The Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape spans approximately 121,967 hectares and encompasses expansive pastures on both sides of the Orkhon River. It is the site of numerous archaeological remains dating back to the 6th century and includes Kharkhorin, the capital of the empire of Chingis (Genghis) Khan during the 13th and 14th centuries. This location illustrates the interconnectedness between nomadic pastoral societies and their administrative and religious centers, underscoring the importance of the Orkhon Valley in Central Asian history. Today, these grasslands are still utilized by Mongolian nomadic herders.

The main attractions:

• Orkhon monuments are early 8th-century Turkic memorials to Bilge Khan and Kul Tigin, the most impressive monuments from the nomadic First Turkic Khaganate. They were discovered by Russian archaeologists in 1889 and deciphered by Vilhelm Thomsen in 1893. Now we can visit the @ Museum of Khoshoo Tsaidam.
• Ruins of Ordu-Baliq at the site known as Kharbalgas in Mongolian, an 8th-century capital of the Uyghur Khaganate, which cover 50 square km and contain evidence of the palace, shops, temples, monasteries, etc.
• Ruins of Mongol capital of @Kharkhorin city.
• @Erdene Zuu Monastery is the first Buddhist monastery established in Mongolia. It was partly destroyed by Communist authorities in 1937-40.
• @Tovkhon Monastery is another spectacular monastery, overlooking a hill at 2,600 meters above sea level. It, too, was almost totally destroyed by the Communists.
• @Orkhon Waterfall ten meters wide and twenty meters high, that can sometimes go dry or even freeze during winter.