Why is the Rock Paintings of Helan Mountains special?
Thousands of paintings of various themes have so far been found in Helan Mountains. According to research, the paintings were made from the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC-476 BC) to the Western Xia Dynasty (1038-1227) by folk artists of northern nomadic tribes, the themes of which include herding, hunting, battles, animals, human and special symbols, and some of them are very exquisite in color.
Rock Paintings in Helan Mountains Highlights
Rock Paintings at Helan Entrance
Rock paintings at the Helan Entrance are very typical in the region. 2,194 rock paintings have been found, keeping track of the real life of China's northern nomadic tribes. The paintings are important for the research of primitive art.
Human Rock Paintings
The human rock paintings appear simple yet bizarre – some of them have horns or feathers on their heads and others may wear either pointed or round hats, while female put on headdresses.
Animal Figures
Animal figures on the rocks are crude but vivid. The images include running deers, galloping coursers, dogs swaying tails etc.