1: Visa and air ticket. The Mongolian visa is very easy to handle, as long as you apply for an electronic visa online, you don't need to queue up at the embassy, you don't need to provide any materials, you can get it for 53 US dollars. The air ticket is also very cheap, and you can buy a round-trip from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar for only about 3,000 yuan. However, the service on the plane is very average, the flight attendants are all cold, the food is not delicious, and they are often late. So everyone should be mentally prepared.
2: Ulaanbaatar City. Ulaanbaatar is the capital and largest city of Mongolia, but it's not that big, with just one street in the city center and the tallest building at 23 floors. The road is full of Japanese and Korean cars, taxis are rare, and there are many private cars, but they all drive very slowly and carefully, because the road conditions are very poor and potholes. There are not many attractions in the city, just a square and a few museums. There are bronze statues of Genghis Khan and statues of his four sons in the square, and the museum has some exhibits of Mongolian history and culture. Actually, there is nothing to see, just some old clothes, old weapons, old documents and so on.
3: Currency exchange and ATM withdrawals. The currency of Mongolia is called MNT, and the exchange rate is about 1 yuan = 400 MNT. It is best to exchange money at a regular exchange office or bank, not on the black market on the side of the road or at the airport, as they will give you fake money or charge high fees. ATM withdrawals are also not recommended because the fees are too high. I suffered a loss, and took more than 400 yuan of Montu, and the handling fee was more than 20 yuan.
4: Ganden Monastery, National Museum of Mongolia, Genghis Khan Square. These three places are the most famous attractions in downtown Ulaanbaatar. Ganden Monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Mongolia and houses a spectacular 26-meter-tall golden statue of Maitreya Buddha. The National Museum of Mongolia is the largest museum in Mongolia and showcases the history and culture of Mongolia from prehistory to modern times. Genghis Khan Square is the central square of Ulaanbaatar, surrounded by government buildings, theaters, hotels, and other buildings. I walked around these three places in half a day, and it felt good, but there was nothing special about it.
5: Avoid people who have nothing to do on the side of the road when taking pictures. This was an important lesson I learned while traveling in Mongolia. Once, when I wanted to take a picture in Genghis Khan Square, I asked a roadside man to help me take it. As a result, he refused to return my phone after filming, and pestered me for money. I said I didn't have any money, so he said give me your phone. I said no, and he said you can go to the ATM with me to withdraw money. I said no, so he said you can go to the hotel with me. I said no, so he said you can go to the grassland with me. I said no, so he said you can go to heaven with me. I said no, and he said you can go to hell with me. I said no, he said then you should die with me. I said no, and he said what should you do? I said what do you do. He said what should you do? We were in a standoff for half an hour, and finally the police came and took him away. So you have to be careful not to ask people who have nothing to do on the side of the road to help you take pictures.
6: Climatic characteristics and dress advice. Mongolia's climate is dry and there is a large temperature difference between day and night, so be sure to bring a jacket and long pants to protect against UV radiation. Summer in Mongolia is actually not too hot, with highs of more than 20 degrees Celsius during the day and even dropping below 10 degrees Celsius at night. Winter is even colder, with temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees. So everyone should choose the right clothes according to the season and weather, not only the temperature, but also the wind and humidity.
7: The Great Statue of Genghis Khan and Terrilki National Park. These two places can be combined for a day trip, not too far away and close to Ulaanbaatar. The Great Statue of Genghis Khan is the world's largest bronze statue on horseback, standing 40 meters tall and perched on a grassland, which is very impressive. You can buy a ticket to the summit and feel the majesty and greatness of Genghis Khan from afar. Třilki National Park is one of the most famous nature reserves in Mongolia, with beautiful grasslands, mountains, rivers, lakes, rocks and other scenery. You can enjoy activities such as horseback riding, boating, camping, bird watching, and other activities there, and enjoy the pristine beauty of nature.
8: Nomadic Culture Experience Village. This is one of my favorite places in Mongolia because I get to experience first-hand the nomadic way of life and customs. The locals will show us how to build a yurt, how to make cheese and milk tea, how to graze and shear sheep, and much more. At noon, we can also eat an authentic finger meat, that is, to eat the mutton with our hands, without knives, forks and chopsticks, which is very primitive and interesting. In the afternoon, we can also enjoy a folk performance, including horse-head fiddle, hoomai, Mongolian wrestling and other items, which are very exciting.
9: Sweets and flavors. One of the characteristics of Mongolians is that they are very fond of sweets, such as chocolate pie, chocolate, candies, sugar, etc. They say it's because they have winters all year round, the weather is cold, and they need high-calorie food to keep warm. They also have a light taste, hardly eat spicy food, and occasionally buy a bag of kimchi to season it. They say it's because they always eat mutton, are prone to fire, and need light food to balance. I think all of this makes sense, but it's also a bit boring. I still like to eat spicy food, I think it tastes better.
10: Travel season and air pollution. The best time to visit Mongolia is in August and September in the summer, when the grass grows and the steppe is green and beautiful. In spring, the weather is changeable, the wind and sand are strong, and the pastures have not turned green, so they look yellow and dry. Not to mention the winter, it's too cold, and Ulaanbaatar burns coal, and the air pollution is high. It was winter when I went, and I could see the gray haze every day, and it felt like I was in Beijing. So if you want to travel to Mongolia, you must choose the right season.
11: Sewer system and road conditions. The sewer system in Ulaanbaatar is very inadequate, I don't see a single outlet there, and every time it rains, the road gets water. Some people will scoop water out with buckets, and some will drive through puddles like speedboats. Only near the government square was there a manhole cover, but it was not known if there were any water pipes in it. Except for the cities, the whole country seems to be a highway, and it is a bit bumpy to go to other places by taking the dirt roads pressed out of the wheels in the grassland. I think all this reflects Mongolia's backward construction and lack of planning.
12: Korean food, Western food, and dairy food. There are a lot of Korean and Western food in Mongolia, and many things are Korean goods, and Inner Mongolians can accept some of them. But I really can't stand it for a long time, and the local milk food is relatively sour, which is different from the milk food in Inner Mongolia. I remember one time, I went to a Korean restaurant and ordered fried chicken and beer, only to be served with a plate of greasy chicken nuggets and a bottle of bitter beer, and I lost my appetite after taking a bite. Later, I went to a western restaurant and ordered a steak and red wine, and it turned out to be a piece of dry beef and a glass of sour wine, and I wanted to vomit after taking a bite. I think these are all desecrations of Korean and Western food.
13: Ulaanbaatar is a small city with a low degree of prosperity, which is equivalent to a fourth-tier city in China. Several well-known shopping malls: Guobai (built with Chinese aid), Ulaanbaatar shopping mall, GOBI cashmere products store, flower market, etc. are not very large. The things sold in the mall are very old, and the clothes are very rare. The more famous Mongolian leather wallets are all pure leather, and the price is cheap, but the style and workmanship are not exquisite. The price of pure cashmere coats, scarves, and gloves is also very low, and you can buy them back to give them away or wear them yourself. But if you're looking for something trendy or upscale, it's hard to find.
14: Cashmere products and leather goods. The best things to buy in Mongolia are cashmere products and leather goods. Mongolia is the world's largest producer and exporter of cashmere, and their cashmere is of very good quality and very cheap. You can buy all kinds of cashmere products such as coats, scarves, gloves, hats, blankets and more at GOBI Cashmere Stores or other specialty stores. They are all 100% pure cashmere and will not be adulterated with other materials. And they all have clear labels and certificates that don't deceive consumers. Leather goods are also one of the characteristics of Mongolia, and they make all kinds of leather bags, wallets, gloves, hats, boots, etc. from cowhide, horse skin, sheepskin, etc. Their leather goods are also cheap, but the workmanship is not too elaborate and the style is not very fashionable. But if you like the raw and rugged feel, you can buy some back.
15: Machismo and the concept of marriage and love. One of the characteristics of Mongolian men is that they are very machismo, they think that the man is the master of the house and the woman is the servant of the house. They often beat their wives, which is a normal thing in their eyes. Therefore, many Mongolian women are reluctant to marry and prefer to raise their own children. In Mongolia, children born out of wedlock are not subject to much criticism from society and family, but are considered to be women's courage and self-reliance. I think these are the sorrows and backwardness of Mongolian society.