TRAVEL Top 5 tourist locations in Ulaanbaatar
In 2017, around 460,000 tourists came to Mongolia from abroad, and spent nearly four billion MNT. Tourism is becoming more and more important in the country, and the capital city has plenty to offer travelers, including Gandan Monastery, Sukhbaatar Square, and Zaisan Hill.
The following is the top 5 most popular tourist destinations in Ulaanbaatar:
5. MONGOLIAN STATE ACADEMIC THEATER OF OPERA
AND BALLET
With regular cultural shows, the theater is a good place for foreigners to explore Mongolian traditional culture. Established in 1963, the theater was initially named the State Musical Drama Theater, but split into the State Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet and the State Academic Drama Theater through a government resolution the same year. The repertoire of the theater has more than 100 national and world classical works, including 56 ballets
and 54 operas. Opera and ballet are an important part of the cultural scene in Mongolia, so just grab the chance to visit the place and enjoy the shows.
“Really enjoyed watching a wonderful Mongolian cultural show in the beautiful Russian-built theater.” - The feedback on TripAdvisor
4. ZAISAN MEMORIAL
On the Zaisan Hill, travelers can
see beautiful views of Ulaanbaatar and historical rudiment from World War ll. The memorial was built to commemorate the Soviet soldiers killed in the war, and it’s on the top of the Zaisan Hill featuring the circular memorial painting that depicts scenes of friendship between the people of Russia and Mongolia. The place itself can let travelers relax once they are on top and the guests can gain some historic information at the same time while viewing the majority of the city from the hill. Also, the memorial ranks the fifth place on Lonely Planet in Ulaanbaatar, a worldwide travel guide book publisher, and gets a score of four (out of five) on TripAdvisor.
3. SUKHBAATAR SQUARE
After arriving in Ulaanbaatar, Sukhbaatar Square will be one of the first and main places to visit for many tourists
because of its deep-rooted historic significance and spectacular scene. In 1921, General D.Sukhbaatar declared Mongolia’s independence and led his arm through the main square of today. The square was later built on the spot where he gave a speech and now bears his name featuring a big statue of him on a horse. The official name was changed in 2013 in honor of Chinggis Khaan, considered the founding father of Mongolia, and then changed back in 2016. Sukhbaatar Square sets in the heart of Ulaanbaatar; it’s also the place where travelers and local people gather.
“This square is simply amazing, not just to photograph but to see so many local activities and events going on throughout the day.” - The feedback on TripAdvisor
2. GANDAN MONASTERY
Around the 19th century, there were more than 100 temples and
monasteries serving a population of about 50,000 in Ulaanbaatar. Only a handful of these buildings survived the religious purges of 1937. It wasn’t until the early 1990s that the people of Mongolia started to openly practice Buddhism again after the religious ban was lifted, and the Gandan Monastery has been restored and revitalized since 1990. The monastery features a statue of Megjid Janraisag that is 26.5 meters tall, which is the largest one in Mongolia. Due to its special historic meaning, the monastery is one of Mongolia’s most important and biggest tourist attractions, winning second place on Lonely Planet in Ulaanbaatar. 1. NATIONAL MUSEUM OF
MONGOLIA
There are many museums in Mongolia, such as Zanabazar Museum of Fine Art and Mongolian Natural History Museum, but why is the National Museum of Mongolia the first place to visit? The museum is a cultural, scientific, and educational organization, which is responsible for the collection, conservation and interpretation of the objects under its curation. Travelers can learn more about the history of Mongolia through cultural heritage and ethnographic collections. It’s also recognized as one of the leading museums in Mongolia because of its responsibility to preserve heritage and develop new technology to present the past life. And it takes the first place on Lonely Planet, TripAdvisor and many other tourist websites.
“It’s UB's only genuine blockbuster sight, offering an unparalleled overview of Mongolian culture.” - Lonely Planet