Let's discover five surprising facts about Ulaanbaatar together!
The coldest capital in the world
When we imagine the coldest capital in the world, people generally think of Moscow, but it only comes in the "third" position. Indeed, Ulaanbaatar wins the title of the coldest capital in the world, with an average annual temperature of -1.3 degrees Celsius. January is often the coldest month of the year. Occasionally, nighttime temperatures can drop as low as -40 degrees Celsius. However, for the rest of the winter, the temperatures are more bearable for visits, with temperatures around -20 C.
Ulaanbaatar” is not the original name of the capital
“Ulaanbaatar”, or “Ulan Bator”, as it is most often spelt, is not the original name of the Mongolian capital. Initially, it was known as Örgöö (Urga) when it was founded in 1639 as the seat of the first Bogd Zanabazar, the country's religious leader. The current name of Ulaanbaatar, meaning “Red Hero”, was adopted in October 1924, 3 years after the Popular Revolution, which saw the liberation of the country from foreign forces.
It experienced three Revolutions during the 20th century
The 20th century was a period in history that saw the emergence of newly independent states, emerging at an unprecedented rate. Mongolia, too, had its share of struggles to gain independence. In 1911, Mongolia was liberated from 200 years of Manchu occupation. The second Revolution took place in 1924, which saw the liberation of Ulaanbaatar (Urga at the time) from Chinese Kuomintang troops and Baron Ungern's White Army troops. The last one took place in 1990 and saw the emergence of a new young and democratic government. This was great because it saw the transition of power to the next government without any civil conflict while several wars spread across the world.
It is served by the Trans-Siberian Railway.
One of the best ways to travel around Mongolia is by train. Indeed, the Trans-Siberian Railway offers a direct connection between Beijing and Moscow. The path passes through Ulaanbaatar, offering a chance to experience the best of three countries in one trip. Over the past decades, many tour operators specializing in the Trans-Siberian Railway have enjoyed success.
The most nomadic city in the world
When founded in 1639, the city was established as a mobile monastic center and was located approximately 350 km from its current location. It has always been moved, strategically, on the trade routes between Russia and China. Some sources differ on the number of times and locations the city has been moved in the past. But, it is obvious that it was moved between 28 and 32 times before settling definitively in its current location at the junction of the Tuul and Selbe rivers in 1778.