Shopping guide
Shopping guide
A guide to authentic Mongolian traditional products and souvenirs you can buy as gifts while visiting Ulaanbaatar.
Quick facts
- Cashmere production rank
- Mongolia is the second largest producer of cashmere after China
Explained
If you are looking for Mongolian traditional products as a gift, here are some ideas about what can be bought from Ulaanbaatar.
Edible souvenirs
Salted Khomuul – Khomuul is the Mongolian name for Allium mongolicum, a wild plant that grows in the Gobi area and is an important source of vitamin C for people and livestock. Herders collect it in summer, salt it and store it for later use. It is especially good with stewed beef, and supermarkets sell it in small containers.
Honey – Mongolia’s wild flowers produce excellent, eco-friendly honey. It comes in various bottle sizes and makes a sweet food souvenir.
Textiles
Wool and cashmere products – Some of the most popular Mongolian goods are socks, sweaters and scarves made from sheep, camel and yak wool, and cashmere from goats. Mongolia is the second largest producer of cashmere after China. Outlets such as Gobi and Goyo sell a wide variety in the city.
Music and art
Morin Khuur (horse head instrument) – The Morin Khuur, or “horse-headed fiddle”, is a purely Mongolian invention. It is a meaningful gift for anyone interested in music; ask for a store that sells real playing instruments rather than replicas.
Water colours – Mongolia’s inspiring landscapes produce many talented artists. In Ulaanbaatar you may meet travelling artists selling affordable original works that capture the country’s scenery.
Antiques and souvenirs
The antique trade is booming in Mongolia, but buyers should ask for a certificate of authenticity. Souvenir shops around town sell landscape paintings, wool slippers, Mongolian jackets, felt dolls and Chinggis Khan t-shirts. The biggest souvenir outlet is on the 6th floor of the State Department Store.
Department stores and malls
Ulaanbaatar Department Store is a large, luxurious department store with international brands, perfumes and home appliances, plus a few tourist shops with cashmere and small felt gers. Other shopping centres include Central Mall, Ulaanbaatar Mall, Shangri-La Mall and Max Mall. The Ulaanbaatar Gallery sells Gobi cashmere brand goods, and souvenir shops can be found at Ulaanbaatar Gallery and on the 6th floor of the State Department Store.
Key takeaways
- Salted khomuul is a vitamin C-rich wild onion from the Gobi, sold in supermarkets.
- Mongolian wildflower honey is eco-friendly and sold in various bottle sizes.
- Wool, yak, camel and cashmere goods are popular; Mongolia is the world’s second largest cashmere producer after China.
- The Morin Khuur is a traditional Mongolian horse-headed fiddle; buy from stores that sell real playing instruments.
- Original watercolour paintings by travelling artists are affordable souvenirs of Mongolia’s landscapes.
- Ask for a certificate of authenticity when buying antiques.
- Major shopping spots include the State Department Store, Ulaanbaatar Department Store, Central Mall, Shangri-La Mall and the Ulaanbaatar Gallery.
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