Ulaanbaatar

Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, is a city in flux. Rapid modernization has brought high-rise buildings and luxury hotels to the city center, while traditional gers (yurts) still dot the outskirts. The result is an eclectic mix of the old and new, East and West. The city’s main attraction is its history. The National Museum is home to a vast collection of relics from the Mongolian Empire, while the Bogd Khan Winter Palace, once the residence of the last emperor of Mongolia, is now a museum of Buddhist art. There are also plenty of temples and monasteries to explore, including the towering Zanabazar Museum of Fine Arts. Ulaanbaatar is also a great place to shop, with everything from traditional Mongolian handicrafts to modern electronics available in the city’s markets.