The putative location of Genghis Khan's remains, Genghis Khan's Mausoleum is a little underwhelming considering the stature of this legendary figure, but will probably prove memorable nonetheless. What you'll find is a historical figure treated as a god, complete with bowing worshippers, offerings of fruit, random knick-knacks and bottles of alcohol. The story of his remains is one of considerable intrigue. 

History has seen the Khan's remains abused and manipulated by a variety of interests for political ends. During WWII, the Japanese apparently had plans to set up a puppet Mongol state to be centered around a Genghis Khan shrine. The plans they drew up for an elaborate mausoleum to house his remains were later appropriated by the Chinese Communists - who built the mausoleum themselves in 1955 to curry favor with the Mongolian population. It was a successful gambit, the Mongolians now live side by side in peace with the Chinese, and consider the mausoleum a sacred place of worship for the “king of kings.”

 

The Mausoleum itself is made up of three grand halls shaped as Mongolian yurts standing at the end of a very large, open-air pavillion. Within the mausoleum, you'll find the side halls decorated with Mongolian calligraphy, altars, burning incense, hanging paintings, frescoes depicting the Khan's exploits, and ceremonial yurts, which taken together are quite pretty.  You'll also get to see ancient Mongolian clothes, knives and pottery, but you might have seen these before if you've been to the Inner Mongolia Museum in Hohhot. 

The main hall is dominated by a five-meter-high marble statue of Genghis Khan before a map of his empire, a passable tribute to this legendary leader, but altogether, not as impressive as you’d expect. Half the fun of coming to this place is people watching, as it draws a good share of unusual people, the other half is learning of all the hubris and intrigue associated with the great leader and his coveted remains.