Ulaanbaatar
Jochen Krueger: "The horseback part of the Naadam opening ceremony was my favorite"
Society
Ulaanbaatar, July 11, 2025 /MONTSAME/. A large number of foreign tourists are visiting Mongolia’s National Naadam Festival and attended the grand opening show titled “Mongolia Shining Eternally.” The MONTSAME Mongolian National News Agency spoke briefly with a tourist from the Federal Republic of Germany, Jochen Krueger.
– Happy Naadam? Is this your first time in Mongolia?
– Yes, I am enjoying it very much. I watched the Naadam opening ceremony. This is my first time in Mongolia, and I am truly happy to be here, discovering its culture, traditions, and customs.
– Could you share your impressions of Mongolia?
– It has been an amazing experience. Today is actually the last day of my trip, and I return to Germany tomorrow. We spent two weeks traveling through Mongolia’s beautiful landscapes. The nature is stunning, and the people are incredibly warm and welcoming.
– How did you hear about National Naadam festival?
– It was included in the itinerary of our travel agency’s tour program.
– What are your thoughts on the National Naadam festival? Which part of the opening ceremony did you find most interesting?
– Definitely the horses. Everything was wonderful, but the horseback part of the opening performance stood out as the most impressive for me. I did not expect such a large-scale performance with so many participants. Ending my trip by attending this celebration gave me a deeper appreciation of Mongolian culture. I also enjoyed visiting the Chinggis Khaan equestrian statue complex, learning about traditional clothing, and seeing how gers are constructed.
– What did you think of Mongolian food?
– We sampled some local dishes, though I’m a vegetarian and not particularly fond of meat. I’ve noticed that Mongolian cuisine is quite meat-heavy. But I did try camel and horse milk — they had very unique flavors.
