Crossborder Train Ride from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Beijing, China

4 Days Self-guided Solo Trip in Winter Mongolia

February 16 to February 19, 2015

Ulaanbaatar City Tour last Part; going to Central Area

I did not booked in advance because I doubt the online booking process plus the fact that winter season is off-peak, seat/sleeper slot is not a problem. Even though I know this will be one of the requirements in Ulaanbaatar Airport immigration, I will just tell them that I will be buying my ticket immediately.

Transmongolia train is probably the best way to experience something of the communist time, even if it has evolved a bit since then. The railway network is poor, consisting mainly in the Irkutsk-Beijing trans-mongolian way with a few extensions. The rolling stock consist of 30–40 years old Soviet cars. Trains are extremely slow. They usually leave on time, and arrive on time or less than 20 min late. Mongolian trains are cheap, even in comparison with Russian and Chinese trains. You pay an extra fee if you book in advance, no extra charge if bought in train ticket office. Passport is required to buy a ticket.

I bought my ticket immediately upon arrival coming from Ulaanbaatar airport. Train ticket office is just infront of Ulaanbaatar train station, office hours of 0900-1700 daily. Departed exactly on time. I availed the 2nd class sleeper type, 4 pax per cabin, room temp around 28'C. With outlet rounded plug, television, reading light, blanket, pillow, bedsheets, coffee and tea. No food selling, pack snacks is a must. We arrived in the Mongolia border at 1850H per schedule. Roaming Immigration Officer requested to hand-over passport, I just stayed inside the train cabin. Around 2030H, we left the border.

Travel time is 28.5 hours for train #24 during winter season with the following timings;

FEBRUARY 19 THURSDAY (2015 LUNAR NEW YEAR)

0715H ETD ULAANBAATAR TRAIN STATION (UTC +0800H)

1850H ETA MONGOLIA BORDER

2100H ETA CHINA BORDER

FEBRUARY 20 FRIDAY

0930H BRUNCH SOLD INSIDE TRAIN

1145H ETA BEIJING RAILWAY STATION (UTC +0800H)  
 

To know more about the updated Mongolia local and international train schedule and fares...

https://eticket.ubtz.mn/en/user_us.php 

Crossborder Train Ride from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Beijing, China (Soviet cars)

Ulaanbaatar City Tour last Part; going to Central Area

4 Days Self-guided Solo Trip in Winter Mongolia

February 16 to February 19, 2015

Ulaanbaatar City Tour 1st Part; walk to Southern Mountains

Going back to Peace Avenue, from Gandantegechinlen Monastery (free admission) to Sukhbaatar Square where the famous Genghis Khan Monument is erected (open park). The coldest capital city in the world is not in Canada or in Northern Europe but in Mongolia; it's Ulaan-baatar, with an average annual chilly temperature of -1.3°C.

Genghis Khan, born Temüjin, was the founder and Great Khan (emperor) of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his demise. Between 1206 and his death in 1227, the Mongol leader Genghis Khan conquered nearly 12 million square miles of territory—more than any individual in history. Along the way, he cut a ruthless path through Asia and Europe that left untold millions dead, but he also modernized Mongolian culture, embraced religious freedom and helped open contact between East and West. 

Chinggis Square, formally Grand Chinggis Khaan Square, and previously known as Sükhbaatar Square, is the central square of Mongolia's capital Ulaanbaatar. The official name was changed in 2013 in honor of the founding father of the Mongolian nation. A large colonnade monument to Genghis Khan, as well as to Ögedei Khan, and Kublai Khan dominates the square's north side directly in front of the Saaral Ordon (Government Palace). The center of the square features an equestrian statue of Damdin Sükhbaatar, one of the leaders of Mongolia's 1921 revolution. The Gandantegchinlen Monastery is a Tibetan-style Buddhist monastery in the Mongolian capital of Ulan Bator that has been restored and revitalized since 1990. The name translates to the "Great Place of Complete Joy". It currently has over 150 monks. It features a 26.5-meter-high statue of Avalokiteśvara.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%BCkhbaatar_Square

Ulaanbaatar City Tour last Part; going to Central Area (Genghis Khan Monument at night)

Ulaanbaatar City Tour 1st Part; walk to Southern Mountains

4 Days Self-guided Solo Trip in Winter Mongolia

February 16 to February 19, 2015

Terelj National Park day tour last part; Turtle Rock back to Ulaanbaatar

I woke-up early and started to walk down south to have my usual map-guided hiking adventure, free map available in the hostel. From Peace Avenue, going to Big Ring then Lenin Avenue. From Winter Palace of Bogd Khan (close at this day due to Lunar New Year), going to Buddha Park (open park free admission), to Zaisan Memorial (open park no free admission) all the way to Bogd Khan front mountains.

Winter Palace of Bogd Khan is located in southern Ulan Bator, on the road to Zaisan is now a museum. The palace is the only one left from originally four residences of the eighth Jebtsundamba Khutughtu, who was later proclaimed Bogd Khan, or emperor of Mongolia. Buddha Park is found easily on the way to Zaisan Hill because of an image of a huge Buddha statue. The peaceful temple-like environment and clean fresh air are the best reasons for visiting this park. Buddha Park offers a tranquil place to relax the mind and body and deserves a visit whenever you are in the south end of the city – whether to sip some coffee or to catch some good karma vibes. Bogd Khan Mountain is a mountain in Mongolia that overlooks the nation's capital, from a height of 3000 feet (914m) above and to the south of the city.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_Palace_of_the_Bogd_Khan 

Zaisan Memorial is the first memorial monument, honored Soviet soldiers who protected independence of Mongolian people from foreign surrenders erected in 1956 on Zaisan Hill. This is the most impressive memorial complex in the 2nd half of the 20th century. There is staircase with 612 steps to the top which is 300 meters.

Ulaanbaatar City Tour 1st Part; walk to Southern Mountains (Bogd Khan Uul)

Terelj National Park Day Tour last Part; Turtle Rock back to Ulaanbaatar

4 Days Self-guided Solo Trip in Winter Mongolia

February 16 to February 19, 2015

Terelj National Park day tour 1st part; from Ulaanbaatar to Genghis Khan Complex

After lunch, continuing our journey to the Turtle Rock and Meditation Temple inside the Terelj National Park. No entrance fee and since winter season is off-peak, most of the establishments is close along the way.

Gorkhi-Terelj National Park is one of the national parks of Mongolia. The Terelj tourist zone has a number of "tourist camps". It is connected with Ulan Bator by a paved road (main road to the East #A0501 Baganuur-Öndörkhaan direction, 37 km from Ulan Bator city center, left turn to the branch #A24, 5 km later road crosses Tuul River and the National park territory begins). The Terelj settlement is located in the valley of the Terelj River (Terelj Gol), approximately 66 km from the Ulaanbaatar city center. The national park tourist zone is formally in Nalaikh düüreg (district) part of Ulaanbaatar municipality, the rest of the protected zone beginning to the north of the Terelj River, is located in Mongolia's Töv Province (Töv aimag). The park has many rock formations for rock climbers, and includes two famous formations named for things they resemble: Turtle Rock (Mongolian: Melkhii Khad) and the Old Man Reading a Book (Praying Lama Rock).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorkhi-Terelj_National_Park

Terelj National Park Day Tour last Part; Turtle Rock back to Ulaanbaatar (turtle rock)

Terelj National Park Day Tour 1st Part; from Ulaanbaatar to Genghis Khan Complex

4 Days Self-guided Solo Trip in Winter Mongolia

February 16 to February 19, 2015

Ulaanbaatar International Airport Arrival in the Afternoon

I booked this Mongolia private day tour on where I reserved my stay for 3 nights, Danista Nomads Hostel. The owner gave a fixed price of $70 (135,000MNT) that includes the following;

Ulaanbaatar - CHINGGIS STATE MONUMENT –TERELJ NATIONAL PARK - Ulaanbaatar
- private car with driver/guide
- 0900H Hostel departure, 1700H Hostel arrival
- Drive to Chinggis State Monument /65km/
- Short drive to Terelj National Park /40km/
- Lunch in local restaurant in National Park area
- Visit to Turtle rock /5km/ then to Meditation Temple /3 km/
- Drive back Ulaanbaatar /60km/

Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue
Part of the Genghis Khan Statue Complex is a 40 metre (131 ft 3 in) tall statue of Genghis Khan on horseback. The world's largest statue of a rider on a horse erected in Mongolia showing Chinggis Khaan (1162-1227) with a golden whip in his right hand gazing into the distance, has been erected at the Tsonjin Boldog site connected to many historic events in the territory of Erdene soum in Tov aimag, 54 km from Ulaanbaatar.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genghis_Khan_Equestrian_Statue

There's a Mongolian National Costume for rent inside the base of Genghis Khan Statue. The cost is 3,000MNT ($1.5) only per attire set, photography is free for your camera. Cheap souvenirs also available beside the costume rental.

Terelj National Park Day Tour 1st Part; from Ulaanbaatar to Genghis Khan Complex

4 Days Self-guided Solo Trip in Winter Mongolia

Ulaanbaatar and the Great Genghis Khan's Monuments
February 16 to February 19, 2015

“Without the vision of a goal, a man cannot manage his own life, much less the lives of others…The ancients had a saying: ‘Unity of purpose is a fortune in affliction.’” - Genghis Khan

My 40th solo backpacking trip, 42 countries visited so far and of course, usual budget do-it-yourself itinerary from arrival to departure. This trip is the 1st part of the Northeastern Asian winter adventure with Mainland China.

Mongolia is a landlocked country located between China and Russia. It is a vast emptiness that links land and sky, and is one of the last few places on the planet where nomadic life is still a living tradition. The province of Inner Mongolia is geographically and politically separate and located in northern part of China yet it shares common borders with Mongolia. Genghis Khan founded the Mongol Empire, and his grandson Kublai Khan conquered China to establish the Yuan Dynasty. After the collapse of the Yuan, the Mongols retreated to Mongolia and resumed their earlier pattern of factional conflict and occasional raids on the Chinese borderlands. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Mongolia came under the influence of Tibetan Buddhism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongolia

4 Days Self-guided Solo Trip in Winter Mongolia (Genghis Khan Monument in Sukhbaatar Square)

7th OFW Vacation; From Winter Northeastern Asia to Summer Homeland

Winter Japan - Mongolia - Mainland China to Summer Philippines

February 6 to March 13, 2015
37 days winter-rific and summer-rific vacation as an OFW 

1st OFW Vacation; Comeback to my Homeland

2nd OFW Vacation; Pinoy Backpacker China Invasion
3rd OFW Vacation; Summer Solo Tour from Malaysia to Japan
4th OFW Vacation; Ultimate Solo Trip from Central Europe to Promised Land 
5th OFW Vacation; Winter Birthday Get-away from Georgia to Myanmar
6th OFW Vacation; 2nd Ultimate Backpacking across 3 Continents

"If your work requires you to travel, you will understand that there's no vacation destination like home." - Park Chan-wook

7th vacation as an Overseas Filipino worker for more than 3 years of stay in Kuwait. The image below shows the converted jpeg of calendar of events on my entire 37-days vacation journey. The countries included were 3rd visit to Japan, 2nd visit to China and 1st time in Mongolia.

Getting away does not necessarily imply flying south or anywhere else for that matter. The key is to find a setting that will allow you to leave all your worries behind. Some people manage to do it from home, although a change of surroundings often helps one to disconnect from daily concerns. Simply turning off the cell phone and opening a book under a tree in a city park can be a great getaway! Some studies have found a positive relationship between vacations and intellectual function.

7th OFW Vacation; From Winter Northeastern Asia to Summer Homeland