Culture

Ulgii, the primary city in the predominantly Kazakh region of Mongolia, is home to at least 4 mosques. The city is known for its unique Kazakh embroidery and art, distinct Kazakh music, and the traditional practice of hunting with eagles. Ulgii hosts the annual Golden Eagle Festival each October, a unique and captivating event showcasing the ancient Kazakh eagle hunting custom.

History

Before the founding of modern Mongolia in 1911, Ulgii was an ethnic Kazakh village. Despite the challenges, the Kazakhs have maintained their cultural identity, with many fleeing pressure from the expanding Russian Empire and coming to the Altai region of Mongolia. The number of Kazakhs in the region increased significantly after the 1917 Russian Revolution and the rise of communism in China. Ölgii was the center of Islam in Mongolia until religious purges in the 1930s, during which the mosque was destroyed and the imam was executed. Mongolia initially tried to suppress Kazakh language and culture but later created Bayan-Ölgii Aimag in 1939, with Ölgii as the seat of government.

Much of the city's central area was built between the 1950s and 1980s. Ulgii developed less than the rest of Mongolia and was not connected by railroad or paved road due to its isolated location and lack of mineral resources. After the Mongolian democratic revolution in 1991 and the breakup of the Soviet Union, 25% of the population moved to newly independent Kazakhstan. Many later returned, and the population has largely recovered. In recent years, construction has increased significantly, resulting in many new apartments, shops, restaurants, and hotels, most of which have been built since 2005, reflecting a construction boom throughout Mongolia.

Like other post-communist cities, much of the industry in Ölgii closed down in the 1990s. However, a large wool factory and many smaller animal-related factories continue to process products from the 2 million animals in the aimag.