Walking the World Series: Mongolia - Karakorum Site and Orkhon Valley

The Karakorum city site is located on the right bank of the Orkhon River in the former Hangai Province of the Mongolian People's Republic. It is an irregular rectangle, approximately 2,500 meters from north to south and 1,300 meters from east to west.
In 1235, Ögedei Khan established his capital here, making it the capital of the Mongol Khanate (1206–1271).
After Kublai Khan moved the capital to Yanjing and founded the Yuan Dynasty, Karakorum became the administrative center of Hening Road and remained an important city and transportation hub in northern Mongolia.
The Karakorum city site is surrounded by earthen walls with city gates on all four sides.
In Figure 4, the southwest part of the city shows the ruins of the Wan'an Palace complex built by Ögedei Khan.
Figures 8-10 depict a monument standing on a hilltop, with a central conical stone arrangement made of shamanic eggs, topped by nine poles. Surrounding the monument are three walls, with the outer walls decorated with colorful mosaics illustrating the territories of the Mongol Empire during the Turkic era, the Xiongnu era, and the time of Genghis Khan, as if allowing one to travel through time and witness historical changes firsthand.
Figures 11-20 show the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape, reflecting the original Mongolian nomadic culture and the development of Mongolian commerce, military, politics, and religion at the time.
The Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape is located in the central Orkhon River basin of Mongolia, covering 121,967 hectares. It includes archaeological sites from the 6th to the 14th centuries and the 13th-century Mongol Empire capital Karakorum site. It was inscribed as a World Cultural Heritage site in 2004. The core site, the ancient city of Karakorum, was established by Genghis Khan in 1220. Existing remains include the outer city, palace city (Wan'an Palace), Buddhist temples, Islamic mosques, and other religious buildings, blending Central Plains Han architectural layouts with nomadic characteristics, reflecting the symbiotic relationship between nomadic culture, social management, and religious beliefs.
In 1235, Karakorum was expanded by Ögedei Khan with the Wan'an Palace, becoming the political, religious, and trade center of the Mongol Empire. The city plan included handicraft workshop areas, twelve pagan temples, and relay stations such as the Tieligan Road hub. After the Yuan Dynasty moved its capital, the city's status declined. It gradually fell into ruin after being captured by the Ming army. Four stone turtle pedestals and the ruins of the Erdene Zuu Monastery remain today. The site group also includes archaeological remains of the Uighur Khaganate capital Karabalgasun and Turkic memorial sites. Currently, it faces threats from agricultural development and human damage. Mongolia is cooperating with multiple countries to implement protection plans.

Post by cortexzx1fn0q2r | Aug 20, 2025