Across the Tuul River in the southern reaches of Ulaanbaatar within Khan-Uul District, where the dark larch forests of sacred Bogd Khan Mountain meet the rocky promontory of Zaisan Hill (Zaisan Tolgoi), a radiant golden figure rises against the evergreen slopes to greet every traveler entering the southern valley. This is the Zaisan Golden Buddha Statue, the centerpiece of the International Buddha Park (Buddha Tsetserlegt Khüreelen) and the tallest outdoor monument of contemporary Buddhism in the Mongolian capital.
Constructed in 2005 and solemnly consecrated in 2006 to celebrate the eight-hundredth anniversary of Genghis Khan's founding of the Great Mongol Empire (1206 to 2006), the standing image of Sakyamuni Buddha measures 18 meters in statue height and reaches 23 meters from the plaza pavement to its crown atop a circular lotus-throne sanctuary. While historic monasteries north of the river such as Gandantegchinlen Monastery and Dashchoilin Monastery preserve the scholastic colleges of old Urga, the Zaisan Golden Buddha stands as an open-air beacon of compassion watching over modern Ulaanbaatar from the threshold of its oldest sacred mountain.
IThe Standing Sakyamuni Buddha of Blessing, the Vision of Venerable Gurudava Rinpoche, and the Peace Bell
The central figure of the park is Sakyamuni Buddha depicted in a standing posture of walking among the world to teach and protect living beings. Unlike seated meditation statues enclosed within darkened halls, the standing Golden Buddha beneath Zaisan Hill embodies active, engaged compassion: his right hand is raised in a gesture of teaching and dispelling fear, while his left hand holds an alms bowl filled with the nectar of the Dharma, his serene gaze directed northward across the Tuul River valley toward the homes and avenues of Ulaanbaatar.
Supporting the lotus pedestal of the 18-meter statue is a five-meter-high circular base sanctuary (Dugan) associated with Dashchoinkhorlin Monastery. Inside this ground-level shrine hall, pilgrims venerate gilded images of the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Dharma protectors alongside complete printed editions of the Mongolian Buddhist Canon: the 108-volume Kanjur (the translated words of the Buddha) and the 226-volume Tanjur (philosophical commentaries). Enshrining the entire scriptural canon inside the pedestal visually expresses the Buddhist teaching that the towering body of awakening rests upon the foundation of Dharma wisdom.
The creation of the Zaisan Golden Buddha was spearheaded by the revered Inner Mongolian master Venerable Jalsrai Gurudava Rinpoche (1909 to 2009). Having studied at the great Gelugpa monastic universities of Tibet and spent decades in India and Nepal preserving rare tantric lineages, Gurudava Rinpoche came to Mongolia in the early 1990s in his eighties. After leading the monumental restoration of historic Amarbayasgalant Monastery in Selenge Province, he dedicated his nineties to raising the Zaisan Golden Buddha as a spiritual guardian to bless Mongolia's capital with peace, moral renewal, and prosperity.
In Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhist tradition, erecting a colossal outdoor image of the Buddha fulfills the compassionate principle of liberation through sight (Thongdrol): anyone who glimpses the radiant golden form of the Awakened One from afar, whether walking through the park, crossing the Zaisan bridge, or looking down from Zaisan Hill, plants an indelible seed of peace and awakening in the stream of consciousness.
Flanking the statue plaza are two traditional pavilions housing the Great Bell of Peace and a large ceremonial Dharma Drum. Donated in a spirit of international Buddhist solidarity, the deep resonance of the Peace Bell calls upon citizens and visitors alike to cultivate non-violence, filial gratitude, and harmony with the natural world.
Municipal records of Ulaanbaatar and inscriptions at the International Buddha Park document that construction of the monument began in 2005 and was completed in the summer of 2006 to coincide with the national celebrations of the 800th Anniversary of the Great Mongol State (1206 to 2006). The project was financed and realized through the personal donations and international fundraising of Venerable Gurudava Rinpoche (1909 to 2009), in partnership with Buddhist organizations from South Korea, Taiwan, and Mongolia.
Engineered to endure the extreme continental climate of Ulaanbaatar, where winter temperatures drop to minus 40 degrees Celsius and summer sun heats exposed surfaces above 35 degrees Celsius, the 18-meter statue (23 meters in total height with its 5-meter base) was fabricated over an internal structural steel frame using advanced high-strength fiberglass-reinforced polymer (FRP) coated with weather-resistant gold leaf and metallic paint.
Travelers consulting city maps sometimes confuse the Zaisan Golden Buddha Statue (International Buddha Park) with the Zaisan Memorial to Soviet and Mongolian Soldiers. While both are located at Zaisan Hill in Khan-Uul District, the circular concrete Soviet War Memorial crowns the high summit of Zaisan Hill, whereas the Golden Buddha Statue and International Buddha Park occupy the spacious garden plaza directly at the northwestern foot of the hill, making it easy to visit both landmarks on the same outing.
IIThe Sacred Heritage of Bogd Khan Mountain, the Centenarian Master Gurudava Rinpoche, and the 2006 Dedication
The ground upon which the Zaisan Golden Buddha stands belongs to the northern threshold of Bogd Khan Mountain (Bogd Khan Uul), one of the oldest legally protected sacred mountains on earth, revered since the thirteenth century and formally designated a strictly protected sanctuary in 1778 when old Urga settled along the Tuul River. For centuries, the northern valleys of Bogd Khan Mountain and the nearby Winter Palace of the Eighth Jebtsundamba Khutuktu (Bogd Khan) formed the royal and spiritual southern gateway of the capital.
In the early 2000s, as Ulaanbaatar expanded southward toward the Tuul River and prepared to celebrate the eight-hundredth anniversary of the Mongol Empire in 2006, Venerable Gurudava Rinpoche envisioned a monumental standing Buddha at the foot of Zaisan Hill that would link Mongolia's ancient imperial and natural heritage with its modern democratic revival. Completed in 2006, just three years before Gurudava Rinpoche passed away peacefully at the age of one hundred, the golden monument rapidly became one of the most beloved landmarks of southern Ulaanbaatar.
- 1778Formal state protection of sacred Bogd Khan Mountain south of the capitalUpon the permanent settlement of Ikh Khüree in the Tuul River valley, Bogd Khan Mountain (including the Zaisan foothills) is proclaimed a protected sacred mountain with biannual state offerings.
- Early 1990sVenerable Jalsrai Gurudava Rinpoche (1909 to 2009) arrives in Mongolia to spearhead Buddhist restorationThe octogenarian Inner Mongolian lama dedicates his life savings and international donations to restoring Mongolian monasteries and printing the Buddhist Canon.
- 2005Groundbreaking for the International Buddha Park and Zaisan Golden Buddha StatueUnder the direction of Venerable Gurudava Rinpoche and with support from Korean, Taiwanese, and Mongolian Buddhists, construction begins at the northwestern foot of Zaisan Hill.
- 2006Consecration of the 23-meter Golden Buddha Monument for the 800th Anniversary of the Great Mongol StateThe 18-meter standing Buddha statue atop its 5-meter circular temple base and the Peace Bell Pavilion are officially inaugurated during Mongolia's 800th statehood anniversary.
- 2010s to the presentLandscaping of the surrounding Zaisan cultural district and pilgrimage plazaThe International Buddha Park becomes a premier green public space, pilgrimage circumambulation site, and gateway to the Bogd Khan Mountain hiking trails.
The century-long bodhisattva vow of Venerable Gurudava Rinpoche (1909 to 2009). Born in Ordos in 1909 during the final years of the Qing dynasty, Gurudava Rinpoche lived through a full century of Asian history before passing away in Ulaanbaatar in 2009 at age one hundred. Living with austere simplicity while channeling millions of dollars in offerings into the reconstruction of Mongolian temples and the Zaisan Golden Buddha, he is remembered by Mongolian Buddhists as one of the great spiritual benefactors of modern Mongolia.
IIIThe 23-Meter Golden Buddha Monument, the Circular Pedestal Shrine, and the Peace Bell Pavilion
Designed as an open-air mandala plaza framed by alpine forest, the International Buddha Park dispenses with high enclosure walls so that the golden figure of Sakyamuni Buddha can be seen from across the southern river valley. Paved in granite flagstones and planted with young pines and seasonal flowerbeds, the park centers on the two-tiered circular temple podium supporting the colossal lotus throne.
Rising 18 meters above the lotus petals (23 meters from the ground), the standing Buddha is sculpted with flowing monastic robes and serene classical proportions, gleaming brightly against both the deep green summer pines of Bogd Khan Mountain and the pure white snows of winter.
The tallest outdoor Buddha statue in Ulaanbaatar, crafted of weather-resistant gilded composite over a steel frame, portraying Sakyamuni Buddha standing atop a lotus throne with his right hand raised in blessing and his left hand holding an alms bowl.
Built into the circular base beneath the lotus throne is an active Buddhist shrine hall and exhibition space housing statues of the Buddhas and protectors alongside the complete 108-volume Kanjur and 226-volume Tanjur scriptures.
Standing on the western side of the plaza is a traditional curved-roof timber pavilion housing a massive bronze Peace Bell gifted by international Buddhist associations to ring out prayers for harmony.
Balancing the plaza layout are a ceremonial drum pavilion, pairs of carved white snow lions guarding the steps, rows of bronze prayer wheels, and commemorative stone steles recording the 2006 dedication.
The tranquil park paths connect directly with the pedestrian stairways ascending Zaisan Hill to the east and the forest trails entering the Bogd Khan Mountain Strictly Protected Area to the south.
| Feature | Historical, religious, and architectural specification | Verified source |
|---|---|---|
| Official name | International Buddha Park and Zaisan Golden Buddha Statue (Dashchoinkhorlin) | City of Ulaanbaatar (ulaanbaatar.mn), Wikidata Q130222190 |
| Year of inauguration | Constructed 2005; inaugurated 2006 (for the 800th Anniversary of the Great Mongol State) | Dedication inscription at International Buddha Park, Ulaanbaatar |
| Founding Patron | Venerable Jalsrai Gurudava Rinpoche (1909 to 2009) with international Buddhist associations | Chronicles of Contemporary Mongolian Buddhism |
| Monument dimensions | 18-meter standing Buddha figure; 23 meters total height including lotus throne and 5-meter temple base | Khan-Uul District architectural records |
| Administrative location | Foot of Zaisan Hill, northern slope of Bogd Khan Mountain, Khan-Uul District, Ulaanbaatar | Khan-Uul District Administration, Ulaanbaatar |
IVThe Lie of the Land
While traditional Mongolian temples and nomadic gers almost universally face south toward the sun, the Zaisan Golden Buddha is intentionally positioned in a rare and powerful south-to-north guardian orientation: backing onto sacred Bogd Khan Mountain in the south and looking directly north across the Tuul River to watch over the entire capital city. Below is a comparative reading of its terrain and orientation through the library's landform framework.
Examining the mountain-and-river gateway at coordinates 47.8856 degrees north, 106.9136 degrees east, the International Buddha Park occupies the strategic threshold where the northern foothills of Bogd Khan Mountain (rising to 2,256 meters at Tsetsee Gün Peak) meet the southern floodplain of the Tuul River. Directly to the east rises the conical prominence of Zaisan Hill (Zaisan Tolgoi) like an auspicious Jade Seal Hill flanking the monument, while behind the statue to the south stretches the ancient protected forest of the Zaisan Valley. Flowing from east to west roughly 800 meters north of the park (descending from the upper basin near Aryapala Temple in Gorkhi-Terelj), the Tuul River forms a gleaming Jade Belt Waterway between the statue and downtown Ulaanbaatar.
In terms of axial orientation (sitting south and facing north), because the monument was conceived as a City-Protecting Great Buddha standing on the southern mountain wall of the capital basin, the statue backs firmly against the majestic mass of Bogd Khan Mountain and directs its gaze straight northward toward Sükhbaatar Square and the urban heart of Ulaanbaatar. In traditional geomantic reading, this orientation turns the entire sacred mountain range into the throne backing of the Buddha while projecting a tranquil, protective axis across the river valley to bless the nation's capital.
VVesak Outdoor Assemblies, Lunar New Year Circumambulations, and Daily Community Devotion
Set within a welcoming public park at the foot of Zaisan Hill, the Golden Buddha monument serves both as a site for major outdoor Buddhist festival gatherings and as a peaceful daily walking circuit for residents of Ulaanbaatar. The table below outlines the main observances held at the park.
| Timing | Calendar cycle | Observance | Liturgical rites and community traditions at the Zaisan Golden Buddha Park |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st to 15th day of the 1st lunar month | Mongolian Lunar Calendar (Tsagaan Sar) | Lunar New Year Circumambulation and Peace Bell Blessings | During the Tsagaan Sar New Year holidays, families dressed in traditional silk Deel robes visit the park to offer sky-blue Khadag scarves, walk clockwise around the circular shrine base, and pray for health and harmony. |
| 15th day of the 4th summer lunar month | Buddhist Lunar Calendar (Ikh Düinkhor) | Open-Air Triple Blessed Vesak Celebration | Monks of Dashchoinkhorlin and lay devotees gather on the granite plaza beneath the 23-meter Golden Buddha to chant sutras, light butter lamps inside the pedestal shrine, and dedicate merit to all living beings. |
| July 11 to 13 annually | National Holiday Calendar (Naadam Festival) | Summer Statehood Anniversary Visits and Cultural Gatherings | During the midsummer Naadam festival (commemorating the founding of the Mongol State for whose 800th anniversary the statue was built in 2006), visitors from across the country stop at the park to pay respects. |
| Daily at dawn and sunset | Year-round daily rhythm | Morning Kora Circumambulation and Wedding Blessing Photographs | Local elders perform clockwise walking meditation (Kora) and turn the prayer wheels each morning, while newlywed couples in Ulaanbaatar traditionally visit the Golden Buddha plaza to receive blessings for their marriage. |
Golden sunset light beneath the pines of Bogd Khan. The most enchanting hour to visit the Zaisan Golden Buddha is late afternoon, when the setting sun over western Ulaanbaatar illuminates the 18-meter gilded robe of Sakyamuni Buddha against the dark pine-covered slopes of Bogd Khan Mountain. After walking three clockwise circuits around the circular shrine base and turning the bronze prayer wheels, visitors can climb the adjacent steps of Zaisan Hill to behold the entire panorama of Ulaanbaatar stretching from Gandantegchinlen Monastery in the west to Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, Ulaanbaatar in the east.
Standing serene and luminous at the southern gateway of the capital, the Zaisan Golden Buddha fulfills Venerable Gurudava Rinpoche's centenarian prayer that the light of wisdom and peace watch over Mongolia for generations to come.
VILocation And How To Get There
- Address
- Foot of Zaisan Hill, Bogd Khan Mountain, Khan-Uul District, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Getting there
- The Zaisan Golden Buddha Statue and International Buddha Park are located at the northwestern foot of Zaisan Hill (Zaisan Tolgoi) in Khan-Uul District, approximately 4 to 4.5 kilometers directly south of Sükhbaatar Square across the Peace Bridge and Zaisan Bridge over the Tuul River (and about 1.5 kilometers south of the Bogd Khan Winter Palace Museum). Visitors can take a southbound Zaisan city bus from downtown Ulaanbaatar to the Zaisan terminal or reach the park entrance in 15 to 20 minutes by taxi. The Buddha Park sits on the level plaza right at the base of Zaisan Hill, making it effortless to visit before or after climbing the hill's viewing platform.
- Coordinates
- 47.8856, 106.9136
The International Buddha Park at the foot of Zaisan Hill is an open public sanctuary free to enter daily. When walking around the circular pedestal of the Golden Buddha Statue, please follow the traditional clockwise direction (keeping the monument on your right), refrain from climbing onto the lotus plinth or altar ledges, and help keep the park grounds clean. When stepping inside the ground-floor shrine hall beneath the statue, dress modestly, remove hats, and maintain quiet respect.
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?Quick Questions
How tall is the Zaisan Golden Buddha Statue, and which Buddha does it depict?
The monument depicts Sakyamuni Buddha (the historical Buddha) standing in a posture of teaching and blessing. The gilded statue itself stands 18 meters tall; including the lotus throne and the 5-meter circular temple base beneath it, the monument reaches a total height of 23 meters.
When was the Zaisan Golden Buddha Statue built, and what anniversary did it commemorate?
Construction began in 2005 and the monument was officially inaugurated in 2006 as part of the national celebrations marking the 800th anniversary of Genghis Khan's founding of the Great Mongol State (1206 to 2006).
Who spearheaded the creation of the Zaisan Golden Buddha and International Buddha Park?
The project was initiated and led by the centenarian Inner Mongolian Buddhist master Venerable Jalsrai Gurudava Rinpoche (1909 to 2009), who dedicated his personal funds and gathered support from Buddhist communities in South Korea, Taiwan, and Mongolia to erect the guardian statue.
What is inside the circular base beneath the Golden Buddha Statue?
The 5-meter-high circular pedestal beneath the lotus throne houses a Buddhist sanctuary hall and cultural exhibition space (associated with Dashchoinkhorlin Monastery) enshrining sacred statues alongside complete sets of the 108-volume Kanjur and 226-volume Tanjur Mongolian Buddhist Canon.
Why does the Zaisan Golden Buddha face north instead of south like most Mongolian temples?
Because it stands at the northern foot of sacred Bogd Khan Mountain on the southern edge of the city, the statue is oriented south-to-north so that its back rests against the protective mountain range while the compassionate gaze of the Buddha looks directly northward over the Tuul River to bless and watch over the entire city of Ulaanbaatar.