Last summer, my parents and I visited Mongolia. This vast country stretches over 1.5 million square kilometers of cold, snowy mountains; rolling hills; grasslands and desert.

Mongolia has only around 2.8 million people, most of whom are herders. They raise sheep, goats, cattle, horses, camels and yaks. Many Mongolians live in traditional round, white tents called gers. Although gers look plain on the outside, their interiors are richly decorated with colorful cloth. Their wooden frames are painted orange and yellow to represent the sun.

Ulaanbaatar
My family’s trip began and ended in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital. First we visited S?khbaatar Square in the city center. One side of the square is dominated by a large stone building with a huge statue of Genghis Khan at its entrance.

Nearby, the National Museum of Mongolia leads visitors through Mongolian history from ancient times until today. Colorful costumes from various tribes display a vibrant traditional culture.

One evening we attended a music and dance performance. Some performers produced a high, sustained note through a technique called throat singing.