Helan mountain

cctv.com 10-29-2003 13:47

Helan mountain mouth makes a great hiking place with its breathtaking scenery and a rare bonus - thousands of rock carvings scattered in the mountain.

Those Western Xia Characters , according to Xiaochen, mean To Buddhism can bring prosperity to the country. Many paintings were left by the ancient nomads. It's believed that this huge rock was where some nomad tribes held their religious ceremony.

The barren rock mountain is also home to many rock sheep. You'll have to give them the kudos of surviving in such harsh environment.

Great wall

In the ancient time, the mountain mouth was also a military strategic point connecting Mongolia and Ningxia. Helan mountain runs over 200 kilometers long from north to South at the border of Ningxia and Inner Mongolia.

Along the foot of Helan mountain, extending for hundreds of kilometers are relics of Ming great wall.

Ningxia is known as the Museum of the ancient Great Wall. If you look at the map of Ningxia, you will find that the castellated symbol of Great wall outlines a large part of Ningxia border.

No wonder so many moviemakers come to Ningxia, this everyday scene of sheep herding looks like a great movie setting to me.

Historically, Sanguankou of Helan mountain was a critical military fort. It was through Sanguan kou that Ghengis khan's army came down upon Western Xia Kingdom from Mongolia.

The great wall in Sanguankou was built to keep out Mongols and other northern nomadic tribes many centuries ago. It extended for hundreds of kilometers along the Helan mountain. Nowadays, only the section around Sanguankou is in good shape and has become a favorite for hikers, and local sheep.

After four centuries of silence, the architectural and archaeological features all around are ready to whisper, speak, even shout their secrets to any hiker who will give some passing thought to what they see.

Editor:Han  Source:CCTV.com