instead --> |nickname УБ (UB, Нийслэл (capital, Хот (city, Азийн цагаан дагина (Asias white [[dakini|fairy]]) |settlement_type |total_type |motto |translit_lang1 Mongolian |translit_lang1_typeMongolian script |translit_lang1_infoImage:Ulaghanbaghatur.svg |translit_lang1_type1Transcription |translit_lang1_info1Ulaɣanbaɣatur |translit_lang2Cyrillic |translit_lang2_typeCyrillic alphabet |translit_lang2_infoУлаанбаатар |translit_lang2_type1Transcription |translit_lang2_info1Ulaanbaatar |motto |image_skyline UlaanBaatar-2009.jpg |imagesize 285px |image_caption |image_flag Mn flag ulaanbaatar.png |flag_size 120px |image_seal |seal_size |image_shield Mn coa ulaanbaatar.png |shield_size 120px |image_map |mapsize |map_caption |image_map1 |mapsize1 |map_caption1 |pushpin_map Mongolia |pushpin_label_position bottom |pushpin_map_caption Location in Mongolia |pushpin_mapsize 285 |coordinates_region MN |subdivision_type Country |subdivision_name Mongolia |subdivision_type1 |subdivision_name1 |subdivision_type2 |subdivision_name2 |subdivision_type3 |subdivision_name3 |subdivision_type4 |subdivision_name4 |government_type |leader_title |leader_name |leader_title1 |leader_name1 |leader_title2 |leader_name2 |leader_title3 |leader_name3 |leader_title4 |leader_name4 |established_title Established as Örgöö ᠥᠭᠦᠭᠡ |established_date 1639 |established_title2 current location |established_date2 1778 |established_title3 Ulaanbaatar |established_date3 1924 |area_magnitude |unit_pref |area_footnotes |area_total_km2 4704.4 |area_land_km2 |area_water_km2 |area_total_sq_mi 1816.3 |area_land_sq_mi |area_water_sq_mi |area_water_percent |area_urban_km2 |area_urban_sq_mi |area_metro_km2 |area_metro_sq_mi |population_as_of 2009-12-31 |population_footnotes Ulan Bator Statistic Bulletin Dec.2008 http://www.statis.ub.gov.mn/index.php?optioncom_content&taskview&id149&Itemid59 |population_note |population_total 1,106,500 |population_density_km2 235 |population_density_sq_mi 603 |population_metro |population_density_metro_km2 |population_density_metro_sq_mi |population_urban |population_density_urban_km2 |population_density_urban_sq_mi |timezone H |utc_offset +8 |timezone_DST |utc_offset_DST |latd47 |latm55 |lats |latNSN |longd106 |longm55 |longs |longEWE |elevation_footnotes |elevation_m 1350 |elevation_ft 4429 |postal_code_type Postal code |postal_code 210 xxx |area_code +976 (0)11 |blank_name_sec1 License plate |blank_info_sec1 УБ_ (_ variable) |blank1_name_sec1 ISO 3166-2 |blank1_info_sec1 MN-1 |website http://www.ulaanbaatar.mn/ |footnotes }} Ulan Bator ( or Ulaanbaatar ( ᠤᠯᠠᠭᠠᠨᠪᠠᠭᠠᠲᠤᠷ English language The Red Hero, is the Capital (political) and largest city of Mongolia The city is an independent municipality, not part of any aimags of Mongolia and its population as of 2008 was just over one million.Ulan Bator Statistic Bulletin May.2008 http://statis.ub.gov.mn/index.php?optioncom_docman&taskdoc_download&gid170&Itemid99999999 Located in the north central part of the country, the city lies at an elevation of about in a valley on the Tuul River It is the cultural, industrial, and financial heart of the country. It is also the center of Mongolias road network, and connected by rail to the Trans-Siberian Railway and the China railway network.http://ulanbator.mn/ Ulan Bator Official Web Portal] The city was founded in 1639 as an initially nomadic Buddhism in Mongolia Buddhist monasticism centre. In 1778 it settled permanently at its present location, the junction of the Tuul and Selbe rivers. Before that it had changed location twenty-eight times, with each location being chosen ceremonially. In the twentieth century, Ulan Bator grew into a major manufacturing centre.

Names

Ulan Bator has had numerous names in its history. From 1639–1706, it was known as Örgöö (also spelled Urga) (, and from 1706–1911 as Ikh Khüree (Mongolian: Их "great", Хүрээ "camp"), Da Khüree (also spelled Da Khure; Chinese: 大库伦, great Kulun or simply Khüree Hüree Upon independence in 1911, with both the secular government and the Bogd Khan s palace present, the citys name changed to Niislel Khüree (Mongolian: Нийслэл "capital", Хүрээ "camp"). It is called Bogdiin Khüree (camp/monastery of the Bogd) in the folk song Praise of Bogdiin Khuree When the city became the capital of the new Mongolian People's Republic in 1924, its name was changed to Ulaanbaatar (Улаанбаатар, Mongolian script Image:Ulaghanbaghatur.svg {{Unicode|Ulaɣan Baɣatur}} literally "red hero"), in honor of Mongolias national hero Damdin Sükhbaatar whose warriors, shoulder-to-shoulder with the Soviet Red Army liberated Mongolia from Ungern von Sternberg s troops and Chinese occupation. His statue still adorns Ulan Bators central square. In Europe and North America Ulan Bator was generally known as Urga (from Örgöö or sometimes Kuren(from Khüree or Kulun(from 庫倫, the Chinese characters transcription of Khüree before 1924, and Ulan Bator afterwards, after the Citation needed|dateMarch 2008}}. The Russian spelling is different from the Mongolian because it was defined phonetically, and the Cyrillic script was only introduced in Mongolia seventeen years later. By Mongols, the city was nicknamed Aziin Tsagaan Dagina (White Maiden of Asia in the late 20th century. It is now sometimes sarcastically called Utaanbaatar (Smog Hero, due to the heavy layer of smog in winter. See Names of Asian cities in different languages#U for other names of Ulan Bator.

History

Pre-1778 settlements

Human habitation at the site of Ulan Bator dates from the Lower Paleolithic Alexey Okladnikov s archeological work in 1949 and 1960 revealed many Paleolithic sites on Mt. Bogd Khan Uul, Buyant-Ukhaa and Mt. Songinokhairkhan. In 1962 various Paleolithic tools were discovered at Mt. Songinokhairkhan as well as Buyant-Ukhaa (23 stone tools) that scholars date from 300.000 years ago to 40.000-12.000 years ago. Okladnikov also revealed an Upper Paleolithic (40.000-12.000 years ago) site on the south-east base of the Zaisan Hill north of Mt. Bogd Khan Uul. Byambyn Rinchen mentions it as an inspiration for his prehistoric novel Zaan Zaluudai The lower strata of this bistratified settlement located at the present-day Zaisan Memorial revealed tools and materials fashioned according to the Levallois technique These Upper Paleolithic people hunted mammoth and wooly rhinoceros the bones of which are found abundantly around Ulan Bator. Red ochre rock paintings from the Bronze Age (3000 years ago) are to be found at Ikh Tenger Gorge on the north side of Mt. Bogd Khan Uul facing the city. The paintings show human figures, horses, eagles and abstract designs like horizontal lines and large squares with over a hundred dots within them. The same style of painting from the same era is found very close to the west of the city at Gachuurt, as well as in Khovsgol Aimag and southern Siberia, indicating a common South Siberian nomadic pastoral culture. Mt. Bogd Khan Uul was probably an important religious cult location for these people. To the north of Ulan Bator there are the vast Noin-Ula Xiongnu burial sites which are over 2000 years old. A Xiongnu tomb has been found in Chingeltei district. The Xiongnu tombs of Belkh Gorge near Dambadarjaalin monastery are under city protection. Located on the banks of the sacred Tuul River ("Khatun Tuul" or Queen Tuul in legend), the area of Ulan Bator was well within the sphere of nomadic empires such as the Xiongnu (209BC-93AD), Xianbei (93AD-4th century), Rouran (402-555), Gokturk (555-745), Uyghur Khaganate (745-840), Khitan people (907-1125) and Mongol Empire (1206–1368). At Nalaikh District there is the important Stele of Tonyukuk (c. 697 AD) inscribed with Turkic Rune script. The inscription is lengthy and it is worth noting that here one can find mentions of a people called "Khitans who were a Mongolic speaking people of the east. A balbal or ancient human statue was chosen as the ceremonial foundation site (Shav of the city when it settled in 1778 at its current location. Now a modern stone turtle sits atop the spot of the ancient balbal near Sukhbaatar Square in the city center. Wang Khan Toghrul of the Kerait a Nestorian Christian monarch who was identified as the legendary Prester John by Marco Polo is said to have had his palace here (the Black Forest of the Tuul River) and forbade hunting in the holy mountain Bogd Uul. The ruins of his palace (15x27 metres with a gate facing south) was found in Songinokhairkhan District in 1949 and excavated by D.Navaan in 2006. This brick palace influenced by Chinese architecture, later also called the Third Palace of Genghis Khan or Yesui Khatun s palace, is where Genghis Khan stayed with Yesui Khatun before attacking the Tangut Japanese and Koreans made special programs about this palace where many important events of Genghis Khans life took place. In 1984 a rich 13th century tomb of a 50-60 year old, 175 cm tall warrior with an ornate golden belt was excavated at Dadart Uul of Mt.Songinokhairkhan. A simple 13th century rock painting of a Mongolian woman with distinct Mongolian headdress can be seen on the north side of Mt Bogd Khan Uul. Abtai Sain Khan is said to have worshipped the mountain in the 16th century as well. The Manchu envoy Toulischen wrote an account of his travels through this region in 1712, describing how his party rested and fished ten to twenty salmon and pike in the river "Tu-la"while one Ko-tcha-eur-tookilled a deer with a gun in the "Han-shan"(i.e., Khan Uul). He also describes the "rich and luxuriant" nature around the "Sung-kee-na"mountains (i.e., Mount Songino Khairkhan).Staunton, Sir George Thomas Narrative of the Chinese embassy to the Tourgouth Tartars1821, London, p. 30

Mobile monastery

Founded in 1639 as a yurt monastery, Ulan Bator, then Örgöö (palace-yurt , was first located at the lake Shireet Tsagaan nuur in what is now Övörkhangai Province around 250 km from the present site of Ulan Bator, and was mainly intended to be the seat of the first Jebtsundamba Khutughtu Zanabazar As a mobile monastery-town, it was often moved to various places along the Selenga Orkhon River and Tuul River rivers, as supply and other needs would demand. During the Dzungar wars of the late 17th century, it was even moved to Inner Mongolia This Shireet tsagaan nuur is located in Övörkhangais Bürd sum. P. Enkhbat, O. Pürev, Улаанбаатар Ulaanbaatar 2001, p. 9f As the city grew, it moved less and less.http://www.ulanbator.mn/index.php?optioncom_content&taskview&id165&Itemid821 Brief history of Ulaanbaatar] In 1778, the city settled for good at its current location, near the confluence of the Selbe Gol and Tuul rivers and beneath Bogd Khan Uul back then also on the caravan route from Beijing to Kyakhta Kohn, Michael [[Lonely Planet]] Mongolia4th edition, 2005 ISBN 1740593596, p. 52 Based on Yundendorjis petition the Qianlong emperor had officially recognized an annual ceremony on Mt. Bogd Khan Uul in 1778 and provided the annual imperial donations. The city became the seat not only of the Jebtsundamba Khutugtus, but also of two Qing Dynasty amban , and a Han Chinese Maimaicheng ( grew several kilometers east of the city center. Since 1778 Urga may have had around 10,000 monks. They were regulated by a monastic rule called the Internal Rule of the Grand Monastery or Yeke Kuriyen-u Dotoadu Durem (for example, in 1797 or the second year of Jiaqing a decree of the 4th Jebtsundamba forbade "singing, playing with archery, myagman, chess, usury and smoking"). Urga was visited by many foreign envoys and travelers, including Egor Fedorovich Timkovskii (1820), N.M.Przhevalsky Pyotr Kozlov M. De Bourbolon (1860) and A.M.Pozdneev. The Russian embassy of 130 persons which arrived in Urga in January 1806 included Count Yury Golovkin Count Jan Potocki Julius Klaproth and Andrey Yefimovich Martynov Timkowski, George Travels of the Russian mision through Mongolia to China and residence in Peking in the years 1820-1821Vol.1, 1827 London, p. 128 In 1863 the Russian Consulate of Urga was opened in a newly built two-storey building. A small onion-domed Chapel of the Holy Trinity was opened the same year.

Revolutions of 1911 and 1921 and Communist era

File:Dzah.jpg By the early 20th century, Ikh Khüree had a population of 25,000, of whom some 10,000 were Buddhist monks or monastery workers.Palmer, James The Bloody White Baron2008, Faber and Faber Limited Press, ISBN 9780571230235, p. 45 In 1911, with the Qing Dynasty in China headed for total collapse, Mongolian leaders in Ikh Khüree for Naadam met in secret and resolved to end more than 200 years of Manchu control of their country. On December 29, 1911 the Bogd Khan was declared ruler of an independent Mongolia and assumed the title Bogd Khan. Khüree as the seat of the Jebtsundamba Khutugtu was the logical choice for the capital of the new state. However, in the tripartite Kyakhta agreement of 1915 (between Russia, China, Mongolia), Mongolias status was changed to mere autonomy. In 1919, Mongolian nobles, over the opposition of the Bogd Khan, agreed with the Chinese resident Chen Yi on a settlement of the "Mongolian question" along Qing-era lines, but before this settlement could be put into effect, Khüree was occupied by the troops of Chinese warlord Xu Shuzheng who forced the Mongolian nobles and clergy to renounce autonomy completely. In 1921 the city changed hands twice. First, in February 1921, a mixed Russian/Mongolian force led by White Movement warlord Roman Ungern von Sternberg captured the city, freeing the Bogd Khan from Chinese imprisonment and killing most of the Chinese garrison. Baron Ungerns capture of Urga was followed by a spree of looting and murder (not much better than what the Chinese had engaged in before they lost the city) and the massacre of Urgas small Jewish community.Palmer, pp. 131-159 On February 22, 1921 the Bogd Khan was once again crowned Khan of Mongolia in Urga.Palmer, 161-163 However, at the same time Baron Ungern was taking control of Urga, a Soviet-supported Communist Mongolian force led by Damdin Sükhbaatar was forming up in Russia, and in March they crossed the border.Palmer 178-9 Ungern and his men rode out in May to meet them but suffered a disastrous defeat in June.Palmer 205-7 In July the Communist Russo-Mongolian army became the second conquering force in six months to enter Urga.Palmer 208-9 On October 29, 1924 the town was renamed to Ulaanbaatar ("red hero") as reference to Sükhbaatar, who had died the year before. In the socialist period, and especially following the Second World War most of the old yurt quarter were replaced by Ugsarmal bair often financed by the Soviet Union. Urban planning began in the 1950s, and most of the city today is the result of construction from 1960 to 1985.Montsame News Agency. Mongolia 2006, ISBN 9992906278, p. 33-34 The Transmongolian Railway connecting Ulan Bator with Moscow and Beijing, was completed in 1956, and cinemas, theatres, museums etc. were erected. On the other hand, many of the temples and monasteries of pre-socialist Khüree were destroyed following the anti-religious Stalinist purges in Mongolia of the late 1930s.

Democratic protests of 1989-1990

Image:Parliament Ulan Bator 3103517130 133284de8b b.jpg Ulan Bator was the site of demonstrations that led to Mongolias 1990 Democratic Revolution in Mongolia On December 10, 1989, protesters outside the Youth Culture Centre called for Mongolia to implement perestroika and glasnost in their full sense. Dissident leaders demanded free elections and economic reform. On January 14, 1990 the protesters, having grown from two hundred to over a thousand, met at the Lenin Museum in Ulan Bator. A demonstration in Sukhbaatar Square on Jan. 21 followed. Afterwards, weekend demonstrations in January and February were held accompanied by the forming of Mongolias first opposition parties. On March 7, ten dissidents assembled in Sukhbaatar Square and went on a hunger strike. Thousands of supporters joined them. More came on March 8, and the crowd grew more unruly; seventy people were injured and one killed. On March 9 the communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party government resigned. The provisional government announced Mongolias first free elections, which were held in July. The Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party won the election and resumed power.Rossabi, Morris Modern Mongolia: From Khans to Commissars to Capitalists2005, University of California Press, ISBN 0520244192. pp. 1-28 Since Mongolias transition to a market economy in 1990, the city has experienced further growth - especially in the yurt quarters, as construction of new blocks of flats had basically broken down in the 1990s.The population has more than doubled to over one million inhabitants, about 50% of Mongolias entire population.This causes a number of social, environmental, and transportation problems. In recent years, construction of new buildings has gained new momentum, especially in the city center, and apartment prices have skyrocketed.

2008 Protests

Image:MPRP Burnt.JPG In 2008, Ulaanbaatar was the scene of riots after the Democratic Party (Mongolia) Civil Movement Party and Republican Party (Mongolia) parties disputed the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party s victory in the Mongolian legislative election, 2008 Approximately 30,000 people took part in a public meeting led by the opposition parties. After the meeting was over some protestors left the central square and moved on to the nearby headquarters of the Mongolian Peoples Revolutionary Party, attacking and burning the building. A police station was also attackedhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7483286.stm BBC.Mongolia calls state of emergency]. At night rioters set fire to the Cultural Palace, where a theatre, museum and National art gallery were vandalised and burned. Torched carshttp://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/02/2292692.htm ABC News.Mongolia clamps down after 5 killed in unrest], bank robberies and looting were reported. The organisations in the burning buildings were vandalised and looted. Police used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons against stone-throwing protestors. A four-day state of emergency was declared, the capital was placed under a 22:00 to 08:00 curfew, and alcohol sales bannedhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7484632.stm BBC.Fatal clashes in Mongolia capital the situation had stabilised], following which measures rioting did not resume http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7486794.stm BBC. Streets calm in riot-hit Mongolia]. Five people were killed and hundreds arrested by the police during the suppression of the riots. Human rights groups expressed concerns about the handling of this unprecedented incident by the authorities.http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/are-mongolian-authorities-getting-away-with-murder-20090115 Amnesty International Are the Mongolian Authorities getting away with murder?]http://www.apwld.org/8_july_2008_mongolia.html Human Rights Coalition statment].

Geography and climate

File:Ulan Bator, Mongolia, 2001.jpg Ulan Bator is located at about 1350 meter (4430 feet above sea level slightly east of the center of Mongolia on the Tuul River a subtributary of the Selenga in a valley at the foot of the mountain Bogd Khan Uul Due to its high elevation relatively high latitude location hundreds of kilometre from any coast and the effects of the Siberian High Ulan Bator is the coldest national capital in the world,Montsame News Agency. Mongolia 2006, ISBN 9992906278, p. 35 with a monsoon influenced, subarctic semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification [[Semi-arid climate#Cold Semi-arid climates|BSk]] with brief, warm summer and long, very cold and dry winter . Precipitation (meteorology) at an annual total of is heavily concentrated in the warmer months. It has an average annual temperature of The city lies in the zone of Permafrost#Continuous and discontinuous permafrost which means that building is difficult in sheltered aspects that preclude thawing in the summer, but easier on more exposed ones where soils fully thaw. Suburb n residents live in traditional yurt that do not protrude into the soil.geography.about.com http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/coldcapital.htm coldcapital.html] lt;/ref> |dateAugust 2010 }}

Panoramas

Administration and subdivisions

Image:Ulan Bator subdivisions.png Ulan Bator is divided into nine districts (Düüreg ): Baganuur Bagakhangai Bayangol Bayanzürkh Chingeltei Khan Uul Nalaikh Songino Khairkhan and Sükhbaatar (district) Each district is subdivided into Khoroo , of which there are 121. The capital is governed by a city council (the Citizens Representatives Hural) with forty members, elected every four years. The city council appoints the mayor. The current mayor is Tüdeviin Bilegt lt;ref>http://www.mayor.mn/index.php?optioncom_content&taskview&id53&Itemid43 Official website of the mayor of Ulan Bator]. Ulan Bator is governed as an independent first-level subdivision of Mongolia, separate from Töv Province the province that surrounds Ulan Bator. The city consists of a central district built in Soviet 1940s and 1950s-style architecture, surrounded by and mingled with residential concrete towerblocks and large yurt quarters. In recent years, many of the towerblocks ground floors have been modified and upgraded to small shops, and many new buildings have been erected, some of them illegally.

Sights

File:Ulan Bator 16.JPG Ulaanbaatar has not seen any war-related destruction except the February 1921 Battle of Urga in which Baron Ungern von Sternberg defeated the 10,000 strong Chinese garrison (who had themselves occupied Urga without a battle). During the Battle of Urga it was mainly the outskirts of the city that suffered damage on the large part due to fires. It was instead Prime Minister Choibalsan s harsh policies in 1937 that led to the destruction of entire sections of the city. The Zuun khuree central palace-temple complex, the nobles residences, many ger districts as well as the main markets were completely destroyed to make way for more modern buildings. Therefore few buildings survive from before 1937. Pre-1937 buildings that survive include: Dambadarjaalin monastery in Sukhbaatar District (1765), Dashchoilin monasterys large yurt chapels (built in 1778), Gandan monasterys golden-roofed Gandantegchinlen temple also called the Tsogchin dugan (1838), Vajradhara temple (1841), Zuu temple (1869), Didan Laviran temple (19th century), the restored Russian Consulate building (1863), Erdem Itgemjit temple (1893) at the Bogd Khans Winter Palace, rest of the buildings at the same Palace (1893–1906), the Museum of Ulaanbaatars History which was formerly the private residence of the rich Buryat merchant Tsogt Badamjav (1904), Zanabazars Art Museum building which was formerly called the Ondor Khorshoo (1905), the two-storey brick headquarters of the mining company "Mongolore" (1905), the tall Megjid Janraisig temple (1913–1914), the residence of Mongolian nobility#Manchu period and Boghda Khaan Mongolia Khanddorj, a prominent noble and politician in the early years of Mongolias independence (1913), the first telephone building where Russian Orthodox choir singers stayed (1914), Georgy Zhukov Museum etc. The building of the Teachers College was originally the government headquarters and dates from 1930. Prime Minister Gendens residence was built in 1930.

Monasteries

File:Gandan Monastery 26.JPG ] File:Winter Palace Bogd Khan 149185394 bfcc8db25b b.jpg Among the notable older monasteries is 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.http://museum.pixel.mn/english/index.php?id8,0,0,1,0,0 Choijin Lama Monastery] Another is the Gandantegchinlen Monastery which dates to the 19th century. Its most famous attraction is a 26.5-meter-high golden statue of Avalokiteśvara Kohn, pp. 63-4 These monasteries are among the very few in Mongolia to escape the wholesale destruction of Mongolian monasteries under Khorloogiin Choibalsan

Winter Palace

Old Ikh Khüree, once the city was set up as a permanent capital, had a number of palaces and noble residences in an area called Öndgiin sürgiin nutag The Jebtsundamba Khutughtu who was later crowned Bogd Khan had four main imperial residences, which were located between the Middle (Dund gol and Tuul rivers. The summer palace was called Erdmiin dalai buyan chuulgan sümor Bogd khaanii serüün ord Other palaces were the White palace (Tsagaan sümor Gьngaa dejidlin, and the Pandelin palace (also called [[Narodakini|Naro Kha Chod]] süm, which was situated in the left bank of Tuul River. Some of the palaces were also used for religious purposes.lt;/ref> The only palace that remains is the winter palace. The Winter Palace of the Bogd Khan (Bogd khaanii nogoon sümor Bogd khaanii öwliin ordon remains as a museum of the last monarch. The complex includes six temples, many of the Bogd Khans and his wifes possessions are on display in the main building.

Museums

Ulaanbaatar has several museums dedicated to Mongolian history and culture. The Natural History Museum features many dinosaur fossils and meteorites found in Mongolia.http://museum.pixel.mn/english/index.php?id2,0,0,1,0,0 Natural History Museum]Kohn, p. 60 The National Museum of Mongolian History includes exhibits from prehistoric times through the Mongol Empire to the present day.Kohn, pp. 61, 66http://www.nationalmuseum.mn/ National Museum] 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 Mongolias most famous painting, One Day In Mongoliaby Marzan Sharav Kohn, p. 61http://www.zanabazarmuseum.org/index.php?id1,0,0,7 Zanazabar Museum of Fine Arts] Pre-1778 artifacts that never left the city since its founding include the Vajradhara statue made by Zanabazar himself in 1683 (the citys main deity kept at the Vajradhara temple), a highly ornate throne presented to Zanabazar by the Kangxi Emperor (before 1723), a sandalwood hat presented to Zanabazar by the Dalai Lama (c. 1663), Zanabazars large fur coat which was also presented by the Kangxi Emperor and a great number of original statues made by Zanabazar himself (e.g. the Green Tara). Puzzle Toys Museum displays a comprehensive collection of complex wooden toys to be assembled by players using sophisticated methods.

Opera house

Image:Opera house Ulan Bator 3103523806 e339241503 o.jpg ] The National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Mongolia situated in the center of the city, hosts concerts and musical performances.

Sukhbaatar Square

Sukhbaatar Square in the government district, is the center of Ulaanbaatar. The square is 31,068 square meters in size.Montsame News Agency. Mongolia 2006, ISBN 9992906278, p. 34 In the middle of Sükhbaatar Square, there is a statue of Damdin Sükhbaatar on horseback. The spot was chosen because that was where Sukhbaatars horse had urinated (a good omen) on July 8, 1921 during a gathering of the Red Army. On the north side of Sükhbaatar Square is the State Great Khural building, featuring a large statue of Genghis Khan at the top of the front steps. Peace Avenue (Enkh Taivny Urgon Chuloo, the main thoroughfare through town, runs along the south side of the square.Kohn, p. 52

Zaisan Memorial

The Zaisan Memorial a memorial to Soviet soldiers killed in World War II, sits on a hill south of the city. The Zaisan Memorial includes a Soviet tank paid for by the Mongolian people and a circular memorial painting which in the socialist realism style depicts scenes of friendship between the peoples of Soviet Union and Mongolia. Visitors who make the long climb to the top are rewarded with a panoramic view of the whole city down in the valley.

National Sport Stadium

National Sports Stadium (Mongolia) is the main sporting venue. The Naadam festival is held here every July.

Surroundings

Gorkhi-Terelj National Park a nature preserve with many tourist facilities, is approximately 70 km from Ulan Bator. Accessible via paved road.
Sky Resort Mongolias first dedicated ski area is located 13 km (8 mi) from Ulan Bator and opened in 2009. The resort has 9 runs of varying difficulty, and 7 lifts. It is located on Bogd Khan Uul

Embassies and Consulates

Among the countries that have diplomatic facilities in Ulaanbaatar are Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Russia, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam.Kohn, Michael. Lonely Planet Mongolia 2008, fifth edition, ISBN 9781741045789, p. 255http://www.embassiesabroad.com/embassies-in/Mongolia GoAbroad.com]http://www.welcome2mongolia.com/travel-and-tourism-of-mongolia/mongolia-travel-guide/foreign-embassies Welcome2Mongolia.com]

Symbols

Image:Naadamceremony2006.jpg ceremony at the National Sports Stadium]] The official symbol of Ulan Bator is the a mythical bird in both Buddhism and Hinduism scriptures called Khan (title) Garuda or Khangard ( by Mongols.

Coat of arms

The appears on Ulan Bators coat of arms In its right hand is a key, a symbol of prosperity and openness, and in its left is a Nelumbo flower, a symbol of peace, equality, and purity. In its talons it is holding a snake, a symbol of evil of which it is intolerant. On the s forehead is the soyombo symbol which is featured on the flag of Mongolia

Flag

The city’s flag is sky blue with the arms in the center.

Education

Image:National University of Mongolia.jpg Ulan Bator has six major universities: * National University of Mongolia * Science and Technological University of Mongolia * Mongolian State University of Agriculture * Mongolian University of Health and Medical Science * Mongolian State Pedagogical University * Mongolian University of Art and Culture Even though relatively small, the Institute of Finance and Economics is popular as a business school in Mongolia. The National Library of Mongolia has a wide selection of English-language texts on Mongolian subjects.Kohn, pp. 54-5 The American School of Ulaanbaatar and the International School of Ulaanbaatar both offer Western-style K-12 education in English for Mongolian nationals and foreign residents.http://www.asu.edu.mn/pages/1/page156.php American School of Ulaanbaatar]http://www.isumongolia.edu.mn/index.php International School of Ulaanbaatar]

Transport

Image:Ulan Bator railway station 2008 1.JPG ] Interurban and international: Ulan Bator is served by the Chinggis Khaan International Airport (formerly Buyant Ukhaa Airport). It is 18 km southwest of the city.Kohn, p. 88 Chinggis Khaan airport is the only airport in Mongolia that offers international flights. Flights to Ulan Bator are available from Tokyo, Japan Seoul Berlin Moscow Irkutsk and Beijing, China http://www.miat.com/routemap.php MIAT Route Map] There are rail connections to the Trans-Siberian railway via Naushki and to the Chinese railway system via Jining, Inner Mongolia Ulan Bator is connected by road to most of the major towns in Mongolia, but most roads in Mongolia are unpaved and unmarked and road travel can be difficult. Even within the city, not all roads are paved and some of the ones that are paved are not in good condition.http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/EASTASIAPACIFICEXT/EXTEAPREGTOPTRANSPORT/0,,contentMDK:20767661~menuPK:2069306~pagePK:34004173~piPK:34003707~theSitePK:574066,00.html Transport in Mongolia] Intra-urban: The national and municipal governments regulate a wide system of private transit providers which operate numerous bus lines around the city. A secondary transit system of privately owned microbuses (passenger vans) operates alongside these bus lines. Additionally, Ulaanbaatar has over 4000 taxis.Montsame News Agency. Mongolia 2006, Foreign Service Office of Montsame News Agency ISBN 9992906278, p. 90 The capital has 418.2 km of road, of which 76.5 are paved.Montsame News Agency. Mongolia 2006, ISBN 9992906278, p. 36

Sister cities

Image:UBTwinCities.JPG According to the citys official websitehttp://ulaanbaatar.mn/index.php?optioncom_content&taskview&id460&Itemid241 Ulaanbaatar.mn: Улаанбаатар хотын ах, дүү хотууд]: *Adana Turkey *Seoul South Korea *Irkutsk Russia lt;ref>http://www.cbs.irkutsk.ru/brat_b.htm Irkustsk sister cities] *Moscow Russia *Saint Petersburg Russia lt;ref>http://translate.google.com/translate?sourceidnavclient&hlen&uhttp%3a%2f%2fwww.kvs.spb.ru%2f%3fp%3ddelovie_missii_sankt-peterburga_za_rubezhom245 Chairman of the Committee for External Relations of St. Petersburg] *Ulan Ude Russia lt;ref>http://www.infpol.ru/newspaper/number.php?ELEMENT_ID14421 Ulan Ude looking for sister cities] *Denver, Colorado United States lt;ref>http://www.denversistercities.org/ulaanbaatarHistory.php Denver Sister Cities] *Bangkok Thailand *Sapporo Japan *Taipei Republic of China *Hohhot People's Republic of China *San Francisco California United States *Bonn Germany *Hanoi Vietnam *Tokyo Japan *Gold Coast Australia http://businessgc.com.au/index.php?pagesister-cities *Delhi India lt;ref>http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/15278423.cms

See also

*Architecture of Mongolia *List of historical cities and towns of Mongolia

References

*

External links

*http://map.gogo.mn/en/ Digital map of Ulan Bator] yurt districts including *http://www.iras.ucalgary.ca/~volk/sylvia/Pozdneyev.htm "Urga or Da Khuree"] from A. M. Pozdneyevs Mongolia and the Mongols * Category:Ulan Bator Category:Capitals in Asia Category:Populated places established in 1639 Category:Provinces of Mongolia Category:Alliance for Healthy Cities ace:Ulan Bator af:Ulaanbaatar am:ኡላዓን ባዓታር ar:أولان باتور bn:উলানবাটর zh-min-nan:Ulaanbaatar be:Горад Улан-Батар be-x-old:Улан-Батар bo:ཝུ་ལན་བ་ཐུར bs:Ulan Bator br:Ulaanbaatar bg:Улан Батор ca:Ulan Bator cv:Улан Батор cs:Ulánbátar cy:Ulan Bator da:Ulan Bator de:Ulaanbaatar et:Ulaanbaatar el:Ουλάν Μπατόρ myv:Улан-Батор ош es:Ulán Bator eo:Ulaanbaataro eu:Ulan Bator fa:اولان‌باتور hif:Ulan Bator fr:Oulan-Bator ga:Ulánbátar gd:Ulan Bator gl:Ulán Bátor - Улаанбаатар xal:Улан Баатр ko:울란바타르 hy:Ուլան Բատոր hr:Ulan Bator io:Ulan Bator id:Ulan Bator ie:Ulan-Bator os:Улан-Батор is:Úlan Bator it:Ulan Bator he:אולן בטור ka:ულან-ბატორი kk:Ұлан-Батыр sw:Ulaanbaatar kv:Улан-Батор ht:Oulan-Batò la:Urga lv:Ulanbatora lb:Ulan Bator lt:Ulan Batoras lmo:Ulan Bator hu:Ulánbátor mk:Улан Батор mr:उलानबातर mzn:اولانباتار ms:Ulan Bator mn:Улаанбаатар nl:Ulaanbaatar ja:ウランバートル no:Ulan Bator nn:Ulan Bator nov:Ulaanbaatar oc:Ulaan Baatar pms:Ulaanbaatar pl:Ułan Bator pt:Ulaanbaatar ro:Ulaanbaatar ru:Улан-Батор sah:Улаанбаатар sq:Ulan Bator scn:Ulan Bator simple:Ulan Bator sk:Ulanbátar sr:Улан Батор fi:Ulan Bator sv:Ulan Bator tl:Ulan Bator ta:உலான் பாடர் tt:Ulaanbaatar th:อูลานบาตอร์ tg:Улан-Батор tr:Ulan Batur uk:Улан-Батор ug:Ulanbatur vi:Ulan Bator war:Ulaanbaatar yi:אולאן באטאר yo:Ulan Bator diq:Ulan Bator zh:乌兰巴托