The Capital
Ulaanbaatar
Mongolia's capital lies in the valley of the Tuul river, ringed by mountains, with the sacred Bogd Khan Uul to the south. It began as Örgöö, a moving monastic camp of the Jebtsundamba Khutuktus, settled on its present site in the eighteenth century and took the name Ulaanbaatar, 'Red Hero', in 1924.
- Area
- 4,704 km²
- Population (2025)
- 1,673,279
- Population (2020 census)
- 1,539,810
Overview
Today it is the political, economic and cultural centre of the country, with its national museums, monasteries and theatres, and the gateway for almost every journey into the countryside.
Highlights
- Gandan Monastery, the country's principal Buddhist monastery
- Sükhbaatar Square, the Government Palace and the National Museum of Mongolia
- The Winter Palace of the Bogd Khan
- The Zaisan Memorial, with views over the city
- The Tonyukuk inscriptions in the Nalaikh district
When to Go
Year-round; the Naadam festival on 11–13 July is the busiest and most colourful time to visit.
Districts
Ulaanbaatar has 9 districts, from the six central city districts to Nalaikh, Baganuur and Bagakhangai on the outskirts.
| District | Mongolian | Population (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| BayangolБаянгол | Баянгол | 254,710 |
| BayanzürkhБаянзүрх | Баянзүрх | 452,195 |
| SonginokhairkhanСонгинохайрхан | Сонгинохайрхан | 339,203 |
| SükhbaatarСүхбаатар | Сүхбаатар | 141,023 |
| Khan-UulХан-УулWinter Palace of the Bogd Khan | Хан-Уул | 283,010 |
| ChingelteiЧингэлтэй | Чингэлтэй | 129,116 |
| BagakhangaiБагахангай | Багахангай | 4,249 |
| BaganuurБагануур | Багануур | 28,949 |
| NalaikhНалайхTonyukuk Inscriptions | Налайх | 40,824 |