Helan

Helan refers to a mountain range in northwestern China, known as the Helan Mountains (Chinese: 贺兰山脉). The range lies primarily in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, running roughly north to south along the western edge of the Ordos Plateau, north of Yinchuan, the regional capital. The Helan Mountains form a natural barrier between the loess-covered plains of the Loess Plateau to the east and the higher western terrain. The range extends for a significant distance and features forested slopes, rocky cliffs, and desert basins, supporting a variety of flora and fauna adapted to arid conditions. The highest elevations are around two thousand meters, with peaks commonly above 1,800 meters.

The range has long been a corridor for travel and trade, and its passes have featured in historical routes connecting northern China with the Guanzhong region. Its geology and climate have influenced human settlement and agricultural practices in the surrounding areas.

Viticulture is a notable aspect of the Helan Mountains region. The Helan Mountain wine region near Yinchuan is one of China’s prominent wine-producing areas, with vineyards established in the late 20th century and expanding in the 2000s, contributing to Ningxia’s reputation for wine.

Agriculture in the interceding plains benefits from irrigation from the Yellow River, enabling wine production as well as other crops. There are protected areas and parks within and around the range aimed at conserving desert-steppe ecosystems and xerophytic plant communities. The Helan Mountains are a destination for tourism and outdoor recreation, including hiking and climbing, and are referenced in regional geology and natural-history studies.