Saturday May 24th 2025 I ran the Ulaan Bataar Marathon in Mongolia. Find below my full race coverage from this marathon and some tourist impressions from and around Ulaan Bataar.
Ulaan Bataar and the Mongolian experience
I can’t even begin to describe how amazing my visit to Ulaan Bataar, Mongolia was! The energy of the city, mixed with its rich history and stunning natural landscapes, blew me away. From the bustling streets to the serene parks, every corner had something special. Let me tell you about the highlights of my trip!
Right in the center of the city, I visited the Denghis Khan Museum, one of the most impressive and modern museums I’ve ever seen. Opened in 2023, it’s a stunning building—both architecturally and in the way it brings Mongolian history to life. The museum is entirely dedicated to the legacy of Chinggis Khan (also spelled Genghis Khan), showcasing artifacts, historical documents, interactive exhibits, and multimedia displays that explore the rise of the Mongol Empire and its lasting global impact. I spent hours exploring the exhibits and came away with a much deeper appreciation for how this single figure shaped the course of history. The museum isn’t just educational—it’s an experience!
Just a short walk from the museum is Sükhbaatar Square, the heart of Ulaanbaatar. It’s a vast and impressive open space where people gather for events, protests, or just to hang out. In the center stands a statue of Damdin Sükhbaatar, the revolutionary hero who helped Mongolia gain independence from Chinese rule in the early 20th century. Surrounding the square is the majestic Government Palace, which houses key state institutions and is guarded by enormous seated statues of Chinggis Khan and other Mongol leaders. Being there gave me a real sense of Mongolia’s pride in its sovereignty and storied past.
Of course, I couldn’t miss the jaw-dropping Chinggis Khan Statue Complex, about 50 kilometers outside the city. This colossal stainless-steel statue of Chinggis Khan on horseback stands 40 meters tall and is the largest equestrian statue in the world. It’s so massive, you can actually go inside and ride an elevator to a viewing platform in the horse’s head! Beneath the statue is a museum that delves further into the history of the Mongol Empire—again reinforcing just how much impact this single leader had on the world.
To balance all the historical sightseeing, I spent a day exploring the peaceful and beautiful Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, just a short drive from Ulaan Bataar. The natural beauty was unreal—lush valleys, alpine forests, and dramatic rock formations. One of the coolest sights there was Turtle Rock, a huge natural stone formation that looks just like a giant turtle. I also had the chance to go horseback riding through the rolling hills, which was the perfect way to take in the scenery and experience the nomadic spirit that still lives strong in Mongolia.
Every part of Ulaan Bataar felt like a blend of old and new, of epic history and vibrant modern life. It’s clear that Mongolians are deeply proud of their heritage, and they should be—there’s nowhere else like it. If you ever get the chance to visit, don’t hesitate. Ulaanbaatar is unforgettable!
PS: I also had the please of beating up the local street chess players, lots about this in the report too.
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Ulaan Bataar Marathon 2025
The event carried a multitude of distances from 500 meters up to 5K, 10K, Half Marathon and, of course, the Marathon distance itself. The roads of Ulaan Bataar were completely fenced off from 06.00 AM to 6 PM, this was extremely delightful both for us runners but for the many citizens and families of Ulaan Bataar thus enjoying a car-free day in their capital. Just great!
The event was quite nicely organized, some flaws with some missing water at km 10 and 15 for the slower runners like myself and rather poor information in English for the international runners. However, I will still give this event and a visit to the Ulaan Bataar Marathon my very best recommendation, these memories will stay in your mind for a long, long time!
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See or relive the Ulaan Bataar Marathon 2025 here (and in Mongolian)
