China & Russia

A Little About Mongolia's Giant Neighbors


The great cities of Beijing and Moscow actually owe much of their importance to the Mongols. Beijing became the capital of the Mongol Empire during the fourteenth century when under the rule of Kublai Khaan, Chinggis Khaan's grandson. Moscow was just a small town when the Golden Horde passed through Russia to Europe. Another of Chinggis Khaan's grandsons created a throne for a Russian puppet king and gave him Mongol backing, so that Moscow soon became the center for Russian rule.



Extension Tours


We work closely with our experienced agents in Beijing and Moscow to provide exciting options for extending your visit to Mongolia. We can arrange transfers, hotels, sightseeing tours and translators in both cities, before or after your vacation in Mongolia. You can make the connecting journey by train or plane - many people take the train in one direction and fly the other.

Extend Your Holiday With a Trip to China or Russia

Beijing


In Beijing there are a number of sights you really must see even if you are there for only a few days. The Forbidden City, located on the north side of Tiananmen Square was home to the Emperors of China for centuries. Just outside the city is the Summer Palace - extensive gardens, lakes and decorative corridors used by the Emperor during the hot summer months. Some distance from Beijing one can visit sections of the Great Wall, built over many centuries in an effort to keep out invaders from Mongolia.



Xian and the Terracotta Warriors

Take a two hour flight from Beijing to the city of Xian in Shaanxi province. Here you can see what has been called "the eighth wonder of the world". This is where the first emperor of China was laid to rest, guarded by a terracotta army of 8000 soldiers. Qin Shi Huang Di became Emperor at the age of 13 years and started construction of his tomb at once. He went on to unify all the warring states in the region, creating a single nation.
In 1974 some local peasants in Xian were digging a well when they uncovered the first terracotta warrior, which had lain undiscovered for more than 2000 years. Work continues in the underground vaults, where more soldiers, horses and artifacts are still being unearthed.



Moscow


In Moscow you are bound to visit Red Square and the Kremlin, including a tour around one of the exquisite cathedrals. There are some superb monuments and architectural achievements to be seen in the city, and if you want to get out of Moscow we can organize day trips to the Cosmonaut Training Center, or to Sergiev Posad, the center of the Russian Orthodox church.



Lake Baikal


The largest freshwater lake in the world lies in Siberia, just a few hundred miles from the border with Mongolia. The beautiful lake and surrounding scenery are a wonderful place to relax and experience Russian hospitality, culture, history and the great outdoors. There are regular flights and trains between the cities of Irkutsk, Moscow and Ulaanbaatar, and it is a further three hour drive to the lake from Irkutsk. Accommodation may be in a traditional wooden chalet, with a local family, or in a hotel, depending on your preference.