Ulaanbaatar is the capital city of Mongolia and its political, cultural, and economic center.
The city stands in the Tuul River valley in north-central Mongolia, surrounded by mountains. Its name means “Red Hero,” a reference adopted in the twentieth century during Mongolia’s socialist period. Earlier names and settlements reflected the city’s history as a mobile monastic center before it became a permanent urban capital.
Ulaanbaatar contains Sükhbaatar Square, named for revolutionary leader Damdin Sükhbaatar, and the Gandan Monastery, one of Mongolia’s most important Buddhist institutions. The National Museum of Mongolia and the Bogd Khan Palace Museum also help preserve the country’s political and religious history.
Because Ulaanbaatar lies at a high elevation and far from moderating oceans, its winters are famously severe. The city has expanded rapidly, with apartment districts alongside ger areas, where many families live in traditional felt dwellings. It is also Mongolia’s main transport hub and gateway to destinations such as the Gobi Desert.