Monuments and Old buildings of Ulaanbaatar #3

CHIN WANG MINJIDDORJIIN KHANDDORJ MANSION
One of the most elegant houses in the Bogd Khaan monarchy era, it was called by residents of Urga “the Daichin Wang High-Rise.” Built in 1913 by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia Chin Wang (Count) Munjiddorjiin Khanddorj as his residence. Following the death of Khanddorj in 1915 his son Jambaltseren inherited the mansion. During initial years of the revolutionary People’s Government its tenant briefly was Minister Balingiin Tserendorj; it was then transferred to the Institute of Manuscripts in 1923. Under government protection since the 1940s.
Location: Location: Sukhbaatar District, 2nd khoroo, on the right side of Mongolia-India joint school
Custody: Protection by the State, per Executive Order No. 524 of the Council of Ministers of the Mongolian People's Republic (1961), and Executive Order No. 175 of the Government of Mongolia (2008)

THE ALTAI HOTEL
The present-day Ulaanbaatar City Administration building is one of the major public works constructed in accordance with the Ulaanbaatar City downtown renovation plan. Designed by the Soviet architects, this was the first hotel facility in the country, initially housed the Altai Hotel. Workers of the State Construction Trust laid the foundation of the building in 1946 and completed on July 7, 1948. With opening of the Ulaanbaatar Hotel in 1961 this facility's 60 rooms occupying 19,000 sq.m areas were used as office space. Since 1964 it houses the Ulaanbaatar City Administration.
Location: Sukhbaatar District, on the right side of the central square

NATIONAL OPERA AND BALLET THEATER
The National Opera and Ballet Theater building is one of the major peacetime public works constructed after the Second World War in accordance with the Ulaanbaatar City downtown renovation plan. Though in 1940 the Council of Ministers adopted a resolution to establish the Central National Theater and allocated funds for construction, the process delayed due to the Second World War. The groundbreaking ceremony was therefore held on June 28, 1946, attended by leaders Khorloogiin Choibalsan and Yumjaagiin Tsedenbal. Designed by Soviet (ethnic German) architect Gerhard Koesel in 1945, the construction work started in 1946 and completed in 1949. Workers of the State Construction Trust and Japanese prisoners of war were involved in the construction. The theater occupies 38,000 sq.m areas and has main performance hall accommodating 800 spectators, numerous rooms, and a revolving stage. Mongolian ornaments on the building's facade and exterior were crafted by sculptors S.Choimbol, Davaatseren and N.Jambaa by design of architect B.Chimed and painter D.Manibadar. Known before 1963 as the National Musical Drama Theater, the building houses the National Opera and Ballet Theater ever since its separation from the National Drama Theater in that year. In 1981 renamed the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, in 1994 as the National Classical Arts Academic Theater before restoring the name National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater in 2002.
Location: Sukhbaatar District

THE GUARDIAN SPIRIT TEMPLE OF DASHICHOILING MONASTERY, FORMERLY NOBLE TOIN LEAGUE TEMPLE, EAST URGA
One of the marvels of Mongolian traditional architectural style is the ger-shaped wooden chapel, one of the three of the kind that survived to these days. Rampildorj, the hereditary lord of the Tusheet Khan League of Khalkha Mongolia, was bestowed the clerical title “Toin” (abbot) in 1737 and founded a temple in 1740. Furthermore, he petitioned the Bogd Jebtsundamba II to make it a full-scale league and with permission granted, the league was since known as the “Noble Toin League.” The temple is a wooden structure on stone foundation and is 19 m in diameter, 6 m tall, the dome-shaped roof supported by six pillars. Operational with 100 to 600 lamas conducting service, the temple seized by government and closed in 1938. In 1990 the Dashichoiling Monastery was founded based on the remaining Wanggay and Noble Toin leagues.
Location: Sukhbaatar District, 8th khoroo, on the right side of Economics School of NUM
Custody:Protection by the State, per Executive Order No. 524 of the Council of Ministers of the Mongolian People's Republic (1961) and Executive Order No. 175 of the Government of Mongolia (2008).

CENTRAL PALACE OF CULTURE
As a gift from the Soviet people, this building was completed in 1987. The Central Palace of Culture consists of four wings - A, B, C and D - and houses many cultural establishments, such as the National Fine Art Gallery, Mongolian Theater Museum, and the National Philharmonic Hall etc.
Location: Sukhbaatar District

SCHOOL NO. 1
The first four-story building in Ulaanbaatar. The first secondary school in the country founded in 1923. In 1940 by Resolution of the State Minor Khural (legislature) the School No. 1 was renamed Marshal Choibalsan Secondary School No. 1 and the new school building was constructed.
Location: Sukhbaatar District, 8th khoroo

NATIONAL DRAMA THEATER
In 1956 members of the Capital City Revolutionary Youth League launched a campaign to build the Youth Palace. Urban and rural youth supported the idea and collected donations. Architects B.Chimed and A.Khishigt designed the Palace exterior, and with groundbreaking in 1957 construction was completed in October 1960 on a wide open area previously belonging to the Customs Committee. In 1963 the Central Committee of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party and the Council of Ministers of the Mongolian People's Republic issued a joint resolution No. 132/182 to split the National Musical Drama Theater into the National Opera and Ballet Theater and the National Drama Theater and decided to relocate the National Drama Theater and the National Folk Song and Dance Ensemble to the Youth Palace. In 1966 the Presidium of the People's Great Khural (legislature) decree No. 154 renamed the theater as Dashdorjiin Natsagdorj National Drama Theater. Since 1981 Dashdorjiin Natsagdorj National Academic Drama Theater. The theater has about 200 rooms, two performance halls accommodating 700-800 spectators each and a dance hall for 500 people.
Location: Sukhbaatar District, Seoul street

BAT-OCHIRYN ELDEV-OCHIR CHILDREN'S CINEMA
Bat-Ochiryn Eldev-Ochir Children's Cinema is one of the major peacetime public works constructed after the Second World War in accordance with the Ulaanbaatar City downtown renovation plan and moreover, the first cinema facility in Mongolia. Designed by Soviet engineer Klimov in 1945-46, the cinema opened on July 8, 1948. Japanese prisoners of war were involved in the construction. The cinema is a three-story building occupying 9,700 sq.m of area, with the main auditorium accommodating over 400 spectators. The ground floor had dance and exhibition hall. Commemorating the Mongolian political leader of the 1930s, Bat-Ochiryn Eldev-Ochir, the Presidium of the State Minor Khural (legislature) in 1947 decreed to name it Eldev-Ochir Cinema. For many years one of the largest cinemas in Ulaanbaatar, since 1991 this building houses the Mongolian Stock Exchange.
Location: Sukhbaatar District, 1st khoroo, on the right side of Chinggis square

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF MONGOLIA MAIN BUILDING
Construction of the National University of Mongolia main building began in 1943 by design of the Soviet architect N.M.Shchepetil'nikov and under oversight of Soviet engineer Gurevich. The east wing completed in late March 1947, while the west wing completed in April of the same year. Central portico was completed on June 28, 1947 and the grand opening was held on July 1. Over 700 Japanese prisoners of war were involved in the construction between 1945 and 1947.
Location: Sukhbaatar District, 6th khoroo, University street, Baga Toiruu - 4

MARSHAL KHORLOOGIIN CHOIBALSAN MANSION
Constructed in 1947 by the 1943 project design of Soviet architect Nikolay M. Shchepetil'nikov as the mansion of Mongolia's supreme leader, Marshal Khorloogiin Choibalsan. Known by a variety of names, such as "Choibalsan Winter Palace," "Mansion No. 30," "Marshal House" etc. Khorloogiin Choibalsan lived here until his death in 1952. Construction work followed Marshal Choibalsan's advice that “its exterior should be of European classical appearance and its interior should invoke Mongolian national style." Talent and hard work of leading Mongolian artists and sculptors helped create a unique and singular masterpiece of architecture. After Choibalsan's death the mansion became "Damdiny Sukhbaatar and Khorloogiin Choibalsan Palace Museum" open to public. In 1961 the mansion was transferred to the Ministry of Public Security and was used as VIP guesthouse for visiting foreign dignitaries. The building's new status required additional rooms to the initial six; and the 1986 extension added 20 more auditoriums and ballrooms. Belonging to the Government Service Agency from 1990 until 1996, now operates under the custody of the State Protection Service.
Location: Sukhbaatar District, School number #1

THE WEDDING PALACE
One of the buildings of historical significance displaying unique architectural style. Initiated by the First Lady Anastasia Ivanovna Tsedenbal-Filatova, the groundbreaking ceremony of the Wedding Palace was held on May 23, 1973 and the opening ceremony was held on June 14, 1976. The central gate is designed by State Prize Laureate D.Amgalan (1933-2008) and crafted by students of the Fine Arts School. First couple to tie the knot in the palace was tractor drivers from Selenge Province, L.Jargalsaikhan and D.Tungalag.
Location: Sukhbaatar District, 8th khoroo,