{"id":40858,"date":"2025-03-31T13:53:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-31T04:53:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/?p=40858"},"modified":"2026-01-14T15:42:53","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T06:42:53","slug":"global-lighting-survey-ulaanbaatar-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/en\/global-lighting-survey-ulaanbaatar-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"City Night Survey: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2024.10.01-10.05 Atsushi Itakura &amp; Genki Watanab<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When thinking of Mongolia, many people may imagine vast grasslands and nomadic gers, but the<br>rapidly developing capital city of Ulaanbaatar also deserves attention.<br>Despite being only about five and a half hours from Japan, few people are familiar with its current<br>state.<br>This visit, conducted through an urban lighting survey of Ulaanbaatar, provided a valuable<br>opportunity to discover an unexpected side of Mongolia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-IMG_1545-1-scaled.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-id=\"39702\" src=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-IMG_1545-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-39702\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A panoramic view of the Ger residential area from Dari Eh Complex Park<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u25a0What Kind of Place Is Mongolia?<br>When we think of Mongolia, the first image that often comes to mind is of vast grasslands stretching out endlessly, dotted with \u201cgers\u201d\u2014the traditional dwellings of nomadic herders. For Japanese people, there&#8217;s also a sense of connection through cultural and historical ties, such as the shared heritage linked to the Mongolian spot (mongolian birthmark) and the many Mongolian sumo wrestlers who have found great success in Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite being only a five-and-a-half-hour flight away from Japan, Mongolia is a country that feels both near and distant\u2014close in proximity, yet far in familiarity. Though we may feel an affinity toward Mongolia, the reality is that most people know very little about its present state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With this simple curiosity as our starting point, we embarked on a 5-day, 4-night survey of urban lighting in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of this rapidly developing nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u25a0Topographical Characteristics of Ulaanbaatar<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ulaanbaatar covers an area of approximately 4,700 square kilometers and is divided into nine districts. The city is flanked by hills to the north and south, while the central urban area stretches out from east to west. On the city\u2019s western side\u2014primarily the commercial zone\u2014large-scale urban development is underway. There are also plans to develop a new urban center around Chinggis Khaan International Airport, located about 50 kilometers south of the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, the hillsides in the northern and northwestern areas are home to what is known as the \u201cger districts\u201d, where many nomadic families who have migrated to Ulaanbaatar reside. These districts maintain a more traditional, nature-oriented way of living. (Atsushi Itakura)<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/dad4b87ad30999cbc3f1360011a7c705-e1743385873161.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2340\" height=\"1634\" src=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/dad4b87ad30999cbc3f1360011a7c705-e1743385873161.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-39707\" style=\"width:418px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/dad4b87ad30999cbc3f1360011a7c705-e1743385873161.jpg 2340w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/dad4b87ad30999cbc3f1360011a7c705-e1743385873161-300x209.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/dad4b87ad30999cbc3f1360011a7c705-e1743385873161-1024x715.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/dad4b87ad30999cbc3f1360011a7c705-e1743385873161-768x536.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/dad4b87ad30999cbc3f1360011a7c705-e1743385873161-1536x1073.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/dad4b87ad30999cbc3f1360011a7c705-e1743385873161-2048x1430.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/dad4b87ad30999cbc3f1360011a7c705-e1743385873161-800x559.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2340px) 100vw, 2340px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>\u25a0Peace Avenue<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ulaanbaatar\u2019s city center is overwhelmingly dominated by cars, many of which speed through the streets. At major intersections of arterial roads, terminals decorated with LED lights are installed to manage traffic, with attendants busily directing vehicles. It\u2019s almost like a performance, and one can\u2019t help but watch in fascination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Peace Avenue is the city\u2019s main thoroughfare running east to west. On both sides of the wide, six-lane road stand buildings in the Stalinist architectural style, remnants of the former Soviet era. Many of these buildings house shops on the ground floor and residences on the upper levels. The avenue also features a 7-meter-wide planted median strip and 6-meter-wide sidewalks on each side, contributing to a classic main street atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On major roads in the city, the street lighting for roadways also serves to illuminate the sidewalks. Atop 10-meter-high pole lights are 100W-equivalent LED modules directed outward in both directions. While these lights lack glare control and are extremely bright, they efficiently and evenly illuminate a roughly 50-meter-wide area encompassing both the road and sidewalk. Additionally, since the street is flanked by white-walled buildings, it appears even brighter than the measured illuminance suggests. These same pole lights are used throughout most of the city, with a measured illuminance of 32 lux directly below and a color temperature of 5000K.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_121859909-1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"39705\" src=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_121859909-1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-39705\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_121859909-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_121859909-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_121859909-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_121859909-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_121859909-1-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_121859909-1.jpg 2016w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Peace Avenue<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241003_110603521.MP_.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"39706\" src=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241003_110603521.MP_-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-39706\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241003_110603521.MP_-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241003_110603521.MP_-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241003_110603521.MP_-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241003_110603521.MP_-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241003_110603521.MP_-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241003_110603521.MP_.jpg 2016w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The sidewalk along Peace Avenue<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/f59c9f08c99d2c35d4eaec4eede429aa.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"172\" height=\"111\" data-id=\"39704\" src=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/f59c9f08c99d2c35d4eaec4eede429aa.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-39704\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A traffic officer busily directing vehicles<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u25a0Urban Lighting<br>As we walked through the city, it became evident that lighting is concentrated particularly around roadways and plazas adjacent to major streets and buildings. A basketball court installed beside a road was brightly illuminated by LED floodlights even late at night, with many young people enjoying sports under the lights. Additionally, mobile containers were repurposed as kiosks or bus ticket booths, drawing crowds of people around them.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_113342105.NIGHT_.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2016\" height=\"1134\" src=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_113342105.NIGHT_.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-39708\" style=\"width:580px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_113342105.NIGHT_.jpg 2016w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_113342105.NIGHT_-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_113342105.NIGHT_-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_113342105.NIGHT_-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_113342105.NIGHT_-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_113342105.NIGHT_-800x450.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2016px) 100vw, 2016px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Clusters of apartment buildings in the city, with windows glowing in a variety of colors.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Various modern art pieces and sculptures are installed along major roads and are lit up with colorful lighting even at night. In contrast, stepping into a narrow alley immediately reveals a stark difference in brightness\u2014so dim that one has to strain their eyes to see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Tuul River, which flows east to west through the city, serves as a boundary dividing the city center from other areas. Standing at the center of a bridge crossing the river, one can clearly observe a sharp contrast in brightness between the two sides. This distinct contrast between major zones and surrounding areas is also evident in the city&#8217;s outdoor landscape. Looking at the windows of nearby apartment buildings, a variety of light colors and hanging pendant lights could be seen, suggesting that residents enjoy and take individual pleasure in their own indoor lighting choices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the heart of the city lies S\u00fckhbaatar Square, which also houses government buildings. Administrative agencies, museums, and courthouses surround the square. On the north side stands a statue of Mongolia\u2019s national hero, Chinggis Khaan, while on the south side is a statue of S\u00fckhbaatar, the father of the People\u2019s Revolution.<br>During the day, the square is bustling with tourists taking commemorative photos. At night, the buildings surrounding the square are each individually illuminated. While building illumination is rare in other parts of Ulaanbaatar, every structure around S\u00fckhbaatar Square is lit up in a conspicuously flashy manner.<br>However, there is no overall sense of unity in the lighting design. In some cases, floodlights attached to building facades even shine directly into interior spaces. Light sources suddenly switch on or off without transition, and some lights remain broken, suggesting a lack of planning or understanding of how to manage lighting and visual environments. Large floodlights are installed on all four sides of the square to illuminate the space as a whole, but again, there is no glare control or effective light distribution. As a result, the square remains quite dark overall and is not an environment conducive to enjoying nightscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241003_124450729.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"39711\" src=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241003_124450729-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-39711\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241003_124450729-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241003_124450729-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241003_124450729-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241003_124450729-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241003_124450729-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241003_124450729.jpg 2016w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Facade lighting at Sukhbaatar Square<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_125316439.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"39710\" src=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_125316439-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-39710\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_125316439-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_125316439-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_125316439-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_125316439-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_125316439-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_125316439.jpg 2016w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Boundary between the urban center <br>and the suburbs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_123711719.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"39709\" src=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_123711719-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-39709\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_123711719-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_123711719-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_123711719-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_123711719-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_123711719-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_123711719.jpg 2016w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Container houses frequently seen <br>in the urban area<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u25a0Ger Residential Areas and the City&#8217;s Light\u3000<br>The Dari Eh Complex is located on a small hill to the north of Ulaanbaatar and sits within a residential area where people live in gers. These ger districts, scattered around the city, are settlements formed by people who have moved to Ulaanbaatar seeking economic opportunities and jobs. Although electricity has now been introduced, infrastructure such as water supply and gas is still lacking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It seems that most adults go to work in the city center during the day. Many children could be seen using carts to carry water from the foot of the hill. When I asked for directions, they were wary at first but kindly helped me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After walking about 30 minutes to the top of the hill, I looked down on the city and saw the urban nightscape of Ulaanbaatar abruptly end, with the lights of the ger districts spreading out along the ridgeline. The way the lights of these settlements gathered around the concentrated infrastructure and information of the urban center felt like a symbolic nightscape of present-day Ulaanbaatar. (Genki Watanabe)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-IMG_1584-scaled.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-id=\"39712\" src=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-IMG_1584-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-39712\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-IMG_1584-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-IMG_1584-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-IMG_1584-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-IMG_1584-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-IMG_1584-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-IMG_1584-800x533.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Streetlights in the Ger residential area<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/PXL_20241004_112706785-scaled-e1743389072653.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"633\" data-id=\"39714\" src=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/PXL_20241004_112706785-scaled-e1743389072653-1024x633.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-39714\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/PXL_20241004_112706785-scaled-e1743389072653-1024x633.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/PXL_20241004_112706785-scaled-e1743389072653-300x185.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/PXL_20241004_112706785-scaled-e1743389072653-768x475.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/PXL_20241004_112706785-scaled-e1743389072653-800x494.jpg 800w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/PXL_20241004_112706785-scaled-e1743389072653.jpg 1186w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A faint glow of indoor light leaking from the tops of some Gers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u25a0Nightscape Observation from Above \u2013 Ulaanbaatar<br>On the day after our arrival, we conducted an evening-to-night observation of Ulaanbaatar\u2019s nightscape from Zaisan Tolgoi, a hill to the south of the city, in order to grasp the overall scale of the urban area.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_112420636.MP_.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2016\" height=\"1134\" src=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_112420636.MP_.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-39713\" style=\"width:402px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_112420636.MP_.jpg 2016w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_112420636.MP_-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_112420636.MP_-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_112420636.MP_-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_112420636.MP_-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241002_112420636.MP_-800x450.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2016px) 100vw, 2016px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bird&#8217;s-eye view nightscape from Zaisan Tolgoi Hill<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>During the day, the hills that form the backdrop of the city were clearly visible, and in the warm glow of the western sun, the scene took on the appearance of a mountain city. However, after sunset, the nightscape was obstructed by the newly built residential areas in the foreground, transforming the view into a generic urban nightscape lacking distinctive features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although we had hoped to make new discoveries, our initial observation yielded less than satisfactory results. We decided to revise our nightscape observation plan and, after checking the weather forecast, narrowed down our target location for the day before our return. With help from a driver we had become friendly with, we headed to another elevated observation point\u2014Dari Eh Complex Park, located on a hill north of the city and near the ger district. That day brought the coldest weather of our stay, and the survey was conducted in sub-zero temperatures. Relying on Google Satellite images, even our driver got lost for nearly an hour before finally reaching the location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What awaited us there was a truly breathtaking nightscape. The scattered lights of the ger district lining the ridgeline, the streams of car headlights in heavy traffic, the glow from the city center, and the drifting clouds tinged by the setting sun\u2014all came together in a spectacular scene. It felt as though we had finally found the view we had been searching for. The juxtaposition of the outlying ger districts, the emerging residential areas, and the rapidly developing city center offered a striking microcosm of present-day<br>Ulaanbaatar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This journey was an investigation into the challenges faced by Mongolia\u2019s capital, Ulaanbaatar, through the lens of urban lighting. Yet what left the deepest impression were the people we met\u2014open-hearted and resilient, living with strength in this harsh, cold land. We were told that the city\u2019s urban planning goals look toward Sapporo, a city in Japan\u2019s northernmost region of Hokkaido, which also endures severe winters. Still, I sincerely hope that Ulaanbaatar can pursue a unique cityscape\u2014one that harmonizes with Mongolia\u2019s rich cultural heritage and natural environment. (Atsushi Itakura)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241004_111320902.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"39703\" src=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241004_111320902-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-39703\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241004_111320902-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241004_111320902-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241004_111320902-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241004_111320902-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241004_111320902-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/s-PXL_20241004_111320902.jpg 2016w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bird&#8217;s-eye view nightscape of the ger residential area from Dari Eh Complex Park<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>2024.10.01-10.05 Atsushi Itakura &amp; Genki Watanab When thinking of Mongolia, many people may imagine vast grasslands and nomadic gers, but therapidly developing capital city of Ulaanbaatar also deserves attention.Despite being only about&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":39703,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_locale":"en_US","_original_post":"http:\/\/shomei-tanteidan.org\/?p=39729","footnotes":""},"categories":[3,16,85],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40858","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fieldwork","category-global-research","category-asia-global-research","en-US"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.0 - 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