1 14TH MBD MISSION FOR MBCC'S "DOING BUSINESS WITH MONGOLIA SEMINAR & CHRISTMAS RECEPTION" AND BUSINESS PROGRAM DEC 08- 14. 2025 LONDON, UK WWW.MONGOLIANBUSINESSDATABASE.COM PUBLISHED:2025/09/16      2 IMF WRAPS UP 2025 ARTICLE IV TALKS WITH MONGOLIA WWW.IMF.ORG PUBLISHED:2025/09/16      3 POSCO INTERNATIONAL TO LAUNCH WASTEWATER HEAT DISTRICT HEATING PROJECT IN MONGOLIA WWW.CM.ASIAE.CO.KR  PUBLISHED:2025/09/16      4 MONGOLIA'S EXTERNAL DEBT UP 12.7 PCT IN Q2 2025 WWW.NEWS.AZ PUBLISHED:2025/09/16      5 2025 AUTUMN SESSION OF THE STATE GREAT KHURAL COMMENCES WITH STRUCTURAL REFORMS WWW.MONTSAME.MN PUBLISHED:2025/09/16      6 MONGOLIA SURPASSES 617,000 TOURIST ARRIVALS BY MID-SEPTEMBER 2025 WWW.MONTSAME.MN PUBLISHED:2025/09/16      7 ODD-EVEN TRAFFIC RESTRICTION CONCLUDES WWW.UBPOST.MN PUBLISHED:2025/09/15      8 MMC ANNOUNCES FIRST GOLD POUR COMPLETED AT THE BAYAN KHUNDII MINE IN MONGOLIA WWW.SG.FINANCE.YAHOO.COM  PUBLISHED:2025/09/15      9 MKE LAUNCHES CARTRIDGE PRODUCTION LINE IN MONGOLIA WWW.RAILLYNEWS.COM  PUBLISHED:2025/09/15      10 MONGOLIA’S LARGEST MINING EVENT HIGHLIGHTS INVESTMENT AND RESPONSIBLE MINING WWW.MONTSAME.MN PUBLISHED:2025/09/14      14 ДЭХЬ УДААГИЙН MBCCI’S “ DOING BUSINESS WITH MONGOLIA SEMINAR & CHRISTMAS RECEPTION” B2B NETWORKING БОЛОН БИЗНЕС ХӨТӨЛБӨР 2025 ОНЫ 12 САРЫН 08 -13 ЛОНДОН ХОТ, ИХ БРИТАНИ WWW.MONGOLIANBUSINESSDATABASE.COM НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/09/16     ЭДИЙН ЗАСГИЙН ТӨРӨЛЖИЛТИЙН ИНДЕКСЭЭР МОНГОЛ УЛС 145 ОРНООС 139-Д БИЧИГДЖЭЭ WWW.GOGO.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/09/16     ӨНӨӨДӨР: “СЭЛБЭ 20 МИНУТЫН ХОТ”-ЫН ДАРААГИЙН ЭЭЛЖИЙН ОРОН СУУЦНЫ ТӨСЛИЙН БҮТЭЭН БАЙГУУЛАЛТЫГ ЭХЛҮҮЛНЭ WWW.MONTSAME.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/09/16     ШЭНЬ МИНЬЖУАНЬ: БНХАУ МОНГОЛ УЛСЫГ ШХАБ-ЫН ГЭР БҮЛД НЭГДЭЖ, ХАМТЫН АЖИЛЛАГААГАА ӨРГӨЖҮҮЛЭХИЙГ УРЬСАН WWW.ITOIM.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/09/15     Г.ЗАНДАШАТАР: ТӨРИЙН ДАНХАР БҮТЦИЙГ ХУМИХ АЖИЛ ИРЭХ ОНД Ч ҮРГЭЛЖИЛНЭ WWW.EGUUR.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/09/15     Ц.ТУВААН: НҮҮРСНИЙ ҮНЭ 3 САР ТУТАМ ШИНЭЧЛЭГДЭНЭ. ГЭРЭЭНД ЯМАР Ч НУУЦ БАЙХГҮЙ WWW.EGUUR.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/09/15     ХАНЫН МАТЕРИАЛД 1800 АЙЛЫН ОРОН СУУЦ БАРИХ ТӨСЛИЙН ГҮЙЦЭТГЭГЧ ШАЛГАРЛАА WWW.ITOIM.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/09/15     "ТАТВАРЫН ХЭТ ӨНДӨР ТООЦОО БИЗНЕС ЭРХЛЭГЧДИЙГ ХААЛГАА БАРИХАД ХҮРГЭНЭ" WWW.NEWS.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/09/15     ГАДААД ХУДАЛДААНЫ НӨХЦӨЛИЙН ИНДЕКС ӨМНӨХ ОНООС 4.1 ХУВИАР БУУРЧЭЭ WWW.EAGLE.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/09/15     ЭХНИЙ НАЙМАН САРЫН БАЙДЛААР 600 МЯНГАН ЖУУЛЧИН ИРЖЭЭ WWW.MONTSAME.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/09/15    

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MBCC “Doing Business with Mongolia seminar and Christmas Receptiom” Dec 10. 2024 London UK MBCCI London UK Goodman LLC

NEWS

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The world’s first national park isn’t in the US. It’s in Mongolia www.cnn.com

Many American schoolchildren grow up learning that Yellowstone was the world’s first national park. But across the globe in Mongolia, just south of the capital, Ulaanbaatar, a mountain holds a claim to the crown.
Like many things in Mongolia, that mountain has a connection to Chinggis Khan (also known as Genghis Khan), who founded the Mongol empire in the 1200s and whose name and likeness are ubiquitous in present-day Mongolia.
Toghrulkhan (known as Toghrul or Ong Khan), a close friend and ally of Khan’s father, protected and venerated Bogd Khan Uul. According to the historical work “Secret Lives of the Mongols,” the oldest existing book in Mongolia, Toghrul barred anyone from hunting and logging, among other activities, as early as the 13th century.
Today, entering Bogd Khan Uul, which was recognized as a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1996, banishes the memory of the crowds and pollution of the capital. The Terelj River carves a path through dense patches of pine, birch and aspen trees. White butterflies swirl past in groups.
As a result of the park’s long-standing respected status, many native plants and animals have flourished, protected from hunting and farming. They include the rare musk deer — notable for having tusklike teeth — and the Arctic hare. Visitors should also be on the lookout for eagles, vultures, marmots and wild boars.
Bogd Khan Uul National Park
The mountain of Bogd Khan Uul “is sacred and symbolic for all the Mongols,” says Saruul-Erdene Myagmar, an Ulaanbaatar native who is a Mongolia specialist at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC.
Bogd means “saint” in Mongolian, and “uul” is mountain, while Khan is a ceremonial title given to rulers. One translation of Bogd Khan Uul is “the Khan’s saint’s mountain.”
And what about the claim that Bogd Khan Uul is older than Yellowstone?
In 1778, Mongolian aristocrats wrote to the emperor of the Qing (Manchu) dynasty, which ruled the area at the time, asking for Bogd Khan Uul to be designated an official protected area. He said yes.
Meanwhile, Yellowstone, which stretches across parts of Wyoming, Idaho and Montana, was established in 1872. By comparison, Australia got its first national park in 1879, Canada in 1885, France in 1963 and Egypt in 1983.
In the Caribbean, there’s another contender.
The Tobago Main Ridge Forest Reserve, established in 1776, also has a claim to being the world’s oldest protected area.
But many Mongolians ignore the 1778 date and mark the beginning of Bogd Khan Uul’s “protected status” as during the 13th century, which would put the park ahead of its competitors by several centuries.
Unlike Yellowstone and other famous parks, Bogd Khan Uul remains relatively unknown in the rest of the world. That has a lot to do with Mongolia’s location — this cold, landlocked country wedged between China and Russia has not seen many international visitors. Much of the information about the park and its history is only available in Mongolian.
However, that is changing. Mongolia is investing heavily in tourism and hopes the industry can grow to contribute 10% to its economy by 2030. About 808,000 foreign tourists visited Mongolia in 2024, the highest number in history.
For Mongolians like Myagmar, the mountain’s significance is not just about whether it really is the world’s oldest national park or not.
“Before Buddhism even, there’s the shamanism. Very ancient belief is that all the mountains and rivers have their own owner. It’s almost like a ghost,” he says. “Bogd Uul’s owner is this white old man. If we offend this owner, then all sorts of bad things will happen.”
The park’s spiritual legacy remains. Today, Bogd Khan Uul is dotted with ovoos, which are sacred cairns made of rocks, pieces of wood and colorful scraps of fabric. At the park, it’s considered bad manners, if not downright bad luck, to leave behind trash, use the bathroom outside of designated areas or interfere with an ovoo.
Hikes and ger camps
Many travelers staying in the city center combine a visit to the national park with a stop at Zaisan Hill, home to a monument of the same name. This dramatic Brutalist memorial has colorful murals on the inside and is dedicated to Soviet and Mongolian soldiers killed during World War II.
Perched on top of a hill, it’s a good way to get a sense of one’s bearings and a view of the city. However, this largely depends on the sky conditions that day — the air in “UB,” as locals call it, can be very hazy.
From the Zaisan Monument, it’s a short walk to the northern entrance of Bogd Khan Uul. There are trails that range from easy to difficult, all well marked.
Travelers who make it to the top of the mountain should not miss the ruins of the Manzushir Monastery. Once a Buddhist stronghold and home to many monks, Manzushir was destroyed in 1937 by local communists who had joined forces with the Soviet occupiers of the country. Still, the ruins and remaining religious objects are well looked after by residents, especially as the current government is encouraging Mongolian pride and identity.
Most foreign tourists opt for day hikes in Bogd Khan Uul, but those who want to stay the night have a few options with local companies that operate camps of gers, the traditional round Mongolian tents. These camps are rustic and have only basic amenities, but they provide a rare chance to experience the exceptional peace and quiet while stargazing and — for much of the year — watching the snow fall.
Getting in and around
Although Bogd Khan Uul is only about 10 miles south of central Ulaanbaatar, the city’s notoriously congested traffic means it can take up to an hour to get to the park at peak times of day.
Your best bet is to go there on a weekday just after morning rush hour, giving you plenty of daylight for exploring.
Public transit is limited in Ulaanbaatar — there is no subway system, so people either use buses or their own cars to get around. Taxis are generally not labeled — most people simply stand on the side of the road with their hand out and wait for one to pull up. There is an available taxi app, called UBCab app, that offers English functionality, but you’ll need cash to pay if you don’t have a Mongolian bank account.
The country’s air hub, Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN), is about an hour and a half from the park.
The airport is mostly limited to short-haul flights from Asian cities like Seoul, Hong Kong and Beijing. United Airlines operates seasonal flights to Mongolia from the US, but they require a stopover in Tokyo.
Beyond Bogd Khan Uul, Mongolia is home to some of the world’s most diverse landscapes and has a total of 29 national parks.
Among them are parts of the Gobi Desert; the UNESCO-listed Orkhon Valley, about five hours’ drive from Ulaanbaatar; the Altai Mountains in far western Mongolia (home to the country’s tallest peak, Tavan Bogd); and the beautiful Lake Khuvsgul, an ancient body of water near the Russian border.

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Mongolian Team Wins Six Medals at International Mathematical Olympiad www.montsame.mn

The 66th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), held in Sunshine Coast, Queensland, the Commonwealth of Australia, concluded on July 19, 2025, with the awards ceremony.
The Mongolian team achieved remarkable success, winning one gold, three silver, and two bronze medals, scoring a total of 174 points, the highest team score Mongolia has ever achieved in the history of its participation.
This year, all members of the Mongolian team, with team leader Otgonbayar Uuye and deputy leader Bazar Tumurkhan, met the medal criteria, continuing the country’s winning streak.
The 67th International Mathematical Olympiad will be hosted in Shanghai, the People’s Republic of China, from July 10 to 20, 2026.

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The group VVUP (non-up) heated up the night in Mongolia www.mk.co.kr

VVUP (Kim, Fan, Su-yeon, Ji-yoon) participated in the "K-MEGA CONCERT IN ULAANBAATAR" held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on the 19th (local time) and met with global fans.
In particular, member Kim hosted the concert as a co-MC with Mongolian broadcaster Nyambayar Renchinjugder. Although this was the first time as a large-scale stage MC, Kim naturally induced the response of local audiences and helped create a place for true cultural exchange between Korea and Mongolia through K-pop. Kim also stably leads artist interviews and actively participates in dance challenges to heighten the local atmosphere.
The group VVUP (non-up) heated up the night in Mongolia.
In response, Kim said, "It was my first time as a large-scale concert MC, so I was very nervous before I started, but thanks to the enthusiastic response from Mongolian fans, I was able to host it really happily. It was a very meaningful time to be able to breathe with Mongolian fans," he said.
VVUP also performed a series of energetic performances on the stage of "K-Mega Concert in Ulaanbaatar." First, VVUP announced the appearance of "High Teen Evil" with kitsch and hip movements to the addictive beat of "Doo Doom Chit."
He then demonstrated his skills in front of global fans by performing lively performances with "Locked On" and "Giddy Boy" by performing live without wavering despite the intense group dance. The audience also responded with loud shouts, such as singing along to VVUP's songs, proving the remarkable growth of VVUP in the region.
Meanwhile, VVUP emerged as a "global rookie" by entering iTunes K-pop charts in major overseas music markets such as the U.S. and the U.K. at the same time as its debut in the music industry with its first single album, Locked On. Vocal, rap, and dance are outstanding in many fields, showing infinite growth potential.
Thanks to the popularity at home and abroad, VVUP is the 34th Seoul Music AwardsHe won the "Rising Star" category at the Grand Prize. As VVUP ranked No. 1 in the final voting for the "Rising Star" category with the full support of fans around the world, attention is focused on its future performance.

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Mongolian president to pay state visit to Kyrgyzstan www.qazinform.com

Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh will arrive in the Kyrgyz Republic on a state visit on July 20, Sagynbek Abdumutalip, Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration of the Kyrgyz Republic told on Thursday, Kabar reported.
"Within the framework of this visit, ceremonial events are planned in accordance with the status of the visit, as well as bilateral meetings with President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Zhaparov, Speaker of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic Nurlanbek Turgunbek uulu and Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic Adylbek Kasymaliev.
It is planned to sign a package of documents aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation.
In addition, a Kyrgyz-Mongolian business forum is planned as part of the visit, as well as a concert with the participation of artists from both countries,” noted Sagynbek Abdumutalip.
Earlier it was reported that Mongolia and France signed a memorandum to expand civil aviation cooperation.
BY Arailym Temirgaliyeva

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Mongolia and Singapore Mark 55 Years of Diplomatic Relations with Reception in Singapore www.indiplomacy.com

Held at a central location in Singapore, the reception brought together approximately 100 attendees, including representatives from Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other government agencies, diplomatic corps, partner institutions, and the Mongolian community residing in Singapore.
The evening commenced with an address by His Excellency Mr. Sosorbaram Enkhbayar, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to Singapore. In his remarks, he highlighted significant milestones in Mongolia-Singapore relations over the past five decades, underlining the importance of continued collaboration in areas such as trade, education, and people-to-people exchanges.
Ambassador Enkhbayar also acknowledged the mutual efforts made over the years to build a foundation of trust and cooperation, noting that Singapore’s development experience offers valuable insights for Mongolia in its own economic and governance journey.
Guest of honour Her Excellency Ms. Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Trade & Industry, extended her congratulations to both nations on the 55th anniversary. She noted that Singapore appreciates the shared values and aspirations that underpin the relationship with Mongolia, and reaffirmed Singapore’s commitment to deepening bilateral ties.
Cultural performances added a symbolic touch to the evening. Mongolian artists Ganbold Naranjargal and Baatarnum Amarsaikhan performed the national anthems of both countries, offering a moment of unity and mutual respect.
Guests at the event had the opportunity to connect in an informal setting, fostering further dialogue and friendship. The presence of government officials, diplomatic representatives, and community members reflected a shared interest in maintaining the positive momentum of bilateral relations.
Over the years, Mongolia and Singapore have engaged in cooperation across various sectors, including education, governance training, and environmental initiatives. Singapore’s Technical Cooperation Programme has provided training opportunities for Mongolian officials, contributing to capacity-building and mutual understanding.
The reception underscored the importance of sustained engagement, even as the global and regional landscape continues to evolve. While the event looked back at past achievements, it also pointed toward future opportunities for meaningful collaboration between the two countries.
Source: Embassy of Mongolia in Singapore

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Prime Minister Orders to Accelerate Thermal Power Plant Repairs and Renovation www.montsame.mn

Prime Minister of Mongolia Zandanshatar Gombojav reviewed the implementation of his previously issued directives at the state-owned company “Thermal Power Plant No. 3."
Minister of Energy of Mongolia Choijilsuren Battogtokh and Plenipotentiary Representative of the Government Tavinbekh Nansal reported about an accident that occurred on June 2, 2025, at the 50-megawatt high-pressure station, causing a fire in the production building and shutting down the ninth turbogenerator. The officials then presented three courses of action underway to eliminate the ramifications and restore normal operations.
The demolition and reconstruction of the damaged building are planned between July 25 and November 1, 2025. Additionally, the heat production system mode will be adjusted to prevent disruption of heat generation by October 2025. The basic groundwork has been completed, and negotiations are underway for the selection of the contractor.
Furthermore, the seventh and ninth turbogenerators will be fully replaced and commissioned for operation during the 2025–2026 winter. The ninth turbogenerator is the high-voltage power transmission unit located at the site of the accident, while the seventh 25 MW turbogenerator will compensate for the 50 MW lost caused by the accident. The initial funding for the renovation has been included in the state budget amendment, and the remaining funds will be reflected in next year’s budget. Plenipotentiary Representative of the Government Tavinbekh Nansal noted that the ninth turbogenerator is planned to be ordered for manufacture in the People’s Republic of China.
Moreover, a Joint Project with the Russian Federation has been launched to increase the capacity of the 48 MW medium-voltage station by 250 MW, with completion expected in 2028.
Prime Minister Zandanshatar Gombojav reminded the energy sector to work in unity and accelerate reparation and renovation works to prevent heating outages in the winter. The Prime Minister's further directives are as follows: to reduce the oversized structure and unnecessary positions in the sector; cut inefficient expenses; submit proposals by the end of the month; eradicate widely discussed issues such as bid-rigging, supplier pressure, and corruption in procurement processes; apply similar structural and expense-cutting measures to coal mines; prepare proposals for dissolving, merging, or privatizing non-essential units and present them to the Government by August 15, 2025. The Government will conduct a comprehensive inspection of the organization, operations, and finances to resolve the issues.
The 150 MW second block of the Buuruljuut Power Plant is scheduled to be commissioned in December 2025. Additionally, construction of a power plant in Selenge aimag has begun. The Prime Minister assured the country will successfully overcome the upcoming winter with the addition of the Toson Thermal Power Plant in Zavkhan, battery storage systems, and solar power plants.

 

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Drowning deaths in Mongolia rise during Naadam Festival www.xinhuanet.com

Mongolia reported a higher number of drowning deaths during holidays of the traditional Naadam Festival, official data showed on Thursday.
According to the National Police Agency (NPA) of Mongolia, at least 25 people, including six children, were killed in water-related accidents across the country in six days.
During the July 11-16 period, swimming under the influence of alcohol and leaving children unsupervised were the leading causes of such accidents, the agency said.
As of Thursday, water levels in major rivers, including Orkhon, Selenge, Ider, Tamir, Baidrag, Tuin and Ongi, have surpassed warning levels by 20 cm to 120 cm due to heavy rainfall since last weekend, said the National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring, urging people to stay away from flooded rivers to prevent possible accidents.
In 2024, a total of 77 people, including 14 children, were killed in water-related accidents in Mongolia.

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This Mongolian railway adventure rivals the Trans-Siberian www.telegraph.co.uk

A long train journey deep into a windswept wilderness: isn’t this travel at its most romantic? If such an idea immediately summons thoughts of fur hats and Doctor Zhivago, you’re probably one of the many people with the Trans-Siberian railway on your bucket list.
Russia is, alas, firmly off limits for the time being. Fortunately, though, there is a more than viable alternative – the Trans-Mongolian Express. Somewhat shorter than its more famous cousin to the north, these days its route (for westerners at least) is curtailed by the fact that after the Mongolian capital, Ulaanbaatar, it ventures into Russian territory and continues to Moscow. Nevertheless, it still more than fulfils that promise of the emptiest of landscapes: deserts, mountains and steppe.
Russian influence in Mongolia may have ebbed away since the 1990s, but the two railways have much in common, and the Trans-Mongolian still holds firmly to the old Soviet model. Each compartment has its own fierce, uniformed guard who hold their flags out of the door at a precise 45 degrees in each station until they are given leave to, well, leave.
At the Chinese/Mongolian border, passengers are locked in until soldiers posted on the platforms let them out; alternatively, they’re locked out and left to roam an empty local station for hours at a time. Officials board the train to check passports repeatedly (five times during one stop).
Luggage is taken out and regularly inspected. Compartments have four bunks that may or may not be provided with sheets, which are then collected half an hour before arrival, typically as you are trying to find your shoes; and a reasonable level of athleticism is required to reach the top bunk (no steps). Hot water (one tea bag per person) comes courtesy of a wood-fired stove in the corridor. If it’s luxury you’re looking for, I’d recommend the Orient Express.
It’s a journey, though, that’s not without its compensations. After arriving in the middle of the night in Sainshand – where for some inexplicable reason, we are disembarked onto the track rather than the platform – I found myself close to the Gobi Desert. Here, herders milk their Bactrian camels three times a day, half for the family bucket, the other half suckled by the calves. Camel milk, sadly, didn’t feature in the lunch of mutton dumplings I shared with the herders, but I did get to learn a new variation of the game of knucklebones, as well as how to make a rope from camel hair.
The desert is full of surprises. There’s a museum dedicated to Danzanravjaa, the fourth reincarnation of the Noyon Khutagt (or “Lama of the Gobi”). A writer, composer, painter and physician, as well as a monk who took his vows at the age of six, he went on to found the Khamar monastery in 1820, standing eerily alone in the windswept desert. It follows the traditions of Tibetan Buddhism and is surrounded by dozens of prayer wheels and caves, where monks still meditate continuously for 108 days.
Within the monastery lies the Khoid Shambalaa, a sacred site that promises to cleanse you through the earth’s energy. Nearby is Mount Bayanzurkh, a “black mountain” that is believed to grant wishes if you climb to its summit.
The Mongolian desert
The Mongolian desert is ‘full of surprises’ Credit: Moment RF
From the desert, it took a further 12 hours for the train to reach the capital where, even on the outskirts of the city, horses grazed by the side of six-lane highways. An hour outside of town, and here was the Mongolia we all picture – endless, windswept grasslands, rolling hillsides and animals everywhere: horses, cattle, sheep and goats. There were yurts (known here as “gers”) in the fields, on the hillsides, even in the backyards – the Mongolian equivalent, perhaps, of the garden shed. A little further on, and the animal numbers increased tenfold, the herds of horses surrounded by little foals, some barely a week old, but already steady on their reed-thin legs.
Among nomadic people, wealth is measured in the number of animals you own. While it would have been impolite to enquire too intently, the Divà family with whom I stayed for a couple of nights, admitted to having over a thousand. Because they are not allowed to graze in the Hustai National Park which lies near to the Divàs’ traditional camping ground, some of the family take their herd on a continuous migration.
Meanwhile, other family members have stayed home to run a business offering visitors a ger for the night. These turned out to be surprisingly cosy, with a stove (fired by dung), candles, scarlet-painted furniture and golden hangings around the perfectly circular walls, made of canvas rather than the traditional felt.
The Divàs were preparing to open the camp to visitors for the first time as I arrived, and still had the finishing touches to administer, including a door for the outside loo. “We’re just making it,” they explained. You learn to be resourceful out on the steppe.
The National Park permits no domesticated animals, but it does have plenty of wild ones, including red deer and eagles, wolves and gazelles, lynx and, most symbolically of all, the wild horse. Also known as Przewalski’s horse, or in Mongolia, the takhi, this is the world’s only true wild (as opposed to feral) horse, the difference being wild horses have never been domesticated.
The takhi have an extra set of chromosomes compared to the domesticated horse, and were wiped out from their natural habitat on the steppe in 1969. They were successfully re-introduced in 1992, when just 15 were released from a Dutch zoo. There are now over 300. 
Naturally shy, these beasts are not easy to find, so a certain amount of off-road driving through the park is required to track them down. Small, stocky and with a large head (rather like a donkey’s), they have Palomino-like colouring, with light-coloured bodies and dark manes and tails, and are thought to have split from the ancestor they shared with the domesticated horse at least 40,000 years ago.
This time spent on the steppe – with its days of soughing wind and sky larks, and nights of rain pattering on canvas – was undoubtedly the highlight of the trip.
It felt a long way from where it had all begun, ten days earlier in Beijing, where I had met up with a small group of fellow-adventurers, for a tour arranged (appropriately) by Intrepid.
From there, a very different mode of transport from the Mongolian Express – the Chinese bullet train – whisked us away on the first stage of our journey into Chinese Inner Mongolia. We hurtled past haunting mountainous landscapes, extraordinary “stone forest” rock formations created by two million years of wind and rain, huge lakes with tens of thousands of migrant geese and swans, and vast grasslands of its own.
Legend has it that the Mongol people are descended from the progeny of a deer and a wolf. That combination of speed and resourcefulness would, of course, be the perfect traits for a people that spends its life mostly on horseback out on the steppe. The land of Genghis (or Chinggis) Khan still holds him in the highest esteem, and there are countless statues to him (and those beloved horses), including the world’s tallest equestrian statue. Made of stainless steel and 130ft tall, you can climb up the horse’s back legs to eventually emerge out onto its mane to enjoy the view.
Navigating your way round Mongolia is surprisingly easy. The Chinese character signs of Inner Mongolia give way to English, and Mongolian Cyrillic, once you cross the border, even though, outside the cities, westerners are rarely seen. Indeed, such is our novelty value that, when stopping for petrol, we were surrounded by locals asking for selfies, and children daring each other to stand close to the strangers.
On the other hand, some things are surprisingly familiar. I’d swear most Mongolian recipes are based on variations of Liverpudlian scouse (most feature mutton, potatoes, onions and carrots). But there again, perhaps this makes perfect sense. Comfort food is surely just what is required for a nomadic life on this wild, magnificent steppe.
Essentials
Intrepid Travel offers an 11-day TransMongolian Railway trip from £2,321pp, starting from Beijing, China and ending in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Price includes accommodation, transport, selected meals and a local guide throughout. International flights and tips for guides aren’t included.
BY Anna Selby

 

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China finds new type of rare earth in Inner Mongolia www.chinadaily.com.cn

WUHAN -- A team of Chinese geologists has identified a large deposit of a previously unknown rare-earth mineral in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region.
The rare earth, officially named by the International Mineralogical Association as Huanghoite-(Nd), is a new carbonate mineral dominated by neodymium, the "magnet metal" that underpins electric-vehicle motors and offshore wind turbines.
Researchers from the China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) and the Inner Mongolia geological survey institute discovered the reserves in the mid-section of the main orebody within the Bayan Obo deposit, the world's largest rare-earth mine.
Zhao Laishi, who led the team, said the find reflects the deposit's intricate geochemistry and resource diversity.

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Silk Way International Rally underway in Mongolia www.gogo.mn

The Silk Way International Rally kicked off on July 11 in Irkutsk, Russia, and is now being held in Mongolia. After passing through Irkutsk Oblast and the Republic of Buryatia, the rally entered Mongolia via the Altanbulag border port on July 15 and reached Ulaanbaatar on July 16.
From July 15 to 21, the rally will traverse 5,500 kilometers across Mongolia, passing through Selenge, Darkhan-Uul, Tuv, Dundgovi, Uvurkhangai, Bayankhongor, Govi-Altai, Khovd, and Bayan-Ulgii provinces. This year’s Silk Way Rally features 837 participants and 306 vehicles from 12 countries:
Russian Federation
Federal Republic of Germany
Canada
People’s Republic of China
Republic of Latvia
United Mexican States
Republic of Kazakhstan
Turkmenistan
Republic of Uzbekistan
Republic of Belarus
Swiss Confederation
Mongolia
The Silk Way International Rally is jointly organized by the Government of Mongolia, the Government of the Russian Federation, Gazprom (Open Joint Stock Company), and the Automobile and Motorcycle Association of China.
First launched in 2009, the rally originally covered 4,628 kilometers from Kazan, Russia, through Kazakhstan, to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. It has since become a major annual event in Eurasian motorsport, taking place in countries such as Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Mongolia, which previously hosted the rally in 2019 and 2024.
Spanning 2 to 15 days, the rally covers rugged terrain including steppes, deserts, forests, and mountains of 600-5,000 km road. It is recognized as a large-scale international sports event, featuring cars, trucks, and motorcycles, and is open to both professional athletes and amateurs. Over the years, the rally has grown into a symbol of sporting unity and friendship, drawing millions of spectators worldwide.

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