Ulaanbaatar, September 4, 2025 /MONTSAME/. The annual ‘Ulaanbaatar Walking Festival,’ traditionally organized at the end of August, has concluded.

As part of the event, a series of lectures was delivered on August 26 and 29 by the President of the Korean Walking Federation, Dr. Kang Oklee, who has been promoting the walking culture in his country for 40 years.

The festival brought together participants from Seoul, Wonju, and Jeju in the Republic of Korea, as well as from Gorno-Altaysk, Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude, and Vladivostok in the Russian Federation, alongside walkers from the United States, the United Kingdom, the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Tajikistan, the Republic of the Philippines, the Czech Republic, Taiwan, the Federal Republic of Germany, and the Kingdom of Bhutan, in addition to Mongolian walkers.

The festival aims to promote healthy lifestyles while introducing Mongolia’s history, culture, traditions, daily life, and natural beauty. Organizers highlighted that the festival has grown into the country’s largest gathering of walkers and continues to expand annually.

Participants traversed cultural and natural heritage sites, contributing to eco-friendly tourism, fostering international friendship, and encouraging respect for and preservation of local values. The walkers set up a ger camp in Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, where domestic and international clubs organized competitions and cultural events, making the festival a nationwide celebration of walking. The program featured Mongolian wrestling, archery, traditional ankle-bone games, the game seer tsokhikh (crack a cow bone with fist), and dembee (melody-based finger game), open-air film screenings, stargazing, horse and camel riding, morning yoga, qigong, physical exercises, gymnastics, and line dancing.

This year, over 500 walkers from 10 countries took part. Participants noted that the event brought together people of all ages, professions, and beliefs, providing beginners and seasoned walkers alike with memorable experiences, outdoor recreation, and opportunities to build healthy habits.

The festival was organized in alignment with the ‘Healthy Mongolian’ national movement initiated by the President of Mongolia, with policy support from the State Committee of Physical Education and Sports and the National Center for Public Health. It was co-organized by the Ulaanbaatar City Tourism Department, the Mongolian Walking Association, the Administration of Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, and the “Chinggis-21” and “Mongol Olle” organizations. The event also received support from the Nalaikh District Police Department and Health Center to ensure safety, while many businesses contributed under their social responsibility initiatives.