World Walker Mongolia 2012 by Travel Service Mongolia

CONTENTS 05/2012 6

Information from FIFTA (Foreign Investment and Foreign Trade Agency)

Museums in Ulaanbaatar city

Events of 2012

Map of Mongolia

General Introduction to Mongolia

Mongolian Statistical Information

Ulaanbaatar City Map

Tourist Companies

Hotels

Restaurants

Sauna and Massage

Commercial Centers and Other Businesses

Mongolian Language Guide for Visitors

Yellow page

ADLINE LLC Chingeltei District, 6th khoroo, Baga toiruu 24/2 104 nomer, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Улаанбаатар хот, Чингэлтэй дүүрэг, 6-р хороо, Бага тойруу 24/2 байр, 104 тоот Tel/Fax:976-70101618 Mobile: 976-99151820, 976-99013020, 976-99013023 E-mail:adline.llc@gmail.com HP:www.adline.mn

World Walker MONGOLIA 2012

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, It is my sincere pleasure to welcome you to Mongolia, a country of blue skies and the land of the great Chinggis Khan. Since 1990, after shifting to a democratic form of government and a market economy, Mongolia has become now a country with a sound economic policy and a promising future in the 21st century. The Foreign Investment and Foreign Trade Agency (FIFTA) of Mongolia plays a key role in spearheading Mongolia’s efforts to promote foreign investment and foreign trade. Whether it is information provision, site visits, business matchmaking or interaction with government authorities, FIFTA – with its young and dedicated professional staff – offers a wide range of solution-oriented investment and trade promotion and facilitation services to investors and entrepreneurs. If you are considering where to make your investment and to conduct your business, let me assure you that Mongolia is the right place, where you can increase your investment returns and expand your business. I wish You every success in your business and look forward to our fruitful cooperation in the future.

Why Mongolia

Baasankhuu Ganzorig Chairman of FIFTA

Starting a Business

Reason for Investing

Many economies have undertaken reforms to smooth the starting a business process in stages-and often as part of a larger regulatory reform program. A number of studies have shown that among the benefits of streamlining the process to start a business have been greater firm satisfaction and savings and more registered businesses8 financial resources and job opportunities. Economies with higher entry costs are associated with a larger informal sector and a smaller number of legally registered firms. What does Starting a Business measure?

Mongolia offers the following competitive advantages to foreign investors:

Procedures to legally start and operate a company (number)

Perfectly Locate

• • •

• • • •

Preregistration (for example, name verification or reservation, notarization) Registration Post registration (for example, social security registration, company seal)

Mongolia borders the resource-rich, vast Siberian region of Russia to the north and rapidly emerging China to the south. Easy access to the large international markets of these two neighbors and important global players.

Close to Large Commodity Consumers China - Siberia - Korea - Japan Close to Northwest China Industrial Hub Freight Costs to Most North Asian Markets US$15- 20/ Mt Lower than Competitors

Time required to complete each procedure (calendar days)

Extensive natural resources.

• • • •

Mongolia's is blessed with rich mineral resources such as gold, copper, uranium, coal, molybdenum and oil and great abundance of animal origin raw materials, especially, world well-known cashmere, wool and leather. Pristine nature with rich traditional and cultural heritage.

Does not include time spent gathering information Each procedure starts on a separate day Procedure completed once final documents is received No prior contact with officials

Cost required to complete each procedure (% of income per capita)

World-Class Mineral Resources

•

Official costs only, no bribes

•

No professional fees unless services required by law

Paid-in minimum capital (% of income per capita) •

Strategic location.

Deposited in a bank or with a notary prior to registration begins

• • • •

Over 6000 Occurrences of 80+ Mineral Copper - Coal - Iron - Zinc - Fluorspar Some of the World's Largest Deposits Potential to Become a Major Global Commodities Player

Foreign direct investment in Mongolia /by years/

(Foreign Investment and Foreign Trade Agency, 2011)

Foreign Direct Investment by Sectors /as the end of 2010/

(Foreign Investment and Foreign Trade Agency, 2011)

ABOUT THE FOREIGN INVESTMENT AND TRADE AGENCY Foreign Investment and Foreign Trade Agency of Mongolia (FIFTA) is the government implementing agency responsible for the promotion and facilitation of foreign direct investment and foreign trade in the country. Vision • • •

to promote Mongolia as a destination for new investment and business, to facilitate foreign investment and foreign trade towards meeting the national goals of industrial development and export growth, to be a leading agency in Mongolia.

Strategic Goals • • •

To maintain steady growth of foreign direct investment and to promote export To improve investment and business environment through various measures including upgrading quality of investment registration services and information provision To influence in creating more favorable environment for small and medium-scale industry development

Foreign Investment and Foreign Trade Agency,Government of Mongolia FIFTA office - 8th, 12th floor, Government Building - 11, Sambuu Street - 11, Ulaanbaatar - 211238, Mongolia Phone: +976-11-326040, Fax: +976-11-324076, www.investmongolia.com

How to rent an apartment in Ulaanbaatar? BESTA REAL ESTATE AGENCY IS ADVISING 1. Choosing a real estate agency If you’re planning to rent an apartment in Ulaanbaatar, it’s better to do a little research on the internet before flying here (to Ulaanbaatar). Finding a suitable apartment without a good command of Mongolian language in a short period of time is never-easy. You should be careful too when you choose an agency because the number of agencies, with varying degrees of professionalism, are increasing rapidly at the moment. As for us, BESTA real estate agency, we always try to communicate with and care about our clients from the day they email us to the day they leave Ulaanbaatar. 2. Seeing and choosing an apartment The next step is of course seeing the apartments on offer. Mongolians say “seeing once is better than hearing a thousand times”. Not only should you see the photos of the apartment on the internet, but also see it with your own eyes and check out its conditions. Since it might be hard to find the perfect apartment, you should make a choice considering your priorities. If you think rental prices must be low in Ulaanbaatar because of the cost of living, think again. The rentals in the areas surrounding Sukhbaatar square (or Central square) such as 220 myangat, 5th khoroolol, 40 myangat, 50 myangat, National University of Mongolia, and University of Education areas are expensive because those who live in these areas spend less time stuck in traffic or in the crowded, unpleasant public transportations. Depending on the quality, age, and fittings of the building, fully furnished 1 bedroom apartments in the above locations are around 600-800$, 2 bedroom ones 800-1500$, while upper class, fully furnished 1-2 bedroom apartments can be found for between 1200-2500$. For example, you can rent upper class 1-2 bedroom apartments with this price in the flourishing Olympic street. Central stadium and Zaisan areas which are located south of the Sukhbaatar square are popular for being distant from the heavy air pollution in winter in Ulaanbaatar, and their peacefulness, but they are hard to reach from downtown during work hours because of traffic. The prices of Stadium area apartments can be the same as those of the areas firstly mentioned. The high-end houses and apartments along the Tuul river in Zaisan start at 3000$ up to 10000$ per month. Apartments for foreigners are mostly fully furnished. But if you rent an apartment partly furnished or empty, you can ask your agency to help you buy or rent furniture. 3. Preparing and signing the contract Now, it’s time to make a contract in which your agency should play a key role. First of all, you have to inquire your agent well about whether you will be meeting the real owner of the apartment. You also need to ask the following questions: -Who is going to pay commission fee? -Which utilities are included in the monthly rent? -Who’s responsible for small repairs and wears and tears of the furniture? Particularly, if the last issue is not addressed in the contract, many problems may arise. Then, both of you and the landlord should check the conditions of the apartment and furniture once. Your agent will be there

and have each party sign the furniture list that he has prepared. If you wish to save the apartment for a few days, you will need to deposit one month’s rent in your agency as a guarantee that you will rent the apartment. In addition, don’t forget that you are going to transfer an amount equivalent to 1 to 2 months’ rent as security deposit to the landlord. Your agency is going to prepare a “Residential Tenancy Agreement” both in Mongolian and a foreign language of your choosing and make sure there are no discrepancies in terms of content between the two. You should look out for a mandatory clause that states that both language versions of the agreement are equally effective. 4. Moving in Before you move in to the apartment, check to make sure that the landlord has paid all the utilities of the past month. If not, make sure he/she does beforehand! Be careful of the building when moving your stuff in. If any damage or inconvinience occurs to the neighbors, you’ll be responsible for it. And If possible, get “Tenant’s insurance”. 5. Moving out Both you and the landlord should check out the apartment in the presence of the agent. Then it’s time for you to hand the keys to the landlord. When the time comes to extend the contract, some landlords might try to exclude your agency in the process. If that happens, don’t let them do so. Because such people are mostly unreliable. Now you have some idea on how to go about this never-easy task of renting an apartment in Ulaanbaatar. If you come to BESTA Real estate agency, the whole process will be much simpler and smoother. Finally, let us mention the advantages we offer. • You can choose your apartment from the many apartments on our website before coming to Ulaanbaatar • We charge commission fee only to the landlords • Our agents take you to see the apartments in their own cars for free as part of the service. • 80% of our staff speak English, Japanese, Russian and help you by preparing quality tenancy agreements in foreign languages. • We take care of and help our tenants if they have encountered any trouble or suffered damages. • We can also help you buy or rent furniture in case you wish to do so. • If you have bought or are renting property in Ulaanbaatar for the long term, we can help with the property management. • Even if you don’t like any of our apartments, we will still try to find you one from other resources, provide you with adequate information and be the best advisor you can find. Contact us at telephone numbers 7730-0099, 9888-2211 Any time between 9.am-10p.m, or E-mail us at info@besta.mn

NORIHIKO KATO CEO of Khan Bank

Khan Bank to maintain its leading role in the banking sector. Interview with Norihiko Kato, CEO of Khan Bank about the Mongolian banking sector and the leading role of Khan Bank. You are a very experienced banker who has worked in the banking sector for many years. How do you see the d evelopment of the Mongolian banking sector in the future? Before joining Khan Bank, I worked in the banking sector for 28 years in Tokyo, New York, Amsterdam and Bahrain. The banking industry is an important part of the economic infrastructure of any country and must grow, supporting the development of the national economy. There is enough scope for all in the banking sector to grow. With the largest network of branches in the country and the largest amount of funds available, Khan Bank has a significant role to play in supporting the growth of the Mongolian economy. Khan Bank, a leading bank and one of the oldest in Mongolia provides banking services to 80% of Mongolian households. This is really a big success. Khan Bank, with 503 branches connected 100% on-line throughout Mongolia and with more than 4000 employees, is the largest bank in Mongolia, providing banking services to its 1.8 million customers. This achievement depends on our customers’ trust and so we make large investments in our customer services. In 2011, Khan Bank introduced 100 new ATMs by investing MNT 3.5 billion. The Bank has the

largest ATM network with over 260 machines located in Ulaanbaatar and all provinces. 70% of daily transactions in Mongolia’s banking system are estimated to go through Khan Bank. 130 ATMs of the total of 260 are located in rural areas. Khan Bank has always satisfied all the regulatory requirements of a commercial bank with high performances. We have a solid credit culture under the credit committee structure and our risk officers are very experienced in risk control, which leads to strengthen our customers’ trust in us. How does Khan Bank distinguish itself from other banks operating in Mongolia? Khan Bank distinguishes itself from other banks by its strong financial figures with the largest capital base and profits. Khan Bank is the only bank with the three core indicators of total assets, loan portfolio and deposits that reached over MNT 1 billion each. At the end of 2011, our total assets reached MNT 2.2 trillion, our deposits amounted to about MNT 1.9 trillion and loan portfolio reached MNT 1.3 billion. Khan Bank provides not only comprehensive financial services but also strives to support every community in which it operates. Khan Bank is committed to making a positive impact on people’s lives, to the benefit of society not just by providing innovative financial services but also by playing

a leading role in fulfilling social responsibilities in actively supporting health, educational and community initiatives throughout the country. Could you share with us your secrets about success in banking sector? Khan Bank is committed to transparency and fairness. In addition to keeping a solid and strong financial base, providing customers with good and convenient financial services, in both a transparent and fair manner, is the key to trust and the success. We would like to continue to play a leading role in the banking sector, which should support the development of Mongolia. Thank you. We are pleased to have an interview with CEO of Khan Bank - which has the largest number of customers. We wish you and your staff big success. Thank you. Success of Khan Bank is based on our customer’s trust in us. Thus, we launch campaigns and events to express our sincere gratitude to our customers. This year, Khan Bank awarded a trip to London to see the Summer Olympic Games 2012 to nine superprize winners from our customers. I would like to say again ‘Thank You’ to our customers.

Museums in Ulaanbaatar city Mongolian Natural History Museum Summer: 15 May - 15 Sep 10:00-17:30 (Everyday) Tel: 976-7011-0183 Location: Behind the National Museum of Mongolia This museum shows Mongolian landscape features, various types of maps and geological and natural resources samples. You can also find out detailed information regarding animals and plants in Mongolia. One of the most attractive halls in the museum is the Paleontology Hall, most popular amongst tourists. In this museum, you can see a complete dinosaur skeleton, which lived in Mongolia many millions of years ago, and animal and plant fossils found across Mongolia.

National Museum of Mongolia Summer: 15 May - 31 Aug 09:30-18:00 (Everyday) Tel: 976-70110911 Location: Sukhbaatar District, the right side of the Houses of Parliament This museum shows all types of lifestyles and traditional clothes of ethnic groups in Mongolia. It has millions of museum pieces such as Mongolian history, especially historical pieces of Mongolia from 10th Century to 20th Century. You can discover more about Mongolia from the times of the Mongolian Empire and Socialist times. .

Choijin Lama Temple Museum Summer: 15 May - 15 Sep 09:00-18:30 (Everyday) Tel: 976-11-328547 Location: Sukhbaatar District, the left side of the Central Library This is a temple that was built for the brother of Bogd Khan of Mongolia by order of Javzandamba, 8th Bogd, in 1908 and has been preserved as for a museum of religion. This museum consists of five temples and has many famous artistic and sculptural works of Mongolian famous artists. From this museum, you can know more about history of Mongolian religion.

Bogd Khaan Winter Palace Museum Summer: 15 May - 15 Sep 09:00-19:30 (Everyday) Tel: 976-11-342195 Location: Khan-Uul district, the right side of the road to Zaisan hill This museum is a palace of Javzandamba, Mongoliaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 8th Bogd Khaan. If you visit this museum, you will find out more more about his life and Mongolian history and culture. Of particular interest are the museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clothes and collections of the Bogd Khaan and his wife, and rare historical pieces related to the Buddhism. Also, this palace is considered an important part of Mongolian architecture which is, built without the use a single nail, a real example of methods of traditional Mongolian building.

Zanabazar Museum of Fine Arts Summer: 15 May - 15 Sep 09:00 - 18:00 (Everyday) Tel: 976-11-326060, 976-11-326061, 976-11-323986 Location: Chingeltei District, Juulchid Streed, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia G.Zanabazar (the first Bogdo of Khalkha, a reincarnation of Jibzundamba, and often referred to as Undur Gegeen) is an outstanding representative of Mongolian religion and arts of the 17th and 18th centuries. G.Zanabazar was a sculptor, artist, and philosopher, who made invaluable contributions to the development of fine arts in Mongolia. G.Zanabazar enriched the canons of the oriental Buddhist are using Mongolian artistic methods inspired by spiritual wisdom and human form, which later became the foundation of the Mongolian School of Fine Arts.

THE ULAANBAATAR TOURISM BOARD

EVENT event calendar

CAMEL POLO FESTIVAL Location:

Bogd sum, Uvurkhangai aimag Duration: 10 May Organizer: Tourism Board of Uvurkhangai aimag Polo is a traditional British sport and Mongolian polo is just as interesting. The main attraction of this sport in Mongolia is the use of camels rather than horses. This is a tourist event implemented to protect and promote Bactrian camels – the number of which has been decreasing each year. The camel polo festival takes place in Uvurukhangai province, 430 km from Ulaanbaatar city, and is one of the most attractive events for both locals and tourists.

TSAATAN FESTIVAL Location: Dalia Tour Tourist Camp, Khatgal village, Huvsgul aimag Duration: 06 July – 07 July Name of the organizer:Khuvsgul Mon Travel Co.,Ltd The Tsaatan festival is an event which shows all of the traditional cultures and customs of reindeers including traditional songs and dances and shaman ceremonies.

GOBI CHALANGE MARATHON Location: Yolling Am to Duut Mankhanthe Singing dunes Duration: 29 June – 9 July Name of the organizer:Gobi Tour Co.,Ltd Special features of the marathon include a course that runs through different landscapes including steppe, sand dunes and rocky ranges. The marathon is challenging and among the most interesting marathons in the world.

HORSE FESTIVAL

NAADAM FESTIVAL

Location: Ulziit sum, Uvurkhangai aimag Duration: 09 August Name of the organizer:Tourism Board of Uvurkhangai aimag This festival is an opportunity to see the methods herders use to lasso and train wild horses. During this festival, you can also enjoy the traditional Mongolian festival of Naadam.

Location: Ulaanbaatar city Duration: 11 – 13 July Organizer: Goverment of Mongolia

NOMADS DAY FESTIVAL Location: Bayandelger sum, Tuv aimag Duration: 17 Sep – 18 Sep Name of the organizer: Selena Travel Co.,Ltd This festival shows off nomadic lifestyle and cultures. You can see many aspects of cultural actions such as how Mongolians assemble gers, how they move to different areas using oxcarts and how to cook Mongolian traditional dishes.

The Naadam festival is organized every year at the Central Stadium of Ulaanbaatar to celebrate the people’s revolution. The Naadam festival celebrates the “Three Manly Sports” of Horse Racing, Traditional Wrestling and Archery (Horse Racing is organized at a separate dedicated location). Many different types of events and trades are also organized during this time. Thus, you can see and discover so much of modern day Mongolia a short period of time.

DEELTEI MONGOL FESTIVAL MONGOLIAN TRADITIONAL GAMES FESTIVAL Location: Sukhbaatar square, Ulaanbaatar city Duration: 13 July Organizer: Tourism Board of UB city&Mongolian Tourism Association This event displays and promotes Mongolian traditional clothes, gers, traditional cultural performances, traditional songs and dances, and herder’s customs and history to foreign tourists visiting Mongolia. The Name of this festival translates as “Mongolians in Deels” in English. During this festival, there are parades with traditional clothes, fashion shows, circus performances and traditional games. In 2011, around 10,000 people participated in this festival.

GOLDEN NAADAM Location: Guru Tourist camp in Terelj Duration: 22 August Name of the organizer: New Juulchin Tours Corp This is a mini-Naadam and with Mongolian traditional wrestling, horse racing and archery competitions. It is held near Ulaanbaatar giving enjoyment to many tourists.

UB ART FAIRE Location: UB, Zanabazar museum Duration: 25 – 30 Sep Name of the organizer: UB Tourism Board Enjoy concerts of traditional songs and dances, circus performances and artistic exhibitions by students of the Mongolian University of Culture and Art. It is a great opportunity to purchase unique souvenirs.

Location: Dalanzadgad sum, South Gobi aimag Duration: 11 July Name of the organizer: Gobi Mirage Tourist Camp A festival showing off Mongolian Traditional Games. During this festival, various types of competitions are organized including drawing competition between children and concerts for children.

GOLDEN EAGLE FESTIVAL Location: Ulgii city of Bayan – Ulgii aimag Duration: 1st weekend of October 6 – 7 Oct Name of the organizer: Nomadic Expeditions Mongolia Co.,Ltd This is a unique holiday with at least 50 men, each with their own eagle, participating every year. This Golden Eagle Festival is the one of rarest opportunities to meet and see Kazakh traditions, cultures and customs, as well as the magnificent eagles!

MONGOLIAN BIKE CHALLENGE Location: Tuv, Arkhangai, Bayakhongor, Uvurkhangai aimags Duration: 28 July-11August Organizer: Mongolia Expeditions & Tours The International Mountain Bike Competition runs from South Gobi province to the finishing line in Arkhangai province. During this competition, participants pass through Uvurkhangai and Bayankhongor provinces and it is one of the most challenging competitions there is. This is the world’s longest competition as it covers around 1200 km until “Erdene Zuu” Monastery in Kharkhorin, the ancient capital of Mongolian Empire.

Country: Capital city: Territory: Total population:

Mongolia Ulaanbaatar 1,556,500 km2 2 750 000

Location Mongolia stretches for 2392 km from the west to the east and 1259 km from the north to the south, bordering Russia to the north and China to the south. Mongoliaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s landscape is dominated mostly by steppe from the central region to the east, desert from the south to the west and forest-steppe in the northern regions. In the west there is the Mongol Altai mountain range which stands more than 3000-4000 meters high. Mongolia does not have a coastline. However, it is a wonderful country with highlands, rivers and steppes.

Language and Ethnicities The official language is Mongolian using the Cyrillic (Russian) alphabet. Ethnic Kazakh people inhabit the western part of Mongolia (Bayan-Ulgii province) speaking the Kazakh language. Around 90 percent of the population is Khalkh, though the population includes around 40 different ethnicities such as Khazakh and Buriad ethnic groups.

Weather Mongolia has continental dry weather. For the majority of days in summer temperature rise above 300C. However, the temperature can suddenly drop and snow falls. Summer days are long and it gets dark around 10 p.m. In winter temperatures are minus 20-300 C and relevant measures are needed to protect against cold. Mongolian weather is dry and static electricity is common. The weather becomes cold at the beginning of October and stays cold until April the following year. Over the course of the year, there is little

Economy and Industry Mining is the leading sector as Mongolia has a wealth of natural resources, followed by livestock herding. The main export products are mineral resources and cashmere and the majority of products are exported to mainly Asian countries. According to preliminary data for 2011, Mongolia trades with 127 countries of the world and its total foreign trade turnover reached USD11307.2 million including USD 4780.4 million from exportation and USD 6526.9 million from importation. The Mongolian government has implemented an agricultural campaign named â&#x20AC;&#x153;Atar 3â&#x20AC;? since 2008, using its extensive land to increase domestic food production and develop the agricultural sector.

Currency and Exchange 14

The official currency of Mongolia is the Tugrug (MNT). As of

March 2012, 1 USD was equal to 1330 MNT. 11 different bank notes are used in Mongolia including 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000, 5000, 10000 and 20000 Tugrug notes. Coins are not used in Mongolia.

20000Tg

10000Tg

5000Tg

1000Tg

500Tg

100Tg

50Tg

20Tg

10Tg

It possible to exchange currency at the airport, hotels, banks and currency exchange points in the city. Although, there are many currency exchange points at hotels, exchange rates offered by banks or currency exchange points are more favorable. There are many currency exchange points near Tsetseg (Flower) Center and TEDY Center. It is possible to exchange international bank notes. Tugrug (MNT) is the main currency used in Mongolia, although it is possible to use U.S dollars at hotels, souvenir shops and tourist ger (traditional Mongolian dwelling) camps. Please note that U.S. dollar bank notes of denominations less than $20 are bought at cheaper exchange rates. If you go to rural areas, it is recommended to exchange your cash in advance in Ulaanbaatar as only Tugrugs (MNT) are used in rural areas. Banks and ATM It is possible to exchange foreign currencies in banks and withdraw cash from ATMs. If you have international cards such as VISA, MASTER, CIRRUS and PLUS, it is possible to receive banking services. The Trade and Development Bank, Golomt Bank and Khan Bank have many ATMs and they are located in popular places such as hotels and supermarkets. It is advisable to beware of pickpockets as there have been cases of theft from people after withdrawing money.

History In 1206 Chinggis Khaan consolidated many tribes scattered across the territory of Mongolia and established the Mongol Empire ruling over a territory reaching as far as Europe. However, the Mongol Empire disintegrated after his death and became part of the Manchu-led Qing Dynasty from the 16th century. Following the collapse of the Qing Dynasty, Mongolia declared its independence after being ruled by the Qing Dynasty for 200 years and in 1911 Bogn Khaan established the Mongolian State. Nevertheless, the Chinese government concluded a secret agreement with the Russian Empire and declared Mongolia to be a part of the Chinese Republic in May 1915. Therefore, Chinese troops occupied Mongolia until 1919. In 1921 Mongolian revolutionary groups sought support from the Soviet Red Army and once again declared Mongolian independence from foreign yoke. Mongolia then approved its first Constitution on November 26 1924 and proclaimed its independence. However, Mongolia was under the influence of the Soviet Union and developed under the Soviet model in respect to its politics and economy after the revolution in 1921. Democracy actions of the former Soviet Union and eastern European countries influenced Mongolia and the establishment of the Mongolian Democratic Union was declared in 1989 after its first meeting for democracy took place. Since then Mongolia has organized elections with many political parties and transferred its economic system to a market economy.

Holidays 1st of January: Middle of February: 8th of March: 1st of June: 11th of July: 26th of November:

When you require a taxi, you just need to raise your hand. “Private” taxis are sedan cars without any signs. Payment of private taxi is charged based on total kilometers as such taxis do not have meters. Private taxis cost MNT 700-800 per kilometer as of March 2012. The price of fuel price is unstable these days and so it is difficult to say whether the price of taxis will be kept the same for any period of time. Therefore, it is recommended to check the price first before taking a taxi. Sometimes there are some taxi drivers who try to charge more from foreigners. Therefore, it is recommended to not take a taxi alone. There have been some cases when another person gets in a taxi and the taxi goes to a different destination in order to rob the foreign customer. Please be careful with your belongings as if you leave them in a taxi, there is no opportunity to get your belongings back. There is a taxi service which can be ordered by dialing “1991” which was introduced in 2011. This service is comparatively safe and reliable, and thus more suitable for foreigners.

Bus The cheapest mode of transportation is the bus. For the public transportation there are big buses and microbuses. Also, there is a bus service which not only transports customers within city, but also to rural areas. Buses charge MNT 400 constantly from each person while microbus charges MNT 500- 600. The price of microbuses can New Year be different depending on the destination and what time you are Tsagaan Sar- Mongolian Lunar New Year. Three days of holiday follow the taking them. If you take a big bus the conductor will charge from you the fee start of the lunar New Year. This Lu nar New Year Celebration is different and give you a ticket. As microbuses do not have a ticket you need pay in cash as soon as you get on the microbus. from the Chinese New Year and it is Big buses are always crowded with many passengers and there celebrated on different day each year. often targeted by groups of pickpockets. Thus, it is recommendWomen’s day ed to be careful with your belongings. If you do not know the Children’s day place well it is recommended, especially for foreigners, to avoid Naadam- National Revolution Holi day. During Naadam, Mongolians cel bus transportation. ebrate during have three days of national holiday. Telephone Independence Day

Transportation Taxis There are 2 types of taxis in Ulaanbaatar - official metered taxis and private taxis.

International calls. Pay-phones at hotels can be used for international calls. In ordinary cases, many people use cheap international call cards using pay-phones. There are several types of international call cards such as Mongoltelecom, Mobicom and Micom. Instructions of

international call cards, in most cases, are written in Mongolian, so you may need to get explanations or help from your translator or tourist guide. Domestic calls Usage of mobile phones has become widespread in recent times and almost everyone has a mobile phone. However, it is also possible to use pay-phones installed at post offices, hotels, hospitals, train stations and other public places. Use of them is similar to the international call cards. These phone cards are sold at post offices and supermarkets. Also, each phone company uses the same card. If you wish to make an urgent call the simplest way is to use “white telephones”. Street vendors have white telephones in a box next cigarettes and chewing gum. Also, it is possible to use white telephone from kiosks located at bus stops. The white telephones are only for local calls and the charge is MNT 100-150 per minute. White telephone services are always by for by cash. If you know the phone numbers you wish to dial, you can use white telephone anytime. Mobile phones There are four big mobile phone companies in Mongolia, including Mobicom, the largest company, Skytel, Unitel and GMobile. Mobicom provides a mobile phone rental service. If you are going to stay in Mongolia for long period of time, it is recommended that you purchase a mobile number with a reasonable mobile phone. If you buy international call cards designed for mobile phones, you can make international calls directly from your mobile phone. It is easier if you choose a mobile phone with the capability to receive international calls and international roaming services.

Internet There are many internet cafes in the capital city which can be identified the “Internet” sign. The majority of them use previous versions of Windows and the internet speed differs from one to another. Internet cafes charge around MNT 600-1500 per hour depending on their location and services. Furthermore, the number of shops and cafes with free WiFi internet access has been increasing gradually in Ulaanbaatar. Internet access is available in hotels of a higher standard.

Post It is easiest to use the Central Post Office when you need to send a letter, greeting card or parcel. The Central Post Office is located at the west side of the Sukhbaatar square. Postal prices depend on the county to which the letter or parcel is being sent to and postal prices vary depending on the weight of a letter or parcel. You can find the postal service price list if you go to the Central Post Office. If you need an express postal service, it is possible to use EMS (international post forwarding). Also, you can receive international postal services from DHL and UPS in Ulaanbaatar.

Timetable of the Central Post Office, Ulaanbaatar city:

Post: Parcels:

7:30 - 21:00 (Monday-Friday); 9:00 - 20:00 (Saturday and Sunday) 8:00 - 20:30 (Monday- Friday); 9:00 - 15:00 (Saturday and Sunday)

Car rental service Although there are car rental services in Mongolia, it is impossible to use foreign driver licenses directly for this service. Therefore it is possible to use car rental services with hired drivers. In the case of renting a car you should seek advice from a professional organization, tourist agency or hotel reception. The minimum price of such a service is around MNT 50,000 per day (excluding fuel). If you are travelling on your own, it may be more effective to find a cheaper car through negotiating with your tourist guide.

Interpreter and guide Tourist guides charge around USD 20-70 per day for interpretation and guiding. It is recommended that before you select interpreters or tourist guides you ask about their language skills and guiding experiences, as many of them are university students. Professional business interpreters charge a minimum USD 50 per day. If you want to hire a specialized professional interpreter, it is advised that you book someone in advance. You may find it easiest to request an interpreter from a tourist company.

Tipping In general there is no practice of tipping but you may give a tip if you think that you received good services.

Electricity Mongolia uses 220V and 50Hz electricity. In a case of using electrical appliances which use 100V, you need to use an adaptor. It is useful to have a multi-plug adapter as Mongolia uses a 2-pin plug.

Drinks It is appropriate to use water in hotels after boiling. You can buy bottled pure water from supermarkets and shops in the city. 500 ml bottles of pure water cost around MNT 350 each.

Washroom Facilities It is recommended to carry your own toilet roll with you as toilets commonly do not have toilet paper. If you go to countryside, it is advised you to bring wet tissues as there are some places without any sink or washing facilities. There are some pay toilets in the city but not many. It is advised you to use toilets in the State Department Store, shops and hotels in case of urgent need. CITI TOILET New public toilets have been commissioned recently. Now, there are public toilets in busy places - one storey buildings named CITY TOILET. These public toilets are clean and comfortable. They charge a service fee of MNT 150 for use of the toilet.

Mongolian cuisine Mongolian cuisine is generally meat based. Mongolians mainly eat beef, mutton and other meat products including pork, chicken, horse meat, camel meat and goat meat, depending on the meal. The main traditional Mongolian food is “Buuz” (large sized dumplings) -thea main course of Tsagaan Sar celebrations. They are made with flour and meat and steamed (Picture 1). Another traditional dish is “Khuushuur” which is similar to “Buuz” but fried. Mutton is used in both of them.

Cafes and restaurants for middle class Mongolians cook the above mentioned dishes and other dishes including goulash (mutton dish served with rice), vegetable soup, piroshki (Russian fried buns with meat filling) and tsuivan (meat and noodle dish). Prices of buuz, khuushuur and piroshki are around MNT 400-500 while soup and main course cost approximately MNT 3000-4000. It is common to eat Mongolian dishes with Mongolian traditional milk tea. It tastes little bit salty but is very tasty when you get used to it. Mongolians cook a special meal, called “Khorkhog”, for their guests (Picture 3). This meal is made by cooking pieces of mutton, potatoes, carrots and other vegetables inside a container which also contains red hot stones and water, and is often also heated from the outside. The mutton in the dish

becomes tender and delicious, and vegetables and soup taste especially wonderful. One of the unforgettable food products of Mongolia cuisine is dairy products. There are many types of milk products including, yogurt, milk, cheese and curdled milk. Dairy products are produced and packed by big companies after the raw materials are purchased from herders and are sold in city, while fresh milk and dairy products are sold in rural area

Restaurants There are many bars in Ulaanbaatar city. You can enjoy not only Mongolian traditional cuisine, but also French, Brazilian, Korean, Chinese, Italian, Indian, Turkish and Russian dishes. However, only Mongolian restaurants can be found in the countryside. Most of the restaurants have menus in English and you can easily communicate in English in many restaurants. You can pay your bill by your international cards such as American Express, Visa and Master cards. Advertisements for well known restaurants in Ulaanbaatar are published in our magazine. More information can be found in the Restaurant section.

Alcoholic beverages The most popular alcohol product is Vodka. Mongolians drink alcohol products when they have meetings, ceremonies and at other events. The alcoholic content of Mongolian vodka is around 40%. Mongolians drink vodka and other alcohol products straight without mixing them. Thus, it is recommended not to drink too much. The minimum price of Mongolian vodka is around MNT 3000 and the maximum price is around MNT 20,000. There are also Mongolian vodka products with attractive package which can be used as gifts. Mongolians drink “airag’ (fermented horse milk) in summer as much as beer. Drinking fermented horse milk when you are at herder’s family is a wonderful experience as it tastes great. Mongolians drink beer a lot and the most famous beer is Chinggis draft beer which represent the Mongolian name. In summer,

many restaurants and pubs open summer beer tents which give more opportunities to relax and enjoy draft beer. Also, imported bottled and canned beers including Tiger and Heineken are very popular.

In recent days, Mongolians have started drinking wine. There are many types of wine and purchasing them from a supermarket, is cheaper than buying them from clubs. There are several wine shops in Mongolia which only sell wines.

Shopping If you want to purchase necessary daily products, it is recommended to go to Narantuul market (the ‘black market’) or shops in the 3rd district. There are many pickpockets in the market so sometimes Mongolians avoid going to there. Narantuul market is an interesting place to go if you are careful with your belongings. Most of its products are imported from China and Russia and they are very cheap. However, it is advised to check what you are buying as some of such products are not of a good quality. We suggest that you should purchase items you require for your trip from here. Also, horse riding boots, deels and souvenirs are traded at the market. Young people like to go to the 3rd and 4th districts’ shops. There are also famous brands’ shops in that area. All types of clothes and shoes are sold out there. It is advised that are also wary of pickpockets in this area. When shops in that area close for the day, night clubs are opened and soon become crowded. There are not many places aimed at foreign tourists, so please be careful and wary of drunk people if you want to enjoy the night-life. As well as the above mentioned shops and clubs, there are many shops and clubs such as Sansar khoroolol and Bumgugur market. In recent years, many famous and world recognized brands have opened their shops to sell original products in Ulaanbaatar, including Luis Vitton, Burberry and Zara at 1st floor of the Central Tower, next to Sukhbaatar Square.

Souvenir shops If you would like to purchase souvenirs, it is advised to go to big stores including Nomin Department Store and Sky Shopping Center. There are many souvenir shops in Peace avenue which is in front of State Department Store. There are various types of souvenir products such as felt products, cashmere products, souvenir products with traditional styles, t-shirts with drawings related to Mongolian cultures, traditional deels and leather products. If you are not worried about your luggage limit, one of the most interesting souvenirs is the “Morin Khuur’ (traditional Mongolian horse-head fiddle). Also, you can purchase high standard cashmere products at reasonable prices. Camel wool products are very warm. Thus, such types of products and clothes can be given to elders and children as presents. If you are interested in felt products, a felt souvenir shop named “Tsagaan Alt”, near Nomin Department Store, has many choices of products. This shop has many customers and offers high quality products which can be given as special presents. There are some shops where you can place specific orders if you have enough time. Some places can make you leather boots and deels (traditional Mongolian dress) to order in your size within 3-5 days. Furthermore, you can purchase food products as souvenirs including dairy products such as cheese, milk curd, pine nuts, smoked cheese, stone salt, mushroom tea, airag and Mongolian vodka. Also, you can buy a CD of a “Morin Khuur” concert from the HiFi CD shop.

Night Clubs Night clubs are popular places in Mongolia. At the end of week, youths always go to clubs. Clubs which charge an entrance tax

are quite safe. Free entrance bars commonly have fights and arguments. Thus, it is recommended to avoid going to such clubs. The average entrance is between MNT 5000 and 10000. It is best to be careful as people are partying and drinking alcoholic products. Also, there are many different types of clubs including live music clubs. There are many different types of massage centers for foot massage, body massage and Thai massage. There are also massage centers for foreigners. Therefore, you can enjoy any time you want to relax your body after your trip. If you need further information regarding massage centers, you can find it from information section on sauna and massage centers in our magazine. In recent years, karaoke centers have been established. There are many songs in different languages, so you can spend your time having fun. There are also clubs with private waitress services. If you would like to go that kind of place, you should go to there with Mongolians or people who know Mongolia well.

Health In summer, the weather is becomes hot and dry. You should wear a hat and drink plenty of water to prevent from sunstroke. Please also be careful when eating as some dairy products and oily meat products can cause stomachache. You can find list of emergency call numbers from the last page of our magazine.

UB Tourist Information Center UB Tourist Information Center has been assisting tourists since April 2009. They have provided relevant information to around 1500 locals and tourists from different countries since their establishment. In 2010, this center gave information to around 3,100 tourists. Also, this center has provided their services to approximately 1000 individuals and has cooperated with 100 companies. In 2011, approximately 2,249 tourists from 52 different countries and 1,300 local residents received information

from this information center. Also, this center cooperated with 150 companies through concluding cooperation agreements. UB Tourist Information Center aims at welcoming both tourists and local residents in a friendly and hospitable manner, giving updated, new and comprehensive information to them via their friendly staff. Tel: 70118083,70117093 URL: www.ubtourism.mn E-mail: ubtourism@ulaanbaatar.mn

Mongolian Statistical Information 2,754,685 Population of Ulaanbaatar 1,159.899 Livestock Herders Population 327.154 Gross domestic product of the year $13.264 billion Per Capita Gross Domestic Product $3,042 Per Family Average Income 363,200Tg Livestock 36,005,800 Sheep 15,509,100 Goat 15,809,000 Cattle 2,315,100 Horse 2,093,000 Camel 279,600 The total population of Mongolia

Lowest point of elevation: Dornod Aimag, Khukh Nuur (552m) Highest point of elevation: Bayan-Ulgii Aimag, Khuiten Uul (4,374m) Mongolian Territory Total: 1566,500 km2

(East to West 2,392km, North to South 1,259km)

Population Density of Mongolia1.7per/km2

245per/km2 Annual Average Childbirth: 30,437 Average life expectancy: woman 68 years, man 63 years Average age of Marriage: man: 26.2 years, women 24.2years University Population: 30.9% man; 69.1%women Foreign Tourists in 2010: 371,014.(Chinese:159,790; Density of Ulaanbaatar

Russian:77,519; Korean: 38,183; American:13,229 etc) Number of Rivers: 5,300; Number of Springs: 7,800; Number of Lakes: 3,600; Number of Geysers: 362.

Not only has the Mongolian economy has increased by 17% in 2011, but also Mongolian citizens’ income has increased by 7 times during last 10 years which is related to internationally-recognized giant deposits in Mongolia. Due to this significant development, demands for apartments have increased noticeably. However, movement from the ger district to the city is difficult because of infrastructure restrictions. Existing residential apartments were built mainly for people with higher incomes or for foreign investors. Thus, those apartments were not affordable to people with lower incomes or those living in the ger district. MUDI (Mongolian Urban Devolpment Institute) has started offering apartments with reasonable prices to lower income people in the ger district since 2005. It has built apartment blocks with a total of 300 residential units, including the 6-storey “TOYOHIRA Studio №1” building with 48 residential units and all at affordable prices. The company will start construction work and trade of “TOYOHIRA Studio №2”, a 13- storey residential building with 62 residential units in 2012 and will work also on construction work and trade of “New Town” project with 12,000 residential units this year. That project is a part of “100,000 apart ment project” approved by the Mongolian Government. KEISEIMASAKI construction company is an experienced company in introducing new technology against cold for harsh weather in Hokkaido region, Japan. This Japanese company cooperates with MUDI for achieving the purposes of the company through understanding more about MUDI’s purposes in order to make its own contribution to Mongolian development. Therefore, MUDI sends its Mongolian officers to Japan in winter to sharing experiences and when construction works starts in summer, MUDI brings Japanese constructors for their operations for the benefit of both parties. Within the last two years, apartment prices have doubled in Mongolia. These apartments are in good locations and the company is also offering customers apartment rentals.

Tourist Companies

Hotel

Restaurant

Sauna Massage

Shopping

Yellow Page ULAANBAATAR LIST RESTAURANT

RESTAURANT JAPANESE FOOD GINZA (Japanese Yakiniku Restaurant)

976-331739, 976-99093025, 976-99073025 www.erdenetravel.mn

P46

YAMATO DINING

976-50040800, 88070800 www.yamato.mn

P47

NAGOMI (Kaitenzushi) SAKURA (Teppanyaki) SAKURA

976-70075167 fb.khanpalace@kempinski.com http://www.facebook.com/kempinski.ub

P44, P45

TSUYA (Sushi)

976-11-300673, 976-96682003 www.whitehousehotel.mn

P38

FUJI

976-11-458330 mn_flowerhotel@yahoo.co.jp

P42

Hashi Sakura Bakery Cafe Chiyoda (Ramen) Midori (Sushi) Bento Bento Mori no Iruka (Plantation)

976-95192663, 976-91679116 976-99033612, 976-99813612 976-11-319635, 976-99049312 976-11-311470, 976-91187799 976-95959505 976-99106200

P54 P50 P50 P52 P50 P25

KHARA KHORIN (Mongolian Food)

976-70075167 fb.khanpalace@kempinski.com http://www.facebook.com/kempinski.ub

P44, P45

MR.WANG (Chinese Imperial Restaurant)

976-11-319948 www.mrwang.co.kr

P48

THE BULL (Authentic Hop Pot)

976-70110060 (I) 976-70111212 (II)

P52

Step Mongolia (Mongolia Food) Bangkok (Thailand Food) Bewon (Korea Food) Hazara (India Food)

976 - 99744039, 976 - 91916939 976-11-330476 976-77400400, 976-77300300 976 -11-480214, 976 -99195007

P50 P50 P49 P55

976-70114734 976-11-330818 976 - 11-314167, 976 - 99194618 976-91050078, 976-88080082 976-11- 366677, 976-99075788 976-50159651, 976-98110512 976-70159898, 976-91988288 976 - 11-320120, 976 - 99111965 976-11-367845 976-99040813, 976-99012762 976 -70136721 976-95256866 976-11-458330, 976-99114963 976-11- 366677, 976-99075788 976-99182363 976-11-313355, 976- 88112087

P51 P52 P52 P30 P50 P51 P49 P52 P46 P55 P35, P55 P55 P55 P49 P49 P49

ASIAN FOOD

EUROPEAN CUISINE Sachers Cafe Veranda Los Bandidos Cafe 9 Jur Ur Bakery Cafe Luna Blanca Organic Club Emerald Bay Strings Nigth Club Amrita Disco Club King Lounge Te-Amo Karaoke Club J-Karaoke Wine & Dine Chingiss Beer Club The Square Grill Pub

Yellow Page HOTEL SAUNA - MASSAGE

HOTEL KEMPINSKI HOTEL

976-11463463 www.kempinski-ulaanbaatar.com reservations.ulaanbaatar@kempinski.com

P44, P45

RAMADA HOTEL

976-70141111, 976-70142222 www.ramada.com ramada@ramadaubcitycenter.mn

P37

CHINGGIS KHAAN HOTEL

976-11-313380 www.chinggis-hotel.com marketing@chinggis-hotel.com

P36

FLOWER HOTEL

976-11-455652 www.flower-hotel.mn flowerhotel@magicnet.mn

P42

NARANTUUL HOTEL

976-11-330565 www.narantuulhotel.com info@narantuulhotel.com

P41

PALACE HOTEL

976-11-343565 www.palace.mn reservation@palace.mn

P43

WHITE HOUSE HOTEL

976-11-367872, 976-11-369967 www.whitehousehotel.mn info@whitehousehotel.mn

P38

Comfort Hotel (Darkhan) Springs Hotel Voyage Hotel Mika Hotel Michelle Hotel New West Hotel

976-7037-9090, 976-99806030 976-70129010 976-11-327757 976-11-310903 976-11-325525 976-70183500, 976-70183503

P40 P39 P39 P39 P39 P40

MICHELL'S NAIL STUDIO

976-70109088, 976-99087168 aguunaa@yahoo.com

P56

Mimosa Hair Salon Joy Food Massage Si Si Massage Kawa Japanese Beauty Salon Lotus Thai Massage Venus Massage Asian Massage

976-99070618 976-11-328077 976-11-481238 976-11-312360, 976-99090334 976-11-326960 976-91008178, 976-91198178 976-99096425, 976-95929394

P58 P57 P58 P57 P58 P58 P57

SAUNA & MASSAGE

Yellow Page

FLIGHT TRAVEL SHOPPING

AIR COMPANY MONGOLIAN AIRLINES GROUP EZNIS AIRWAYS

976-70112179 www.mongolianairlines.com info@ mongolianairlines.com

P70, P71

976-11-333311 www.eznisairways.com sales@eznis.com

Avia Line airticket office

976-70131000

P31

TOUR COMANY AYANCHIN LODGE www.ayanchinlodge.mn

976-99094539, 93032323

H.I.S

976-11-332348 www.his-j.com/dst/mongol.htm info@his-mongol.com

HS KHAAN RESORT

976-70115311, 976-99085311 www.hk-khaan-resort.com info@hkkhanresort.mn

P26

NEW JUULCHIN TOURS www.juulchinworld.com

976-11-319401, 976-11-319403

P28

"OT" TOUR

976-99136772, 976-99191761 www.ottour.com contact@ottour.com

P27

DREAM LAND BRIDGE

976-70116721 www.dbl-tour.com dream_bridge_life@yahoo.com

P35

BAYAN KHAD

976-11-331280, 976-99094675 odnoo_new@yahoo.com

P30

Geomandal Nomads Hustai National Park Jiguur New Clover Travel Service Taliin Sondor Resort Steppes Journey Gobi Erdene

976-99888585 976-21-245087 976-11-461542 976-99032288 976- 77228811, 976- 88999599 976-70115005, 976-99089807 976-96026038

ayanchin@magicnet.mn

info@juulchinworld.com

P29, P32, P34 P34 P32 P33 P29 P33

SHOPPING

GOBI CASHMERE

976-11-343677, 976-11-365705 www.gobi.mn marketing@gobi.mn, export@gobi.mn

GOYO CASHMERE

976-11-342531 www.goyo-cashmere.com

P4, P5

Ayanchin Ovtfitters Imai Amka Morin Khuur Tsagaan Alt Fortec Japan Mongolian Leather Collection Hatan Shop Everyday

976-70119211, 976-11-319211 976-50053211, 976-99013717 99156171, 99250650 976-11-318591, 976-50051065 976 - 99908482, 976 - 88114451 976 - 88114514 976-99062592, 976-99092172 976-11-462906, 976-11-451381

P61 P60 P59 P59 P59 P60 P59

Yellow Page

BUSINESS...

BUSINESS KHAAN BANK

976-11-332333, 70075179 www.khanbank.com priority@khanbank.com

TDB BANK

P9,P72

976-11-312362, 976-11-326289 www.tdbm.mn

P21

BRIDGE GROUP

976-11-450520, 976-11-450941 www.bridgegroup.mn bridge@bridgegroup.mn

P20

BESTA REAL ESTATE

976-77300099, 976-98882218 www.besta.mn info@besta.mn

TOYOHIRA Studio

976-95907755 (Masaki), 976-11-363874 k.masaki.jp@gmail.com contact@mudi.mn

P24

Wenstrans Co.,Ltd

976-88119049, 976-88119131

P60

976-11-310490, 976-99283175 976-11-454537 976-11-323857 976-70150234 976-11-687886, 976-11-687901 Traumatology and Orthopaedic research center 976-70180136 Fire department 101 Police 102 Emergency hospital 103 Agency emergency 105

P60

USEFUL Information Hope Dental Clinic SOS Medica Mongolia Clinical Hospital No 1 Clinical Hospital No 2 Clinical Hospital No 3

General Director

AKIRA KAWAI

Editor

GANZORIG.M

Designer

NATSAGDORJ.M

Manager

ZULAA.B

BAASANDOLGOR.N

Company Introduction Adline LLC has been running its operation since 2006. Our company’s business operations include a tourism-business magazine, website and tourism. World Walker Mongolia magazine is released quarterly with information about business and tourism, and relevant advertisements in both English and Japanese. Advertisement Services If you are interested in publishing your company’s advertisement and information in the magazine, please contact us. You can receive a quote and other relevant information from the address below.

E-mail: adline.llc@gmail.com, TEL: 976-70101618 (office); 976-99151820, 976-99013023 (manager) URL: www.adline.mn