Attractions Guide

The city is a compelling fusion of traditions gers, an integral part of nomadic culture, and a modern buildings with cutting-edge architectural design.

Sukhbaatar district, the founding district of Ulaanbaatar, has become the center of historical museums, monuments, and commercial centers. A few of the most famous landmarks of historical and cultural significance are Sukhabaatar square, Chinggis Khan Equestrian Statue, and Buddhist temples and museums that often interesting insights into its history-Gandan Monastery, Choijin Lama temples Museum,  Winter Place of Bogd Khan. The Imperial Palace, Buddhist monasteries, museums, and natural domains surrounding the capital will not be the reason to pass through but to stay and observe the culture of the capital city, Ulaanbaatar. - National Geographic traveler. 

Gandantegchilen Monastery

 

The largest and most significant monastery of Mongolia resides in a ger (Mongolian traditional dwelling) district. It's easy to visit from the south as Megjidjanaisag (Avaloktesvara) temple will guide you from afar. It has the tallest indoor statue in the world at 26.5 meters high. Do check out the wish tree, the biggest library, and the religious schools to understand the general idea of Buddhis in Mongolia. This attraction is included in our city tour packages with a professional guide who majored in Buddhism. 

Tsoijin Lhama Temple Musiem

The World Monuments Fund included the Choijin Lama Temple Museum in the 2020 World Monuments Watch, one among 25 iconic and monumental sites of great historical significance and contemporary social impact. Founded in 1965, World Monuments Fund is the leading private organization devoted to saving important cultural heritage sites and empowering local communities. The Choijin Lama Temple Museum, constructed in 1904-08 is considered the number one museum among all temples in Mongolia for its beautiful architecture, paintings, sculptures, color, and for both exterior and interior design. The Temple Museum, though converted from religious use 60 years ago, remains in its authentic form as one of the architectural, historical, religious and cultural monuments and one of the few remaining intact examples of the Chinese Mongolian style of temple architecture.

The Fine Art Zanabazar

The Fine Art Zanabazar was founded in 1996. The museum is renowned for the works of G.Zanabazar (1635-1724), which include the statues of Sita Tara, The Five Dhayani Buddhas and the Bodhi Stupa. The Fine Art Musiem was named after Gombodorjiin Zanabazar in 1995. It has 12 exhibition galleries covering that art from ancient civilizations up to the beginning of the 20th Century. Initially opened with over 300 exhibits, the Museum rapidly enriched the number of its objects, with the modern arts becoming a separate division in 1989 as an Art Gallery.  The Museum displays the artistic works of Mongolian masters of the 18-20th Century, coral masks, thangkas, as well as the famous paintings of B.Sharav entitled "A Day in Mongolia" and "Airag fearst". The Museum contains nearly 16600 objects. 

Winter Place of Bogd Khan 

Built between 1893 and 1903, this palace is where Mognolia's eight Living Buddha, and Last King8 Jebtzun Damba hutagt VII (often called the Bogd Khan), loved for 20 years. For reasons that are unclear, the palace was spared destruction by the Russians as turned into a museum. The summer palace, on the banks of Tuul Gol, was completely destroyed. There are six temples on the grounds, each now containing Buddhist artwork, including sculptures and thangkas.        

Zaisan Hill Memorial 

Zaisan is a popular tourist attraction and one of the Highlights of Ulaanbaatar due to the fantastic view it offers over the city.You can also get an aerial view over the yurt districts, and see how many cranes there are rapidly alterning the city skyline with brand new, soviet style apartment buildings. The Memorial includes a 10 meter high statue of a Russian soldier holding a flag, and a circular concrete area on which there is a mural. The Zaisan memorial was erected to commemorate those killed in the WWII between Russia and Germany and Mongolia and Japan and the ensuing peace between these countries.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Sukhabaatar square

In July 1921 in the centre of Ulaanbaatar, Damdin Sukhabaatar (the hero of the revolution) declared Mongolia's final independence from China. A square later built on the spot now bears his name and features at its centre a bronze statue of the revolutionary astride his horse. Is there a little interesting story about why this square often changes its name. In 2013 the city authorities changed the name of the plaza to Chinggis Khaan sq, but in 2016 in Sukhbaatar's descendants won a court battle to restore the original name. 

The State Academic Drama Theater, The State Academic Drama Theater, with its red-colored building of classical design, and the pink building of the State Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet are located close to each other, not far from Ulaanbaatar’s central square. Famous Mongolian plays are performed on the stages of these theaters, along with world-renowned operas, ballets, and plays performed by famous Mongolian and foreign artists. The repertoires of the two theaters, as well as the appearances by leading artists who perform at the world’s largest classical competitions and festivals, are evidence that Mongolia’s classical art has reached a high-level today.

The State Philharmonic. The State Philharmonic, founded in 1957, is composed of three orchestras. They are the Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bayan Mongol band, and a horse-head fiddle ensemble. These groups play national and classical world music, as well as classical jazz, which express unlimited creative character. Mongolia’s horsehead fiddle ensemble has had the wonderful experience of playing the world’s most famous compositions with a traditional Mongolian musical instrument.

The wonder of Mongolian folklore:

Contortion and Folk dance: It is impossible to separate the nature of Mongolian identity and feelings from the country’s ethnic and folk dance. In the central region, Khalkha dancing focuses on the Mongolian’s noble character, ceremonial rites, respect for nature, grace, and swaying of the body. The famed contortion acrobat displays behaviors and body moments of the sacred deities as if jointless. Western Mongolia’s ethnic dancing mainly focuses on swift movements of the arms and chest, shoulder movements, strikes, swinging, and footwork. It is highly worthwhile to see the wonderful performances of contortion and folk dancing by young Mongolians, accompanied by horsehead fiddle playing and the singing of long songs.

Long Song and Throat Singing. Listening to and learning about throat singing and long song will help you to understand the uniqueness of Mongolian identity, their relationship to nature, and their understanding of human nature. In throat singing, one can listen to and discover deep human feelings, feel a connection to nature, hear the sound of water, wind, and wild animals, and see the silhouettes of mountains. The horse-head fiddle’s melodies have the magical power to fill the wide endless steppe with melodious long songs. The music has a wide, free range and deep meaning, and the power to pacify human beings and nature through glorious Melodie

Mongolian National Grand Theatre:This ensemble performs concerts for the guests of the capital city which honor the essence and superiority of Mongolian folk culture. This performance will take you to the peaks of the Altai Mountains soaring towards the sky, to the shores of the amazing Khuvsgul Lake and the immense land of the eastern steppes, and to see the exceptional and beautiful nature of the Southern Gobi. By coming to the performance you will become acquainted with the magnificence of Mongolian dance and see performances of long songs, throat singing, biyelgee dance, and contortion on the same stage.

Mongolia's Grand National Orchestra: Established during the reign of the Great Mongolian khans of the 13th century, the Mongolian Grand National Orchestra performs in accordance with strict order originating from ancient times. The current orchestra is unique, as it revives the music played during the state orchestral performances of the Yuan Dynasty. It can be said that melodies from the eighth century are heard when the orchestra performs. The Grand Orchestra performs during Mongolian state celebrations, ceremonies and for national diplomatic events.

Morin Khuur Enseble: When Morin Khuur (the fiddle) is played, we can feel the vast steppe, a clear blue sky, and hear the sound of horse hooves. Foreigners may carry a wish to visit Mongolia in their dreams, but Mongolians abroad feel the emotions of being in their homeland by shedding tears. The Morin Khuur Ensemble has performed all over the world representing Mongolia on the stages of well¬ known international halls such as the Bolshoi Theater of Russia, the UNESCO Headquarters in France, Musikverein in Austria, the Palace of Nations in Switzerland, Berliner Philharmonie in Germany, and Suntory Hall in Japan.