Mongolia's bold plan to shift its capital city to ancient site of Khakhorum

Key Concepts

New Kakarum: A planned new capital city in Mongolia, intended to be built in the Orkhon Valley.
Kakarum (Ancient): The historical capital of the Mongol Empire under Genghis Khan, located in the Orkhon Valley.
Orkhon Valley: A historically significant region in Mongolia, considered the cradle of Central Asian nomadic culture and the site of ancient Kakarum.
Ulaanbaatar: Mongolia's current capital city, facing issues of overcrowding and pollution.
Genghis Khan: Founder of the Mongol Empire, whose historical capital was Kakarum.
Sustainable Development: A key aim for New Kakarum, emphasizing modern and green infrastructure.
Economic Viability: Concerns raised about the feasibility of such a large-scale project given Mongolia's economy.
Corruption: A perceived impediment to investment in Mongolia.

New Capital City Project: New Kakarum

Mongolia is planning to establish a new capital city, named "New Kakarum," in the Orkhon Valley. This ambitious project aims to revive the historical significance of ancient Kakarum, which served as the center of the Mongol Empire under Genghis Khan. The initiative also seeks to alleviate the severe overcrowding and pollution issues plaguing the current capital, Ulaanbaatar.

Historical Significance of the Orkhon Valley

The Orkhon Valley is described as a vast, windswept plain holding deep significance in Mongolian folklore. In the 13th century, it was a thriving cosmopolitan city, a hub for artisans and traders. Ancient Kakarum was the foundation of Genghis Khan's empire. Although abandoned centuries ago, the valley retains sacred sites popular with tourists and is recognized as the cradle of Central Asia's ancient nomadic culture.

Vision for New Kakarum

The plan for New Kakarum is to create a modern and green city. Key infrastructure developments envisioned include:

New rail and road connections.
An international airport.
An agriculture hub.
A transnational tourism belt connecting Russia and China.

A memorial garden, "The Great Khans' Park," dedicated to Mongolia's rulers, is the only visible sign of the project so far, with plans to plant 1.5 million trees in the area.

Motivations for the Project

Relieving Pressure on Ulaanbaatar:
- Ulaanbaatar is described as "suffocating" despite Mongolia being the least densely populated country globally.
- Chronic traffic problems and severe air pollution are major concerns.
- The city's coal fleet, firing up as winter approaches, creates a "noxious black haze."
- Ulaanbaatar, designed for 250,000 people, currently houses six times that number, representing half of Mongolia's population concentrated on a tiny fraction (1/1000th of a percent) of the country's land.
- The government's long-term plan aims to relocate 10% of the national population to the Kakarum region by 2050.
Restoring Historical Glory:
- The project aims to "reshape its modern-day story" by restoring the importance of Kakarum.
- Developers hope that residents and visitors will understand the "great importance" of Kakarum in human history.

Challenges and Criticisms

The project faces significant challenges and skepticism:

Local Hopes and Concerns: Residents near the proposed New Kakarum site have "mixed hopes," acknowledging the valley's historical richness but also its long-standing lack of development.
Scale and Feasibility: Critics question the government's ability to execute a project of such magnitude. There are doubts about the clarity of the project's objectives: "Are we developing just for the sake of progress? Are we trying to create a smart city because it has a certain amount of sex appeal? Or are we doing it in order to solve a real tangible problem?"
Economic Constraints: Questions are raised about the realism of a "futuristic vision" for a country whose economy is "more than 20 times smaller than Singapore's."
Perception of Corruption: The environment for investment in Mongolia has been hampered by perceptions of corruption.

Conclusion

Despite the challenges, city planners assert that the project has "widespread support." The ultimate success of New Kakarum, however, will be measured not by blueprints but by its ability to "return city life to a valley that has witnessed empires rise and fall." The project represents a bold attempt to connect Mongolia's rich past with an ambitious, sustainable future.