Erdenet

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.

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.

The Erdenet Urguu cinema has 4 screens, modern a VIP lounge, and Dolby Cinema technology which shows latest local and latest Hollywood movies daily.

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.

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. Especially groceries and some merchandise shops increase their price by 10-30% after public salary day it is some strange local phenomenon. So try to avoid those days to buy things which each month 14-16th, and 29-31st of each month.

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.

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.

You can go to Russia or China from Èrdènèt by train via the town of Blacksmith (Darkhan) or by different means via Ulaanbaatar. Train One daily train to Ulaanbaatar (leaving at 19:40, arriving at 07:40) and many stops in between, first class to Ulaanbaatar is USD 20 on the train, there are lower classes for less, bus is less than the first class train. 6 800 ₮, 3rd class. This train reaches the town of Blacksmith (Darkhan) by night at 00:35, for 4 100 ₮ (3rd class, January 2011). You can take there an international train to Russia or China, or a national train to Northern Mongolia. Trains go each and every day of the year, including on national holidays, except if the government has decided a temporary ban on public transportation against any epidemic (last one against the propagation of virus H1N1, lifted in November 2009). The train station is 8 km east of the city. You can buy your train ticket there or in another ticket office downtown near the coach station. The latter charges 200 ₮ extra. To go to the station, be at any bus stop in the main avenue (Сүхбаатар гудамж, Sùhbaatar street) at least 40 min before the train departure and wait for a mini-bus with someone shouting "Вокзал, вокзал" ("Vokzal, vokzal": "Station, station"). They will charge 800 ₮. Coaches Èrdènèt has 2 coach stations. The one for Darkhan and Ulaanbaatar is east of the city centre, at the extremity of Sùhbaatar street, in Builders square (Барилагчдын талбай, Barilagčdyn talbai).