Central Europe, Denmark, Mongolia, Hong Kong

In a city where few safe and accessible community spaces exist—especially for children—Uuliin Nuur is a rare and inspiring exception.

Ulaanbataa lies in the valley of the Tuul River. Once a nomadic settlement, it became fixed in its current location in 1778. From 1924 until the early 1990s, Mongolia was governed under Soviet-style socialism, which shaped the city’s early urban planning. This created a centralized downtown core—planned for 600,000 people—that still stands today.
However, Ulaanbaatar is now home to around 1.5 million residents—almost triple its intended capacity. Nearly 60% of the population live in ger districts, semi-formal and unplanned neighborhoods that ring the city. These areas, composed of both traditional gers and self-built houses, are disconnected from central infrastructure: no plumbing, running water, or central heating.

Challenges in the Ger Districts
The rapid expansion of Ulaanbaatar’s ger districts has been largely driven by rural-to-urban migration, especially in recent decades. As the climate crisis intensifies, Mongolia’s herding families have faced increasing hardship due to cyclical extreme weather events known as dzud—severe winters that follow summer droughts and devastate livestock herds. Many of these families have moved to the capital not necessarily in search of a better life, but simply in search of any form of opportunity or stability.

However, transitioning from a traditional nomadic lifestyle to urban living is far from easy. The lack of essential infrastructure and public services—including heating, water, sanitation, and safe community spaces—makes daily life in the ger districts particularly challenging.

Creating Change: The Uuliin Nuur Community Project

The Uuliin Nuur Community Project, founded by Ulziitogtokh Sodnomsenge (Ulzii), is helping transform a corner of Ulaanbaatar’s ger districts into a more hopeful and livable space. In 2009, Ulzii received official permission to rehabilitate a long-abandoned quarry in the Denjin Myanga ger district. Once used for city construction under the socialist regime and later abandoned as a dumping ground, the site was neglected and forgotten.

But Ulzii had a vision—and he invested his personal savings to make it happen.

“The kids in this area often have a very hard life. I want to give them somewhere to play.” — Ulzii

By 2014, Uuliin Nuur (which means Mountain Lake) had officially opened, offering a safe, affordable, and welcoming space for local families in one of Ulaanbaatar’s most underserved areas.

Uuliin Nuur is more than a quiet space—it’s a space for education, creativity, and connection. Ulzii, runs free English and music classes for local children when he can and is continuously improving the site, which has become home to ducks, doves, and even a rabbit. Over time, he has planted more than 500 trees, creating a rare oasis of quiet in a city struggling with air pollution and overcrowding.

What’s especially noticeable? There’s no rubbish. Children and families who visit are encouraged to take ownership of the space and keep it clean—a reflection of the respect Ulzii inspires in his community

A Local Side of Ulaanbaatar
Many international visitors rush through Ulaanbaatar—perhaps stopping at the National Museum or a cultural show—on their way to Mongolia’s more remote regions. But Ulaanbaatar is so much more than its downtown core. Visiting Uuliin Nuur allows guests to experience a more local, grounded, and community-led side of Mongolia’s capital.Read more