What is the capital of Mongolia?

The capital of Mongolia is Ulaanbaatar. It is the country’s political, cultural, industrial, and financial center, located in north-central Mongolia in a valley along the Tuul River.

The city began in 1639 as a mobile Buddhist monastic center and changed location 29 times before settling at its present site in 1778. For centuries it was known internationally as Urga and served as an important stop on the trade route between Beijing and Kyakhta in Russia.

In 1924, after Mongolia became a people’s republic, the city was officially renamed Ulaanbaatar, meaning “Red Hero.” That name replaced several earlier names, including Örgöö and Urga. A common mix-up is confusing Ulaanbaatar with Astana, another capital of the Central Asian region.

Ulaanbaatar is also famous for its extreme climate. At roughly 1,300 meters above sea level and far from any ocean, it is widely regarded as the world’s coldest national capital by average annual temperature. Its traditional ger districts and severe winter air pollution are also defining features of modern urban life.