Mongolia is an independent country, a democracy bordered by Russia and China. There are other regions where Mongolians live, which with modern borders are now in Russia and China. At one time, of course, all of those areas were within the Mongol empire under Ghenghis Khan and his successors. In fact it was the largest contiguous empire in history (the British Empire was larger at its peak, but not contiguous).

Mongolia’s traditional nomadic culture is the epitome of freedom. A family chooses to set up their portable home somewhere to graze their animals, and then moves according to grass and seasons. They herd mainly sheep, goats, horses and camels, and there are also cows, pigs and yaks. These animals provide sustenance in the forms of dairy, meat, wool and pelts (with the short growing season, animal husbandry and meat is crucial). They ride horses to round up herds, to go hunting and to play sports such as racing and mounted archery. Nomads are mostly self-sufficient, and some have moved into the modern era with use of motor vehicles, solar panels and even satellite dishes on their homes!

Mongolian music is a wonder. The horse-head fiddle has a sound that moves you. Often, musicians play a rhythm that evokes a horse’s gait, and at other times the sound can be mournful. Throat singing, which has now influenced sound tracks of films and television worldwide, is pure magic: one person vocalizes two or even three notes at once! The singers accomplish this by training in how to create resonances in their bodies. There are many styles of Mongolian music, from folk and opera to pop and heavy metal!

Mongolia has a beautiful tradition of handicrafts and high religious art, held within homes, museums and monasteries. Modern Mongolian artists actively develop new styles and techniques.

Traditional Mongolian and modern Western medicine likewise coexist, each contributing to health.

There are large and small festivals, the most famous of which is Naadam, where, with much pomp, participants compete in horse racing, wrestling and archery.

Geographically, Mongolia has great variety. There are mountain ranges such as the Altai, crowned by Khuiten Peak at 4,374 meters / 14,350 feet. One of Asia’s largest freshwater lakes, Lake Khovsgol, is a beautiful destination. In other places there are rivers, a salt lake and hot springs. There are vast grasslands, forests, semidesert and the Gobi Desert, where many dinosaur remains are still being found. Mongolia is larger than France, Spain and Germany combined, yet its population is only 3.3 million people.

The capitol city of Ulaanbaatar is modern, with high rises and city traffic. A variety of local and international cuisines is available at hotels and restaurants. The Mongolian language is distinct from other languages in Asia. Many of the youth understand English or other foreign languages. It is a welcoming culture.

Mongolia Commerce