Mongolia Cities Travel GuideIn Mongolia, cities are few and far between. In fact, Mongolia ranks as the most sparsely populated country in the world. Imagine your neighborhood contained only one other person, you've imagined Mongolia! But even in the depths of the Gobi you can stumble upon a city...
Choir: capital of the Gobisumber province Early history of Mongolia citiesThe earliest cities started life as nomadic settlements. Even the capital Ulaan Baatar, began life as a nomadic camp. It once crossed the national border! Many of Mongolia's early cities became 'fixed' around the Silk Road—a trading route. The cities acted as stop of points for camel caravans and became important trading posts. A second wave of cities grew around Buddhist monasteries. In those days, most Mongolia cities were inhabited by monks under monastic orders. Many of these cities still exist. Modern Mongolia CitiesIn the 1930s, the urban landscape changed completely. A Soviet government banned Buddhism, demolished monasteries and redesigned existing cities according to the Russian blueprint. In fact, Mongolia's top four cities were all either built or heavily developed by Russia. The rest of this page describes those cities: Ulaan Baatar, Erdenet, Darkhan and Choibalsan. Or click here to read about some of the more ancient and remote cities you may encounter on your trip. Ulaan BaatarThe capital of Mongolia : Ulaan Baatar has a population of just over one million. This may seem small, but to a nomad it's immense. One of my Mongol friends refuses to accept that any city could be bigger. Ulaan Baatar hosts Mongolia's only international airport and acts as the hub point for all Mongolia cities. Hidden secrets: At one point Ulaan Baatar crossed the Mongolian—Chinese border! Getting here / what to see: Too much to mention on this page. Click here for information about Ulaan Baatar's attractions and information on how to get here. ErdenetWith a population of just eighty-seven thousand, Erdenet ranks as Mongolia's second-largest city. Hidden secrets: Erdenet contains the world's fourth-largest copper deposit, jointly mined by Russia and China. What to see: Not really a tour destination. But many people use Erdenet as a jumping of point for trips in the West of Mongolia. If you're returning from a trip, then you might like to try Erdenet's Olympic sized swimming pool. How to get there: You can arrive by train or take the Ulaan Baatar—Erdenet road. DarkhanMongolia's third-largest city was built by Russia, using some of the money it gained from Mongolia's mineral wealth. The city has become Northern Mongolia's manufacturing center. What to see: Don't miss the Kharagiin Buddhist Monastery and the Traditional Museum of Folk Art.
How to get there: Darkhan is at the midpoint of the Ulaan Baatar—Erdenet road. You can also catch the train to Darkhan from Ulaan Baatar's Main Railway Station. ChoibalsanBulgan Tumen has existed as a trading post for centuries. But in the 1940s a socialist government renamed the city after its president. Hidden secrets: Russia built a large military base close to the city, now abandoned. You can still find small souvenirs (for example, insignia buttons) if you go exploring. What to see: For a fee you can visit a museum dedicated to Gerorgy Zukov—the hero of the nearby battle of Khalkhin Gol. But it costs nothing to explore the abandoned Soviet Military Base. Or use the city as a base for exploring the spectacular countryside. How to get there: The city has an airport (codes: COQ / ZMCD) with a paved runway and receives daily flights from Ulaan Baatar. Related Pages
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