Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue
Чингис хааны морьт хөшөө
The world's largest equestrian statue: a 40-metre stainless-steel Genghis Khan standing on the steppe, with a viewing platform in the horse's head. It is Ulaanbaatar's most photogenic landmark.
The Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue stands in Tsonjin Boldog, about 54 km east of Ulaanbaatar. Legend says Genghis Khan found a golden whip here. Completed in 2008 to mark the 800th anniversary of Mongolia's founding, it is made from 250 tonnes of stainless steel and stands 40 metres tall (50 metres including its 10-metre base). It faces east, toward Genghis Khan's birthplace, and is the world's largest equestrian statue.
The base building houses a museum with Bronze Age artifacts and objects from the Xiongnu period, a 9-metre-tall giant Mongolian boot (a Guinness World Record), and paid dress-up in Mongolian royal costumes. An elevator or stairs lead to a viewing platform at the horse's neck, offering a 360-degree view of the steppe and of the statue itself. Around it stand 36 pillars representing the 36 khans. Most of the planned tourism complex has not yet been built.
Entry costs about 30,000 tugriks for foreigners and includes the museum and viewing platform. Near the parking area, you can pay to ride horses or camels, or to pose with a falcon. Transport: it lies in the same direction as Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, and nearly every one- or two-day Terelj tour stops here for about an hour. By car, it is about 1.5 hours from the city.
Notes: the viewing platform is small, and queues form in peak season. The steppe is windy, so hold on to your hat. There are few restaurants nearby, so eat in the city before setting out.
Opening hours
09:00–18:00 (until 19:00 in summer)
Nearby sights
- Turtle Rock
- Aryabal Meditation Temple
- Gorkhi-Terelj National Park
- 13th Century Complex
- Sky Resort Ulaanbaatar
- Manzushir Monastery & Bogd Khan Mountain
- Narantuul Market
- International Intellectual Museum