Zaisan Memorial

Зайсан толгой

A Soviet-style circular memorial on a hilltop to the south of the city. After climbing about 300 steps, you can look down over all of Ulaanbaatar and the Tuul River valley, and there is a giant Buddha 23 meters tall at the foot of the hill.

Zaisan Memorial stands on Zaisan Hill, on the far side of the Tuul River south of the city center, at about 1,500 meters, more than 100 meters higher than the city. It was built in 1971 to commemorate the Soviet Union and Mongolia fighting side by side in World War II. The hilltop is a huge circular concrete mural made of mosaics depicting Soviet-Mongolian friendship: from the 1921 revolution, the defeat of the Japanese Kwantung Army, and the 1945 victory, to space cooperation. In the center stands a statue of a soldier holding the Soviet flag. It is a classic example of Soviet memorial aesthetics and also the best place to see the whole of Ulaanbaatar. Looking north you see the downtown high-rises, Gandan Monastery and the ger districts. Looking south you see the sacred Bogd Khan Uul mountain. Reaching the top takes about 300 steps (15 to 20 minutes). At the square at the foot of the hill are a T-34 tank that fought in the Battle of Berlin and a 23-meter gilded statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, completed in 2006, which can be visited for free. In recent years a commercial complex, Zaisan Hill, has been built at the bottom, with an elevator, shops and restaurants. Entry is free. Getting there: a taxi from Chinggis Square takes about 15 to 20 minutes (about 10,000 tögrög), or take bus 7 or 11 to Zaisan stop. On the way down you can stop at the Bogd Khan Palace Museum, the winter palace of the last living Buddha, which is on the route. Note: the steps are steep and unshaded, so bring water and a hat in summer and watch for ice in winter. It is windy, and there are no toilets at the top.

Zaisan Memorial

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