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Ulaanbaatar
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Overview
If Mongolia鈥檚 yin is its pristine countryside, then Ulaanbaatar (UB; 校谢邪邪薪斜邪邪褌邪褉) harmonises as its vibrant yang. It's a sprawling, industrialised city of pulsating commerce, wild traffic, sinful nightlife and bohemian counterculture. The contrasts within the city are intriguing: Armani-suited businessmen rub shoulders with mohawked punks and del-clad nomads fresh off the steppes; one minute you鈥檙e dodging the path of a Hummer H2 and the next you鈥檙e entranced by chanting Buddhist monks at Gandan Khiid. It's the coldest capital in the world, but come summer the city bursts into life after slumbering through a long winter.
Attractions
Must-see attractions
Ulaanbaatar
Around the start of the 19th century more than 100 s眉m (temples) and khiid (monasteries) served a population of about 50,000 in Urga (the former name of鈥
Ulaanbaatar
In July 1921 in the centre of Ulaanbaatar, Damdin S眉khbaatar (the 鈥榟ero of the revolution鈥) declared Mongolia鈥檚 final independence from China. A square鈥
Ulaanbaatar
Mongolia鈥檚 wonderful National Museum sweeps visitors from the Neolithic era right to the present day. It鈥檚 UB's only genuine blockbuster sight, offering鈥
Ulaanbaatar
This temple museum smack in the middle of downtown Ulaanbaatar was the home of Luvsan Haidav Choijin Lama (鈥楥hoijin鈥 is an honorary title given to some鈥
Winter Palace of the Bogd Khan
Ulaanbaatar
Built between 1893 and 1903, this palace is where Mongolia鈥檚 eighth Living Buddha, and last king, Jebtzun Damba Hutagt VIII (often called the Bogd Khan),鈥
Ulaanbaatar
Built by the Russians to commemorate 'unknown soldiers and heroes' from various wars, the Zaisan Memorial features stirring socialist realism imagery with鈥
Ulaanbaatar
This fine-arts museum has a superb collection of paintings, carvings and sculptures, including many by the revered sculptor and artist Zanabazar. It also鈥
International Intellectual Museum
Ulaanbaatar
This museum contains an intriguing collection of puzzles and games made by local and international artists. One puzzle requires 56,831 movements to鈥
Plan with a local
Articles
Latest stories from Ulaanbaatar
History
Winter on the steppe: why you should consider visiting Mongolia in low seasonJan 6, 2020 鈥 6 min read
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