China: Protection of cliff painting at Helan Mountain in Yinchuan
Wire desk byline Sourced from Xinhua, Dawn, Arab News, Anadolu and Minute Mirror. Translated and abridged by the GSRRA Desk.
A drone photo taken on July 23, 2025 shows staff members examining a cliff painting at Helan Mountain rock painting scenic spot in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Helan Mountain is noted for more than 20,000 cliff paintings and carvings created by the nomads that once lived in northern China. These works depict herding, hunting, sacrificial rites and the lives of the people who lived 3,000 to 10,000 years ago. Images of animals dominate, followed by humans, vehicles, plants, planets, fingerprints and abstract signs.
A dedicated office in charge of protecting the cliff paintings was inaugurated in 2002, which has implemented multiple measures to preserve and extend the existence of these paintings since then. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen)
A drone photo taken on July 23, 2025 shows red markers near cliff paintings at Helan Mountain rock painting scenic spot in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The markers are used to help tourists find the paintings without affecting rocks. Helan Mountain is noted for more than 20,000 cliff paintings and carvings created by the nomads that once lived in northern China. These works depict herding, hunting, sacrificial rites and the lives of the people who lived 3,000 to 10,000 years ago. Images of animals dominate, followed by humans, vehicles, plants, planets, fingerprints and abstract signs.
A dedicated office in charge of protecting the cliff paintings was inaugurated in 2002, which has implemented multiple measures to preserve and extend the existence of these paintings since then. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen)
A drone photo taken on July 23, 2025 shows a surveillance camera at Helan Mountain rock painting scenic spot in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. There are more than 100 surveillance cameras at the scenic spot now to monitor cliff paintings. Helan Mountain is noted for more than 20,000 cliff paintings and carvings created by the nomads that once lived in northern China. These works depict herding, hunting, sacrificial rites and the lives of the people who lived 3,000 to 10,000 years ago. Images of animals dominate, followed by humans, vehicles, plants, planets, fingerprints and abstract signs.
A dedicated office in charge of protecting the cliff paintings was inaugurated in 2002, which has implemented multiple measures to preserve and extend the existence of these paintings since then. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen)
A girl visits Yinchuan World Rock Art Museum in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, July 23, 2025. Helan Mountain is noted for more than 20,000 cliff paintings and carvings created by the nomads that once lived in northern China. These works depict herding, hunting, sacrificial rites and the lives of the people who lived 3,000 to 10,000 years ago. Images of animals dominate, followed by humans, vehicles, plants, planets, fingerprints and abstract signs.
A dedicated office in charge of protecting the cliff paintings was inaugurated in 2002, which has implemented multiple measures to preserve and extend the existence of these paintings since then. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen)
A staff member operates multi-source digital management platform for Helan Mountain cliff paintings in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, July 23, 2025. Helan Mountain is noted for more than 20,000 cliff paintings and carvings created by the nomads that once lived in northern China. These works depict herding, hunting, sacrificial rites and the lives of the people who lived 3,000 to 10,000 years ago. Images of animals dominate, followed by humans, vehicles, plants, planets, fingerprints and abstract signs.
A dedicated office in charge of protecting the cliff paintings was inaugurated in 2002, which has implemented multiple measures to preserve and extend the existence of these paintings since then. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen)
Staff members study the digitized rubbings of Helan Mountain cliff paintings at Yinchuan World Rock Art Museum in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, July 23, 2025. Helan Mountain is noted for more than 20,000 cliff paintings and carvings created by the nomads that once lived in northern China. These works depict herding, hunting, sacrificial rites and the lives of the people who lived 3,000 to 10,000 years ago. Images of animals dominate, followed by humans, vehicles, plants, planets, fingerprints and abstract signs.
A dedicated office in charge of protecting the cliff paintings was inaugurated in 2002, which has implemented multiple measures to preserve and extend the existence of these paintings since then. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen)
A drone photo taken on July 23, 2025 shows a cliff painting at Helan Mountain rock painting scenic spot in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Helan Mountain is noted for more than 20,000 cliff paintings and carvings created by the nomads that once lived in northern China. These works depict herding, hunting, sacrificial rites and the lives of the people who lived 3,000 to 10,000 years ago. Images of animals dominate, followed by humans, vehicles, plants, planets, fingerprints and abstract signs.
A dedicated office in charge of protecting the cliff paintings was inaugurated in 2002, which has implemented multiple measures to preserve and extend the existence of these paintings since then. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen)
A drone photo taken on July 23, 2025 shows tourists visiting Helan Mountain rock painting scenic spot in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Helan Mountain is noted for more than 20,000 cliff paintings and carvings created by the nomads that once lived in northern China. These works depict herding, hunting, sacrificial rites and the lives of the people who lived 3,000 to 10,000 years ago. Images of animals dominate, followed by humans, vehicles, plants, planets, fingerprints and abstract signs.
A dedicated office in charge of protecting the cliff paintings was inaugurated in 2002, which has implemented multiple measures to preserve and extend the existence of these paintings since then. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen)
A drone photo taken on July 23, 2025 shows staff members examining a cliff painting at Helan Mountain rock painting scenic spot in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Helan Mountain is noted for more than 20,000 cliff paintings and carvings created by the nomads that once lived in northern China. These works depict herding, hunting, sacrificial rites and the lives of the people who lived 3,000 to 10,000 years ago. Images of animals dominate, followed by humans, vehicles, plants, planets, fingerprints and abstract signs.
A dedicated office in charge of protecting the cliff paintings was inaugurated in 2002, which has implemented multiple measures to preserve and extend the existence of these paintings since then. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen)
Reference Link:- https://english.news.cn/20250725/dc8f56d6291b447f8d5046402f9946d9/c.html
Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016, working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…
