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Uliastai
ℹ️Practical info — Uliastai
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Uliastai is one of Mongolia's oldest settlements; take time to explore the historical remains from the Qing Dynasty era.
- Climb Javkhlant Hill for the best panoramic view over the city and the surrounding Khangai Mountains.
- In winter, this is one of the coldest places in the country; extreme cold-weather gear is absolutely necessary.
- Use the city as a base for expeditions to the sacred Otgon Tenger mountain and the nearby alpine lakes.
- The drive here is long and rugged; domestic flights are the most comfortable way to reach this remote region.
🍽 Food
Yak meat is common in this mountain region; try it in a hearty stew at the local 'Guanz' eateries.
The yogurt and butter from the Khangai mountains are famous for being particularly creamy and rich.
Look for small family-run places in the center serving handmade dumplings filled with mountain beef.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
Find raw wool and hand-knitted items from local nomads that are exceptionally durable and warm.
Small shops offer traditional Mongolian knives and leatherwork with unique regional decorations.
A quiet walking path along the river, offering relaxation and views of clear mountain water.
Hike a short distance out of town into the hills to experience the total silence of the Mongolian mountains.
Water temperature…
Uliastai ranks among Mongolia's oldest towns, set at 1,760 metres above sea level in the Khangai Mountains on the Bogdyn Gol River. The Qing dynasty founded it in 1733 as Jiangjun yamen, the principal Manchu garrison in the west, intended to control the empire's northwestern frontier. Today it is the capital of Zavkhan Province, with about 17,000 inhabitants, 984 kilometres west of Ulaanbaatar. During the Qing era roughly 3,000 Manchu soldiers and Chinese officials were permanently stationed here, and the town comprised offices, warehouses and horse-relay stations. In 1911 Uliastai was the scene of a bloody anti-Manchu uprising that helped trigger the independence movement of Outer Mongolia. Soviet-style apartment blocks now mingle with the older wooden and adobe houses of the historic core. Winters are brutal, dipping to minus 45 degrees, yet the mountain climate also delivers surprisingly many sunny days throughout the year.
- Location: Mongolia
- Top sights: Muzei · Dramyn teatr · Uliastai Fortress
- Nearby: Altai (67 km)
- Population: ~16.265 (2026)
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | -20 | -18 | -10 | 0 | 6 | 12 | 15 | 12 | 5 | -2 | -11 | -18 |
| Rain mm | 4 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 19 | 43 | 55 | 48 | 20 | 11 | 9 | 6 |
Geography
Facts
- Gegründet 1733 als Mandschu-Garnison Jiangjun yamen
- Bevölkerung rund 17.000 Einwohner
- Auf 1.760 Metern Höhe im Khangai-Gebirge
- Hauptstadt der Provinz Zavkhan
- Während Qing-Zeit 3.000 Mandschu-Soldaten stationiert
- Aufstand 1911 leitete mongolische Unabhängigkeit ein
- 984 Kilometer westlich von Ulaanbaatar
- Wintertemperaturen unter minus 45 Grad
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Sights in the town Uliastai (6)
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