Ulaanbaatar - Chinggis Khaan Museum and Folklore Show

Chinggis Khaan Museum

On this, the last morning in Mongolia, we are exploring this huge, modern museum, which was only completed a couple of years ago.

Although named after the brutal but revered leader, the museum covers all time epochs in the history of Mongolia. On entering we are allocated an English speaking guide, I am loaned a wheelchair, and we and are asked which eras we are most interested in, as covering the entire five floors would be exhausting and overwhelming (there are ca 10,000 exhibits in the museum, 93% of which are originals). I choose the Turkic period and the years covering the rule of Chinggis Khan.

Chinggis Khaan

But first, we see some older exhibits.

Deer stone. Deer was both hunted and worshipped between the 16th and 8th century BC. These stele are from around the time of the Egyptian pyramids.

2,000 year old cloth from a Royal Tomb

The Xiongnu Empire (209 BC to 174 AD)

Modun Chanyu, the founder of the Xiongnu Empire. He is credited as the initiator of the nomadic social and military-administrative organisational mode.

3rd century BC jade mirror plate – at the time jade was more valuable than gold.

During human sacrifices, every orifice would be covered with jade. Later, instead of sacrificing people, their ponytails would be cut off, and wooden sculptures created to represent the sacrificed person.

Ponytails

Wooden sculpture used instead of sacrifice

Utensils of the Xiongnu Period

Horse Equipment

The sun and moon amulet of the Xiongnu Empire. Such amulets were used through centuries by consecutive governments for around 2000 years.

Ankle bones from sheep used as tribal stamps

The oldest saddle found in Mongolia, at 1600 years old

The Turkic Empire

Bilge Khan’s golden crown depicting a garuda bird at the front set with a ruby stone. Bilge was the great khan of Mongolia from 716 until his death. His name literally translates as “Wise Emperor".

6th century Turkic saddle. They were the first to decorate their saddles

The door of a Royal Tomb, decorated with 3,000 silver buttons

7th century tomb guardians - mythical creatures keeping evil spirits away

Clothes iron

8th century stele

10th century felt socks from the Kyrgyz period

1,000 year old leather boots with embroidered upper

Ambagyan Khan of the Kitan Period (Liao Dynasty)

Khabul Khagan, 1st Khan of Khamag Empire

The Silver Tree. a life-sized replica of a tree that is said to have adorned the square in front of Genghis Khan’s Palace in the 13th century. Serpents twisted around each branch with their mouths forming spouts through which different drinks flowed, to be served during ceremonies and to important visitors.

10th Cent Bone Toothbrush and Dice

By now my back is hurting, despite the wheelchair (or maybe because of it, as I am unable to lean back in the seat), and my head is spinning from all the information overload with dates and names all melting together in my mind, so we call it a day and go back to the room to chill for a while.

Folklore Show

We have front row seats at this incredible performance – easily the best folklore show we have ever attended. The costumes are colourful, each act is kept short to keep the audience’s attention, the dancers are beautifully choreographed, and the singers and musicians extremely talented. A quick description of each act is given beforehand, but I am not quick enough to write anything down, so I am afraid I only have a series of photos to show you, without any explanation.

The contortionist is simply superb, with not only being able to shape her body into seemingly impossible positions, but also being able to fire an arrow while doing so!

Equally impressive is the flutist – I am absolutely amazed at how long he is able to play without drawing breath!

As we exit the show, the manager is waiting just outside the door, and she knows Daari, so she comes over to speak to us, asking us how we enjoyed the performance. I try to explain how fabulous we thought it was, but find myself overcome with emotion, struggling to speak. Superb!

Dinner

According to the itinerary, we are going to a traditional Mongolian restaurant for dinner this evening, but seeing how awful the traffic is (again), we suggest to Daari that we find a restaurant closer to the hotel so that we don’t have to spend an hour or more after the meal just to get back.

Daari surprises us with a very nice bottle of red wine

My Stir Fried Mutton with Mushrooms

The food is delicious, and the company great, but soon it is time to say a sad goodbye to Daari, who has become a good friend during our time here in Mongolia. She walks with us the couple of blocks back to our hotel where we part ways.

And so, as suddenly as it started, our time here in Mongolia is over. Thank you to Undiscovered Destinations and their local team for arranging this amazing trip.