Ulaanbaatar (Улаанбаатар)

Ulaanbaatar (often referred to as Ulaan Baatar or UB) is the quiet capital of Mongolia. It is somewhat neglected and dominated by communist style high-rise buildings. Among the colorful people and traffic, cows and goats roam the streets. Ulaanbaatar sits on the Tuul River and is surrounded by scenic mountains. On the outskirts are large areas, where people live in traditional felt gers, which are protected by wooden fences from fierce winds that usually occur in spring. There are several hills around the city that provide good views over Ulaanbaatar, but during the freezing cold winter, pollution often obscures good views. The Bogdkhan Uul mountains that surround the capital include the Four Holy Peaks.

Ulaanbaatar was founded in 1639 as a nomadic Buddhist monastic centre named Örgöö. After changing its location for 28 times, the city was finally established on its current location in 1778. Nowadays, about half of Mongolia's population live in Ulaanbaatar.

The Sükhbaatar Square is the center of the city and the place where Damdiny Sükhbaatar declared Mongolia's independence from China in 1921. His statue stands in the middle of the square, while on the northern side you can see a statue of Chinggis Khan. The fall of communism was proceeded by protests on the same square in 1989, but usually it's a quiet place. The square is surrounded by the State Parliament House and the Palace of Culture, a tall building that houses the Mongolian Art Gallery, as well as several other important exhibitions. Many buildings in the center of the city were built in Soviet style during the 1940's and 1950's. After the collapse of communism in the early 1990's and especially since 2010, a construction boom has seen countless new high-rise apartment- and office blocks being built in central Ulaanbaatar, as well as new settlement areas in the city's outskirts.

The Museum of Natural History is in the vicinity and a good place to have a look before heading for the countryside, to give you an idea of things to expect. Exhibitions include Mongolia's geography, wildlife and recent history. Two dinosaur skeletons, found in the Gobi desert are also on display there. Art can be seen at the Zanabazar Museum of Fine Arts. Its collection includes paintings, sculptures and carvings, as well as some religious art. Especially the thangkas (cloth paintings) and Buddhist statues are interesting.

One of the capital's most magnificent sights is the Gandantegchinlen Khiid (meaning 'the great place of complete joy'). It is the only surviving monastery in Ulaabaatar, after Stalinists destroyed the majority of the more than 100 Tibetan Buddhist süm (temples) and khiid (monasteries) that existed in the city in the 1930's. The Gandantegchinlen Khiid survived because the communists wanted to have something to impress foreigners with. The monastery includes several temples adorned with gold and jewels. Some 150 monks live there and ceremonies take place all the time.

Another building that was not destroyed by the communists is the Winter Palace of Bogd Khaan. It was built between 1893 and 1903 and home to Mongolia's 8th Bogd Khaan (Living Buddha) and last king. The Bogd Khaan lived there for 20 years and after his death in 1924 the communist government prohibited any future reincarnations, so there were no further Mongolian Buddhist leaders. There are six different temples on the palace grounds, which contain collections of gifts the Bogd Khaan received.

Other sights in Ulaanbaatar include the socialist monument complex at Zaisan Memorial, which offers great views over the city and the Choijin Lama temple. Mongolia's tallest building is the 91.5 m tall Shangri-La Hotel complex.

There are several shopping districts in Ulaanbaatar. They include the 3rd Microdistrict Boulevard, which is commonly referred to as Khoroolol or 'the District', Peace Avenue around the State Department Store, usually called Ikh Delguur or the 'Great Store' and the Narantuul 'Black Market' area, normally called Zakh or simply 'the Market'.

In Ulaanbaatar you'll also find several cinemas, a ski resort, a few indoor stadiums, large department stores and a large amusement park. There are many hotels and restaurants in Ulaanbaatar, including the familiar big chains. The city has good air and road connections with many other towns in Mongolia.