Set in a sweeping valley surrounded by four sacred peaks of the
Khentii range, Ulaanbaatar is the capital of Mongolia. It is
undoubtedly the political, economic and cultural centre of the
nation, and is a city rich in wonderful character. As befitting a
famously nomadic country, it is appropriate that Ulaanbaatar was
established as a moving - and moveable - city back in 1639. After a
few varying locations (though none was very far from the present
site), it stayed permanently in its current location from the later
years of the 18th century.
Though the skyline is dotted with modern buildings such as
skyscrapers, Ulaanbaatar also hosts many traditional yurts - the
felt-covered tents that have been used by Mongolian nomads for
centuries. The city took its current name in 1924, after Mongolian
hero Damdin Sükhbaatar, together with the Soviet Red Army, saved
the country from Chinese occupation. The name 'Ulaanbaatar' means
'Red hero'.