate rock paintings. Those interested can take a look for a while; if not, you can head directly to the exit.
We visited during the second half of the National Day holiday, and there weren't many people, so we basically didn't have to queue. The entire visit took about 3 hours. If you haven't seen this type of artwork before, it is worth a visit. If you have the opportunity, you should also check out the Guangxi Zuojiang Huashan Rock Paintings, which are listed as a World Cultural Heritage site.