A surprisingly fun guide to the surroundings of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
This year's trip to Mongolia made me remember this offbeat yet interesting country.
Actually, the entire Mongolia stretches quite far from west to east, and it takes more than a week to explore it thoroughly. But if, like us, you only plan a 3-4 day trip, then these places around Ulaanbaatar are worth visiting!
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🌟Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue
About 50km from Ulaanbaatar city center, you can drive yourself or hire a car to get there. The road is decent, and it takes about an hour to drive (assuming no traffic).
This seems to be the largest Genghis Khan statue in the world, standing 40m tall and weighing 250 tons! As you drive along the grassland road, you can see the statue from afar.
The base of the statue has a museum on the first floor, displaying artifacts related to nomadic culture, including a giant boot. The second floor is a restaurant, which apparently requires a reservation. Dining here offers a view of the distant grasslands.
Take the elevator to the horse's head, which is the statue's observation deck. From here, you can take in the stunning views of the grasslands!
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🌟Terelj National Park
A vast area, very suitable for hiking and camping. However, some parts of the road are bumpy and dusty, so be careful if you're driving.
The park's famous attractions include Turtle Rock and the Aryapala Meditation Temple. Turtle Rock is a huge rock shaped like a turtle, where you can ride camels and horses, and some people enjoy rock climbing here. It's quite interesting.
Aryapala Meditation Temple is a delicate, small temple hidden in the mountains and forests. You can meditate inside, and the platform in front of the temple offers a great view. In summer, the mountains are lush green, and in autumn, they turn golden.
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🌟Tuul River
This river extends all the way to Ulaanbaatar city and is considered the mother river of the area. The small woods along the river are quiet and beautiful, making it a perfect spot for picnics and camping.
The river water is very clear, and it's said that locals don't often eat the fish from the river.