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Mongolia lies between Russia and China, a country of grassland, desert and mountains where herders move with their animals and live in round felt tents called gers. Ulaanbaatar, the capital, is a high, cold city of Soviet-style blocks, Sükhbaatar Square, the Gandan monastery and the Bogd Khan Palace Museum. The huge Chinggis Khaan statue stands on the steppe to the east.

In the Gobi, Dalanzadgad is the gateway to the Gurvan Saikhan range, the singing dunes of Khongor and the Bayanzag cliffs where dinosaur eggs were found. In the far west, Ölgii, in the Altai Mountains, is home to Kazakh families who hunt with golden eagles. In the north, Mörön leads to Lake Khövsgöl, a deep blue lake rimmed with forest, while Kharkhorin, on the central steppe, has the Erdene Zuu monastery.

Buuz, steamed dumplings of mutton, and khuushuur, fried pastry parcels, are the staples, with milk tea seasoned with salt. Airag is fermented mare's milk, and the Naadam festival in July brings wrestling, archery and horse racing. Summer is the main season, as winters are long and extremely cold.