Overview
Erdenet, with a population of nearly 89,000, is the second largest city in Mongolia and capital of Orhon province. Erdenet is 375 km away from Ulaanbaatar city.
Understand
One of the world's large open pit copper mines is the reason for this city. This is why Èrdènèt is, with Ulaanbaatar, the most developed town of the country and, with Baga Nuur, the cleanest one. There is a carpet factory.
Èrdènèt is also nationally famous for its excellent traditional archers team. Traditional archery, practised in beautiful gown by both sexes, consist of aiming at a horizontal target, a bit like a bowling one, lying on the ground. You may see it for Naadam and official competition, but also near the south stadium for training at the end of afternoons (usually with no gown then).
There are annexes of 3 state universities, plus a private higher education school and a vocational school, so that many youth come from their provinces to learn in Èrdènèt, though Ulaanbaatar attracts many more students. In summer, many of these students go home.
Get in
You can see the Mongolian transportation page. Four coaches daily, mini-vans and car service from Ulaanbaatar's Dragon coach station (West of the town, on Peace avenue). Mini-vans will then drive you from the station to the city centre (8 km from the station) for 800 ₮. Coaches go from Ulaanbaatar for 11,000 ₮ and can take more for extra luggage.
The road is paved all the way from Ulaanbaatar, but it is two lane and not well maintained. Some people avoid the car and mini-van services because the drivers tend to drive too fast and there are many accidents.
It is possible to bicycle, but watch out for speeding cars.
See
Erdenet Mining Co.. The Erdenet Mining Corporation operates the biggest copper mine in Asia, which may be visited by appointment. Take your passport. There is also a mining museum.
The Erdenet Urguu cinema has 4 screens, modern a VIP lounge, and Dolby Cinema technology which shows latest local and latest Hollywood movies daily.
Do
If you are there before Naadam, go and see the archers training in Naadam's field, south of the city centre. There are also a few trainings after Naadam. No training if it rains. In winter, there is hardly any training, and when it takes place, it's inside. In springtime there is usually once a week, intensifying as national Naadam approaches.
Enjoy the soviet city centre built from nothing for the sake of the mine in the 1970s. Many buildings' colors and many trees post-date the soviet period, as do a few buildings with glass walls (mainly banks).
There is a musical fountain in the city centre (set in 2009), with music at certain times.
See one of the two small temples in the north of the city centre, if you've never seen any before.
The countryside is close by. Just walk 20 min to the north of the city, and you'll hopefully see sheep, goats, a shepherd on horse. If, instead of 20 min, you walk 40 min, the probability not to see any is low (except at night). The so-called "ger district", with more houses than gers, is also nearby. Some families live a semi-urban semi-rural life: following the cattle on the evening, you'll be led to a small farm in a street. If you're lucky, you may find someone bringing back something heavy from the city centre at sunset; propose to help them and you're likely to be invited to drink a tea (especially if they're an adult). This will provide you with an opportunity to see one of these small houses with electricity but no running water.
Rent You can rent tourism material (but no vehicle) at Fiable.biz, a small company managed by a French. It's possible to give back the things you rented in Ulaanbaatar.
Buy
If you want to go back home with a Mongolian carpet, this is the place. There are small ones. Erdenet carpet was one of the first ISO 9001 certified companies in the country. So try to avoid those days to buy things which each month 14-16th, and 29-31st of each month.
Eat
There are many restaurants in the downtown area. Including at least two Korean, one Chinese, one Russian, two vegetarian.
But it is highly advised that to avoid Korean and Chinese restaurants because local growing food alerts spreading that these types of restaurants prepare their foods out of very low and bad quality raw food materials. Instead going to other local restaurants and local canteens called Tsainii gazar (Цайны газар) are a better and safer choice.
Drink
Some groceries and open market sells some fermented horse milk the locals call airag. Little bit soury 5% alcoholic fermented drink. Some will enjoy some won't.
Sleep
Selenge Hotel. Old hotel, but rather clean and hot showers.
Make Erdenet your own.
Before committing, pick one main reason for this visit and two nearby experiences that support it. Check the guide’s transport sections against current operator information. A convenient base can save more time than adding another attraction.
- Choose your arrival point and one base. Write down the real transfer time, not just the map distance.
- Build a first-day plan with room to settle in. Cluster the places you want to see rather than crossing the city repeatedly.
- Use actual accommodation and transport quotes in your budget. Add fees to the quote before comparing it.
- Keep one uncommitted block. Weather, energy and a good local recommendation can all change your plan.
Source transparency
This guide adapts licensed text by Wikivoyage contributors. It is not a claim that Lakhou has visited or independently verified every listing. We converted the source to plain text, selected practical sections and removed price sentences and private contact information. The planning framework and any related-business booking recommendations above are Lakhou editorial additions.
Original revision 5269315 · Contributor history · CC BY-SA 4.0. Reused text and adaptations on this page are available under that license. Source revision date: 2026-04-29. This is not a date of field verification.
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