Erdene Zuu Monastery.

Founded in 1585 on the ruins of Karakorum, the ancient capital of the Mongol Empire, Erdene Zuu is Mongolia’s earliest surviving Buddhist monastery. The complex is defined by its massive outer wall studded with 108 white stupas, which encloses a site where imperial and religious history literally overlap—many of its structures were built using stone salvaged from the old capital. While Soviet-era purges destroyed most of the original 60 temples, three main 16th-century shrines survive as museums, showcasing a rare Sino-Tibetan-Mongol architectural style. Visitors can wander the grounds for free, but it is worth paying the temple entry fee to see the ancient deity statues inside. In the northwest corner, an active Tibetan-style temple keeps the site’s living spiritual heritage alive.