American Vice President Henry Wallace once deemed Ulaanbaatar the “Felt City.” In fact, if you take down a Mongolian ger, you will see that it is made of only wood and wool. As the Mongolian Wool Manufacturer’s Association emphasizes, “Mongolian wool is both tight-meshed and porous, creating a high quality wool.”

As of 2017 Mongolia had a total of 66.2 million livestock, meaning that there are 22 animals for every Mongolian.

One-third of the population in Mongolia is between 18 and 35 years old. Mongolia’s future is in good hands with much of the younger generation studying overseas and returning to share their knowledge. As G. Luvsanjamts, who studied architecture in Japan, says “do not be surprised if all business meetings are conducted with young businessmen, leaders and artists. I established my company a year ago, and I’m 27. My goal is smog-free, frost-resistant, and cost-effective housing.”

Mongolia is the center of all Mongol tribes and cultures. Historically, one of the routes of the Silk Road and the Tea Road passed through Mongolia. Now the Trans-Siberian railway runs across the country from north to south providing a great experience for train ride lovers.

If you’ve ever gazed up at the night sky and wondered what was above and beyond, then Mongolia is for you. Many tourists say it’s one of the best places in the world for star gazing with its high altitude, cold air, and the electricity-free countryside being free of light pollution,

Nominated for Best Documentary at the 77th Academy Awards in 2005, The Story of the Weeping Camel gives a rare insight into Mongolian life. Byambasuren Davaa directed the documentary along with director and cinematographer Luigi Falorni in 2003 while he was studying at the University of Television and Film Munich. The documentary shows the intrinsic relationship that Mongolians share with nature when folk music is played to restore harmony between a mother camel and the calf she has rejected.

The 400-meter tall sand dunes are not the only products of the Gobi. Gobi Cashmere is the first cashmere producing company in Mongolia, and ranks fifth in the world among its competitors with over 20 brand-name stores worldwide.

Have a taste of real Mongolian food without leaving the capital city. A variety of restaurants now offer Mongolian food – and it’s not Mongolian mutton like you may expect, although meat is the main ingredient of a Mongolian’s diet due to their lifestyle and climate. Today, you can enjoy traditional cuisine prepared with a modern twist using local ingredients at Modern Nomads, one of the leading chain restaurants in Mongolia. For example, the Reindeer Wigwam is a dish with roasted lamb ribs that looks just like a reindeer herder’s teepee. Great Mongol Empire is another dish worthy of note, as it allows you to try different varieties of Mongolian dishes at once.

Women’s clothing, especially their headwear and accessories, are decorated with various precious stones including red corals. Where do these corals come from? They all come from the Mongolian Gobi, the ancient seabed and a rich source of red corals beneath its sandy soil.

Before adopting the Cyrillic alphabet in 1946, Mongolians used a traditional vertical script which had just 26 characters. Today, this traditional script is developing as a form of art in addition to writing.