Time Zone |
Asia/Shanghai |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+8 |
Daylight Saving Time |
Daylight saving time is not observed in the current region. |
Time Zone |
Africa/Niamey |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+1 |
Daylight Saving Time |
Daylight saving time is not observed in the current region. |
Helan County is located in the northwestern part of Yinchuan City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, in the Ningxia Plain and the eastern foot of Helan Mountain, named after the mountain, known as the "Pearl on the Seas". With the lofty Helan Mountains in the north, the rich Yinchuan Plain in the south and the Yellow River passing through the city, the area has nurtured a unique history of blending farming and nomadic civilization. As a world cultural heritage, Helan Mountain petroglyphs record the life totems of ancient ancestors and are the outstanding representatives of northern petroglyphs; while the eastern foothills of Helan Mountain are the world-recognized golden production area of wine grapes, where famous wineries such as Zhangyu and Ningxia are gathered, and the wines they produce have won many international awards. In recent years, Helan, relying on natural and cultural resources, has vigorously developed cultural and tourism integration industry, and has become an important window to show the style of "South River on the Seas" in Ningxia, attracting tourists from all over the world to explore the gifts of history and nature.
Diffa, the capital of the Diffa region in southeastern Niger, is located on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert and shares a border with Nigeria, making it one of the most important border cities in Niger. The city is located in the lower Niger River basin around the climate of the tropical desert climate, hot and dry throughout the year, the average annual precipitation is less than 300 millimeters. The economy is based on agriculture and animal husbandry, and the surrounding areas are rich in millet, sorghum and livestock. Diffa, as a regional trade center, undertakes the function of cross-border trade with neighboring countries, such as Nigeria, and is especially famous for the trade of livestock, agricultural products and handicrafts. The city is culturally diverse, with Hausa, Tuareg and Kanuri ethnic groups living in the area, and is unique in its crafts such as traditional leather weaving and silversmithing. Despite infrastructural challenges, Diffa remains an important economic and cultural node in the south-east of the Niger, thanks to its strategic location and rich cultural heritage.