MONGOLIA-INTERSECTION OF MODERNITY AND TRADITION

Let’s reveal a few facts about modern Mongolia, where extreme traditions are mixed with modernity.

Ulaanbaatar is a dynamic modern city

1

Modern Ulaanbaatar is a rapidly changing, expanding and developing million-plus city. Today, Ulaanbaatar is a young city with 1.6 million inhabitants, more than 60% of whom are young people. It is wonderful to see ancient beautiful temples hidden like pearls in the streets full of shiny luxury brand stores, tall glass buildings with illuminated addresses of large international and national corporations, and it is wonderful to feel like you made a discovery. The multi-colored ger districts reaching to the top of the mountains surrounding the city will show you a unique and extreme city where tradition, modernity and migratory traditions are combined.

Mongolia is a country of young people

2

Today’s Mongolia has a population of 3.3 million, 62 percent of whom are children and youth under the age of 35. Therefore, the capital city is rich in music festivals, night clubs, art exhibitions and cultural events for young people.

Thousands of young people in the big city dress in white to dance until dawn to the music of the best Mongolian DJs at Silence White Festival, for three days to watch the vibrant performances of live music bands from many countries at the Playtime Festival, immerse themselves in the rhythm of jazz music at the Giant Steppes of Jazz Festival, watch the best works selected at the Cannes, Berlin, and Toronto International Film Festivals at the “Ulaanbaatar” International Film Festival, and it has become a tradition to go to the UB Art Fair Fine Arts Festival to select the unique and interesting works of artists who have successfully participated in international biennales and visual arts festivals.

Stylish Mongolia

3

You can see young people dressed in grunge, rock and elegant styles in every corner of Ulaanbaatar. Because they keep pace with global fashion trends and have created their own brands. It includes Mongolian brands such as Gobi, Torgo, Michel&Amazonka, Aruina Suri, O Couture, Mandkhai, White Comma, Gradient of Human, etc.

Mongolian cinema of the new generation

4

Mongolian actors and artists of the new generation have started working in international projects. An example of this is R. Ankhnyam, who played the main role in the film “Wolf Totem” directed by Jean-Jacques Anno, B. Amarsaikhan, who played the role of Arigbukh, one of the main characters in the American TV series “Marco Polo”, one of the main character of the movie “Waiting for the Barbarians” was played by B. Ganchimeg. Film directors who are currently working and living in Germany, D. Byambasuren and B. Uyzenmaa’s works continue to win first prizes at international film festivals.

Classic Mongolia

5

The first opera theater in Asia, Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet of Mongolia made their opening with the famous opera by P. I. Tchaikovsky “Eugene Onegin”. Today, the ballet dancers who started their careers in this theater perform in the theaters of the USA, Germany, Korea, Japan, and Russia, their opera singers, winners of the P. I. Tchaikovsky International Competition and “BBC- Cardiff” festivals G. Ariunbaatar, E. Amartuvshin are performing on the stages of Italy and Russia’s prestigious theatres.

New generation music

6

Many ethnic groups such as “The HU”, “Arga Bileg”, “Altan Urag”, “Husugtun”, “Domog” perform their music. They combine their national art style with foreign music such as rock and jazz to create a new generation music.

Contemporary Mongolian ethnic groups have topped the Billboard charts, worked on international film projects, presented their work on world-renowned stages, successfully participated in music festivals, and their works have been nominated for prestigious music festivals such as the Grammy Awards.

The HU rock band ranked first in Billboard’s World albums category, while “Altan Urag” band made the original soundtracks for S. Bodrov’s “Mongol”, and

Brosens’ film “Khadak”, and the ethno-jazz group “Arga Bileg” was nominated for a Grammy for their album “Agula”.

Modern Tea Road

7

In the history of mankind, there are two famous ancient roads connecting Asia and Europe. One is the famous Silk Road and the other is the Tea Road. The Tea Road was second only to the Silk Road in terms of trade routes passing through Ulaanbaatar. Even today, Ulaanbaatar is a railway junction connecting Asia and Europe, and continues to emphasize its position in the region.

Rapidly changing Mongolia

8

If you compare the photos of Mongolia and Ulaanbaatar just a few years ago with today, you will see how much has changed in such a short period of time. Especially the capital city, its citizens and young people have changed dramatically. Today’s Mongolian youth are fluent in many languages, strive for new things, open-minded and creative.

Welcome to modern day Mongolia!

Rapidly changing Mongolia

8

Welcome to modern day Mongolia!