New Kharkhorum City Takes Shape in Mongolia's Orkhon Valley
Mongolia's planned New Kharkhorum City in the Orkhon Valley is taking shape around green spaces and water before housing. On 7 October 2026, President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa visited Kharkhorin and reviewed tree planting and a lake restoration for the new city, which is planned for 500,000 residents beside the ancient Mongol capital. For travellers, the historic sites of the Orkhon Valley remain the draw, and no completion date has been published.
Key facts
What: Planned New Kharkhorum City for about 500,000 residents
Where: Orkhon Valley, Kharkhorin soum (Uvurkhangai) and three Arkhangai soums
Latest: 7 October 2026: President reviews tree planting and Kheltgii Tsagaan Lake restoration
Progress: 900,000 trees planted; target over 1 million on 1,500 ha
Started: Construction formally began 15 June 2025
Completion: No date published (as of 9 October 2026)
Heritage: Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape, UNESCO World Heritage since 2004
Source: Montsame, 8 October 2026; UNESCO; New Kharkhorum City administration
What happened in Kharkhorin this week?
President Khurelsukh made a working visit to Kharkhorin soum in Uvurkhangai aimag on 7 October 2026 and planted trees with local residents at the Great Khaans' Park, Montsame reported on 8 October. Green infrastructure is the main priority in the first phase of the New Kharkhorum City project.
Planting began in 2025 with a target of more than one million trees and shrubs across 1,500 hectares. More than 40 private organisations and companies have planted and cared for 900,000 trees so far. Green spaces are planned to cover 50% of the city's area.
On the same visit, the President reviewed the restoration of Kheltgii Tsagaan Lake, north of the planned city, according to a second Montsame report. The 80-hectare lake basin has been dry for many years. Workers have repaired and cleaned a 17 km ditch from the Kharkhorin irrigation system built in 1956 and dug a 5.4 km canal from the Khugshin Orkhon River to refill it.
What is New Kharkhorum City?
New Kharkhorum City is a planned new city in the Orkhon Valley, near the site of Kharkhorum, the 13th-century capital of the Mongol Empire. The city's Urban Planning Administration traces the project to a presidential decree of December 2022 and a resolution of the State Great Khural (parliament) of 12 January 2023.
Plans reported by Montsame in 2025 describe a city for about 500,000 people, with government, diplomatic, housing, cultural and tourism functions. Land is to be split into 50% green space, 30% buildings and 20% roads, and the project is expected to create 285,000 jobs, according to Montsame's report on the start of construction. An international design competition in 2024 drew registrations from 428 teams in 54 countries, Montsame reported.
When will New Kharkhorum City be built?
Construction formally began on 15 June 2025 with a ceremony at the Great Khaans' Garden, but no completion date has been published. The sources we read on 9 October 2026 give no phase dates, costs or opening year for housing, the airport or the railway.
When Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai visited the site in April 2025, officials presented a master plan covering 189,000 hectares in Kharkhorin soum (Uvurkhangai) and three soums of Arkhangai, Montsame reported. It includes an international airport, a 2,450-hectare tourism zone around Ugii Lake, and a transport and logistics hub. A six-lane, 101.7 km road from Ulaanbaatar to Lun, a four-lane, 189.6 km road from Lun to Kharkhorin and a railway from Ulaanbaatar were listed as projects that still needed investment.
What happens to the old Kharkhorum ruins and Erdene Zuu?
The historic sites sit inside the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2004. UNESCO lists 121,967 hectares of protected landscape, about 360 km southwest of Ulaanbaatar, including the ruins of Kharkhorum, Erdene Zuu Monastery, Tuvkhun Hermitage and the Uighur capital of Khar Balgas.
The plans include an open-air museum on the ruins of the old city and the restoration of the Great Tsogt Temple, Montsame reported in June 2025. Chuluun Sampildondov, director of the Chinggis Khaan National Museum, said then that less than 10% of the ancient city has been explored by Mongolian and German archaeologists. None of the sources we read announces any closure of Erdene Zuu or the ruins.
What this means for your trip
The Orkhon Valley is still a classic route. Kharkhorum is a stop on our Grand Tour Mongolia Route (14 days), which combines the Gobi, Kharkhorum, Khuvsgul Lake and Amarbayasgalant.
Expect work in progress. Tree planting, canals and the Great Khaans' Garden are active sites around Kharkhorin, so the town will look different from photos taken a few years ago.
Ride the valley. Our Horse trekking Mongolia travel (8 days) covers the Orkhon Valley and the Eight Lakes. Read our guide to horse trekking in Mongolia before you choose.
Pick your season. Road conditions and camp openings change through the year; see our guide to the best season for Mongolia tours.
How Enza Tours can help
We plan private and small-group trips through central Mongolia, and we follow the New Kharkhorum project closely. Tell us your dates and we will build a route that includes Erdene Zuu, the old capital and the valley's waterfalls and nomadic families, with up-to-date road advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is New Kharkhorum City in Mongolia?
New Kharkhorum City is a planned city for about 500,000 people in Mongolia's Orkhon Valley, near the ruins of the 13th-century Mongol capital Kharkhorum. Construction formally began on 15 June 2025, starting with parks, trees and water projects.
When will New Kharkhorum City be finished?
No completion date for New Kharkhorum City had been published as of 9 October 2026. Officials have described green spaces, lake restoration and infrastructure as first-phase priorities.
Can I still visit Erdene Zuu Monastery in Kharkhorin?
Erdene Zuu Monastery in Kharkhorin is part of the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape World Heritage site, and the reports we read on 9 October 2026 mention no closure. Check with your tour operator close to your travel date.
How far is Kharkhorin from Ulaanbaatar?
UNESCO places the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape, which includes Kharkhorin, about 360 km southwest of Ulaanbaatar. Most travellers reach it by road as part of a multi-day central Mongolia tour.
Tours that fit this story
Hand-picked from our current programmes. See all of them on our Mongolia long tours page.
Grand Tour Mongolia Route (14 days): The Gobi, Kharkhorum, Khuvsgul Lake and Amarbayasgalant.
Horse trekking Mongolia travel (8 days): Ride through the Orkhon Valley and the Eight Lakes.
Sources
Montsame: New Kharkhorum City to feature green spaces covering 50% of area (8 Oct 2026)
Montsame: President reviews Kheltgii Tsagaan Lake restoration project (8 Oct 2026)
New Kharkhorum City Urban Planning Administration: About us (read 9 Oct 2026)
Montsame: Reconstruction of Kharkhorin city begins (Jun 2025)
Montsame: Open-air museum to be established on the ruins of old Kharakhorum (16 Jun 2025)
Montsame: Prime Minister visits the development site of Kharkhorum City (16 Apr 2025)
Montsame: New Kharkhorum City concept to be selected from best international works (Jul 2024)
UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape (read 9 Oct 2026)
About this article
Written by the Enza Tours News Desk in Ulaanbaatar and checked by our team before publishing. Every date, number and rule in this post comes from the sources listed above, which we read on 9 October 2026. Last updated: 9 October 2026.
About Enza Tours LLC. We are a Mongolian inbound tour operator, founded in 2018 by Enkhzaya (Enza), and a member of the Mongolia Tourism Organization (MTO) and the Mongolian Tourism Association (MTA). Office: Room 39, Building 33, 4th Khoroo, Baga Toiruu Street, Chingeltei District, Ulaanbaatar 15141, Mongolia. Phone +976 8911 2100 · info@mongoliantour.guide · Meet our team · Contact us
