Ulaanbaatar, or Ulan Bator, is the capital and largest city of Mongolia. The city is an independent municipality not part of any provinces, and its population as of 2008 is just over 1 million. Located in the north central part of the country, the city is at an elevation of about 1310 m in a valley on the Tuul River. The city is the bigger point in the country for culture, industry and finance. Ulaanbaatar is connected by highway to all the major towns in Mongolia and by rail to the Trans-Siberian Railway and Chinese railroad network. The city was founded in 1639 as a Buddhist monastery center and, in the 20th century, grew into a major manufacturing center.
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Names
Ulaanbaatar has had numerous names in its history. From 1639–1706, it was known as Örgöö (Mongolian: Өргөө, residence), and from 1706–1911 as Ikh Khüree (Mongolian: Их = "great", Хүрээ = "camp"), Da Khüree or simply Khüree. Upon independence in 1911,the city's name changed to Niislel Khüree (Mongolian: Нийслэл = "capital", Хүрээ = "camp"). When the city became the capital of the new Mongolian People's Republic in 1924, its name was changed to Ulaanbaatar, literally "red hero", in honour of Mongolia's national hero Damdin Sükhbaatar, that liberated Mongolia from Ungern von Sternberg's troops and Chinese occupation with the Soviet Red Army. In Europe and North America, Ulaanbaatar was generally known as Urga (from Örgöö) or sometimes Kuren (from Khüree) or Kulun (from 庫倫, the Chinese transcription of Khüree) before 1924.
Geography
Ulaanbaatar is at about 1350 meters (4430 ft) above sea level. For this high elevation, and for the high latitude, and location hundreds of kilometres from any coast, Ulaanbaatar is the coldest national capital in the world, with a subarctic climate.
History
Most important events:
- 1639: The city was Founded.
- 1778: the city settled for good at its current location, near the confluence of the Selbe and Tuul rivers and beneath Bogd Khan Uul, back then also on the caravan route from Beijing to Kyakhta.
- 1911: Mongolian leaders in Ikh Khüree for Naadam met in secret and resolved upon independence from China for their country. On December 29, 1911, the Bogd Khan was declared ruler of an independent Mongolia.
- 1919: the city was occupied by Chinese troops
- 1921: the city has been controlled first by Baron Ungern's Whites Soldateska, and in July to the Soviet-supported Mongolian troops controlled by Sükhbaatar.
- October 29, 1924: the town was renamed to Ulaanbaatar ("red hero") in honour of Sükhbaatar.
- 1956: The Transmongolian Railway, connecting Ulaanbaatar with Moscow and Beijing, was completed.
- Many of the temples and monasteries of pre-socialist were destroyed following the anti-religious purges of the late 1930s.
- After the growth of 1990 many buildings as, cinemas, shops were built. Now the biggest cinema is Urguu and Tengis cinema. Main shopping district is 3rd and 4th distirict.
- 2008, Ulaanbaatar was the scene of riots after the opposition Mongolian Democratic Party protested its defeat by the MPRP in parliamentary elections.
Administration and subdivisions
Ulaanbaatar is divided into nine districts (Düüregs): Baganuur, Bagakhangai, Bayangol, Bayanzürkh, Chingeltei, Khan Uul, Nalaikh, Songino Khairkhan, and Sükhbaatar. Each district is subdivided into Khoroos. The capital is governed by a city council (the Citizen's Representatives Hural) with forty members, elected every four years. The city council appoints the mayor. Ulaanbaatar is governed as an independent first-level subdivision of Mongolia, separate from Töv Aimag, the province that surrounds Ulaanbaatar.
Education
Ulaanbaatar has five major universities:
- National University of Mongolia
- Science and Technological University of Mongolia
- University of Health and Medical Science
- Pedagogical University
- University of Art and Culture.
And a big library, The National Library of Mongolia.
Important places
Most important places in Ulaanbaatar:
- The Choijin Lama Monastery, a Buddhist monastery that was completed in 1908. It escaped the destruction of Mongolian monasteries when it was turned into a museum in 1942.
- The Gandantegchinlen Khiid Monastery, which dates to the 19th century. Its most famous attraction is a 26.5-meter-high golden statue of Migjid Janraisig.
Choijin Lama Monastery and Gandantegchinlen Khiid Monastery are two of the very few in Mongolia to escape the destruction of Mongolian monasteries under Khorloogiin Choibalsan.
Ulaanbaatar has several museums dedicated to Mongolian history and culture.
- The Natural History Museum features many dinosaur fossils and meteorites found in Mongolia.
- The National Museum of Mongolian History.
- The Zanabazar Museum of Fine Arts contains a large collection of Mongolian art, including works of the 17th century sculptor/artist Zanabazar, as well as Mongolia's most famous painting, One Day In Mongolia by B. Sharav.
- The Winter Palace of the Bogd Khan remains as a museum of the last king of Mongolia (1911-1924).
- The Ulaanbaatar Opera House hosts concerts and musical performances.
- Sükhbaatar Square, in the government district, is the center of Ulaanbaatar. In the middle of Sükhbaatar Square, there is a statue of Damdin Sükhbaatar on horseback.
- The Zaisan Memorial, a memorial to Russian soldiers killed in World War II, sits on a hill south of the city.
- National Sports Stadium is the main sporting venue. The Naadam festival is held here every July.
- The Gorkhi-Terelj National Park.
Symbols
The official symbol of Ulaanbaatar is the garuḍa, a mythical bird in both Buddhist and Hindu mythology called Khan Garuda or Khangar'd by Mongols.
Flag
The city’s flag is sky blue with the garuḍa arms in the center.
Sister cities
Seoul, South Korea
Moscow, Russian Federation
Denver, Colorado, USA
Sapporo, Japan
Taipei, Taiwan
Hohhot, People's Republic of China
Images for kids
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Remains of Wang Khan's 12th-century palace in Ulaanbaatar
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Detail of 19th-century painting of Urga (Ulaanbaatar): in the centre the movable square temple of Bat Tsagaan, built in 1654, besides numerous other temples
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The Russian Consulate of Urga (Ulaanbaatar) and the Holy Trinity Church, both built in 1863
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Engraving of N.A.Charushin's panorama photo of the old center of Urga from trip (1888) with Potanin
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A 1913 panorama of Urga. The large circular compound in the middle is the Zuun Khuree temple-palace complex. The Gandan temple complex is to the left. The palaces of the Bogd are to the south of the river. To the far bottom right of the painting is the Maimaicheng district. To its left are the white buildings of the Russian consulate area. The Manjusri monastery can be seen on Mount Bogd Khan Uul at the bottom-right of the painting
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1913 color photo of Gandan Monastery
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Outdoor market near Gandan hill in 1972; State Department Store in the background
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Green areas were increased in the city center during the communist era.
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Map of the districts of Ulaanbaatar
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Peace Gate of the Winter Palace (Amgalan Enkhiin Khaalga in Mongolian, Andimen in Chinese), for which no nails were used
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Throne given to Zanabazar by his disciple the Kangxi Emperor, used by later Jebtsundamba Khutuktus in Urga
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Downtown Ulaanbaatar around Sukhbaatar Square
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Mongolian National Song and Dance Academic Ensemble
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Gorkhi-Terelj National Park is a popular picnic and camping ground all year round.
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Biking event at Peace avenue. Turkish Embassy in the background
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2006 Naadam ceremony at the National Sports Stadium
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The National Library
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Wedding at the Chinggis Square.
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International Food Festival held annually in UB in September.
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Zaisan Memorial is dedicated to the Russian and Mongolian war hero.
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The Chinggis Square and Mongolian Parliament.
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One of many events in the city.
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Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue.
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Aryabal Meditation Center at Gorkhi-Terelj National Park.
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Street art at UB's Peace Avenue
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The Beatles monuments is a popular place for the youth of UB to gather around.
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Ruins of the Tsogchin Temple (1749) of Manjusri Monastery
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A building of the Dambadarjaalin Monastery (1765) in Sukhbaatar District
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Vajradhara Temple (1841) in the center, Zuu Temple (1869) on the left, connected by a passage built in 1945-1946
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Winter residence of the Bogd Gegeen, built in 1903, designed under Tsar Nicholas II
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Zanabazar's Fine Arts Museum, built in 1905 by Russian merchant Gudvintsal as a trading shop
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Ulaanbaatar History Museum, built in 1904 by a Buryat-Mongol merchant
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Choijin Lama temple complex, built in 1904-1908
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West Geser Temple in UB, built in 1919–1920 by Guve Ovogt Zakhar
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Residence of Prince Chin Wang Khanddorj (Minister of Foreign Affairs), built in 1913.
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Holy Trinity Church, built near the old Russian Consulate of 1863
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The National University
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The University of Science and Technology
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