ZAISAN MEMORIAL

A very interesting place, this memorial to the unknown soldier. Built by the Russians in the 1960s, it pays tribute to all members of the Soviet army who died in the Second World War. The monument is circular in shape, covered on the inside with a beautiful mosaic. At its center is the space reserved for the eternal flame, most often extinguished and lit only on commemorative occasions or important events. The mosaic also focuses on Russian-Mongolian friendship, depicted in a number of frescoes. The four main scenes to be recognized are Russian support for Mongolian independence wrested from China in 1921, the highly symbolic 1939 Japanese defeat at Khalhkin Gol on the border, the Russian victory over Nazism and the first flights into space.
There are two ways to reach the top of the monument. The first is to drive up the mound in your own car or by cab (it costs T500 to get in). There are then around 300 steps to climb. The other option is to take your time and climb, one by one, the 600 steps that separate the memorial from the bottom of the hill on which it was built. It takes around twenty minutes, but it's well worth the effort. At the top, the best possible view of Ulaanbaatar is revealed. You can see for yourself how rapidly the city has changed in recent years. On the other hand, the view is somewhat spoiled by two impressive concrete towers in front of it.