{{Short description|Mountain range in China}} {{Infobox mountain | name = Helan Mountains | other_name = | image = AlshaaBaruunHiid.jpg | image_caption = Buddhist monastery in the dry and barren lower parts of the range | location = Inner Mongolia and Ningxia, China | area_km2 = | highest = | elevation_m = 3556 | coordinates = {{coord|38|54|N|105|58|E|display=title, inline}} | geology = | age = | orogeny = | embedded = {{Infobox Chinese |child=yes |c=贺兰山 |p=Hèlán Shān |w=Ho<sup>4</sup>-lan<sup>2</sup> Shan<sup>1</sup> |mi={{IPAc-cmn|h|e|2|l|an|2|-|sh|a|n|1}} |c2=阿拉善山 |p2=Ālāshàn Shān |w2=A<sup>1</sup>-la<sup>1</sup>-shan<sup>4</sup> Shan<sup>1</sup> |mi2={{IPAc-cmn|a|1|l|a|1|sh|an|1|-|sh|an|1}} |mon=Алшаа уул |mong=17px |monr=Alaša aγula |lang1=txg |lang-content1={{Tangut|𗲡𗝢𘑗}} |lang-hdr1=Tangut name |lang-rom1=2hin1 1lan1 1ngyr1 |lang-std1=Miyake transcription }} }} [[File:Ecoregion PA1302.png|thumb|Alashan semi-desert plateau within wider Eastern Asia. The Helan Mountains are adjacent to the southeast. ]]The '''Helan Mountains''', frequently called '''Alashan Mountains''' in older sources, are an isolated desert mountain range forming the border of Inner Mongolia's Alxa League and Ningxia. They run north–south parallel to the north-flowing Yellow River in the Ordos Loop section. The river is mostly east of the mountains, but in the north it crosses without making a significant gorge and flows on the west side. To the west lies the extremely arid Tengger Desert, while to the east is an irrigated area beside the Yellow River, in which lie the cities of Yinchuan and Shizuishan - a little further east of which lies the Mu Us portion of the Ordos Desert. To the north lies the Inner Mongolian city of Wuhai.
They are about {{convert|200|km}} from north to south, from {{convert|15|to|50|km}} wide and average about {{convert|2000|m}} in altitude (the Yellow River here is about {{convert|1,100|m}} above sea level). Their highest peak is {{convert|3556|m|ft}}.
==Emerging wine industry== With the increasing popularity of Ningxia wines, the Chinese authorities have given approval to the development of the eastern base of the Helan Mountains as an area suitable for wine production. Several large Chinese wine companies including Changyu and Dynasty Wine have begun development in the western region of the province. Together they now own {{convert|20,000|acre}} of land for planting vineyards and Dynasty has ploughed 100 million yuan into Ningxia. In addition, the major oil company China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation has founded a vineyard near the Helan Mountains. The household appliance company Midea has also begun participating in Ningxia's wine industry.<ref>[http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?cid=1102&MainCatID=11&id=20111215000020 "Grape expansion: Chinese wine companies move west"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150731231303/http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?cid=1102&MainCatID=11&id=20111215000020 |date=2015-07-31 }}, ''Want China Times'', 15 December 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2011.</ref>
==Gallery== <gallery> File:AlshaaUul.jpg|Landscape with modern pagoda in Helan uplands. File:贺兰山岩画太阳神.jpg|Petroglyph of a sun deity. File:A picture from China every day 287.jpg|Helan mountain setting of Guangzong temple, Alxa league. File:A picture from China every day 289.jpg|Guangzong temple, Alxa league. File:贺兰山 山丹丹.JPG|Helan wildflower: scarlet-flowered Lilium species. File:Helanshan.jpg|View from cable car, Helan Mountains, Ningxia. File:Xixia.jpg|Remains of Western Xia (Tangut Empire) mausoleum no. 3, foot of Helan Mountains, Ningxia. File:XiXia Tomb 3 two stele bases (east).jpg|Fierce, hag-like grave guardians sculpted on two stele bases, mausoleum no. 3, Western Xia mausoleums. </gallery>
==See also==
* Twin pagodas of Baisikou * Baisigou Square Pagoda * Western Xia mausoleums
==References== {{Reflist}} {{Mountain ranges of China}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Mountain ranges of Inner Mongolia Category:Landforms of Ningxia Category:Highest points of Chinese provinces