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[blackguy-n-Asia]

I'd like to know as I've never seen a Mongolian person, much less talk and get to know one. Does anyone have any experience in this?

I'm going to the Nadaam Festival in July 2005, and before i go, I'd like info.

[Ludwig]

[Lyov]

I find Mongolian people to look very distinctive. Now I don't want to make anyone angry but I believe that the Mongols have a more distinct jaw line than other Asians. Their faces are quite square compared to well most anyone I've ever seen. Now thats a generality mind you but I can almost always tell a mongol from a chinese or any other Asian person. I find the woman to be very beautiful, more beautiful than Han chinese in general. I've seen some really cute Korean girls before so I have trouble really judging that one. Mongolians are distinctive. I wonder if there are any other people that look like the Mongols. I'd have to imagine so but has anyone actually seen them?

Have your heard of the Mongolian blue spot...

[Horizontal Hero]

Mongolians are also generally much bibber than the Han - taller, and broader. Some of the guys are really big.

[Roger]

Not to mention a totally different ethnic identity and outlook; I once had a relationship with a girl from the Republic of Mongolia, and her scorn for Chinese was with no parallel!

[ContemporaryDog]

aren't Mongolians ethnically and culturally quite similar to Tibetans?

I've not met many Mongolians, but have met a lot of Tibetans, and they are a stunning-looking race, not in a 'sexy' way, but in another way, so rugged and beautiful.

[blackguy-n-Asia]

Some of my Canadian friends who've been to Mongolia say that they look like Koreans and Tibetans.

Sounds so silly that I have to search the net, but a search on google reveals a very beautiful race.

[Jangar]

We're as different as it can get and you will surely discover this on your trip next summer. Since people know very little about Mongolia, they often confuse the 2 nationalities. Mongolians abroad are constantly met with questions like "are you Chinese? Korean? Japanese? etc." depending on their looks which could be simiilar to those ethnic groups. But we have very distinct features and once you've been to the country and have spent time around the people, it won't be long before you start recognizing a Mongolian face in a crowd.

Other ethnic groups that can have varying degrees of resemblance to Mongolians are Koreans, Tibetans, and Native Americans. My boyfriend tells me that Mongolians look more like Koreans and yes there are many who could easily pass as Koreans and vice versa. Maybe our genes have been passed on to Koreans during the great empire? I dunno. With Tibetans, we�ve had numerous cultural and religious exchanges in the past, Lamaism being the official religion in both countries. Traces of those can be seen both cultures now, but I doubt if there�s any ethnic link. There are some studies that found developmental relationships between the skulls of prehistoric Americans and modern Mongolians and Native Americans, but I guess the scholars are still debating about the origin of Native Americans.

[Jangar]

[Jangar]

[cheekygal]

The blue spot which identifies according to a legends the direct decendants of Chinggis Khan should be on the left... butt cheek
I was born by Mongolian boarder in a region called Buryat Region and they are basically Russian Mongols. So the languages, the features and the culture is almost the same.
I wouldn't say that all Mongols are taller than Chinese. It depends which part of Mongolia they are from. And their face is not more square, it's more round, skin color also varies. The jaws and teeth also differ from Chinese - Chinese even with bigger body structure still have smaller jaws and have to straigthen their teeth. It is much more rare among Mongols.
And many Mongols have their legs a little bit bent (I don't want to insult anyone, please, don't get me wrong!) - they are horse riders and are on the horse since they start walking.

[Jangar]

Here are some pics from this year's Naadam festival:

[blackguy-n-Asia]

These are truely beautiful pics. I really thank you for the visuals, Jangar!


From what I've seen, it's such a beautiful country. The best place in a trip across Asia. Such history, such natural beauty. I'll wear my camera out taking pics.

[herman]

that hurts my feelings Jangar, I'm Han Chinese and I've been to Mongolia and love it there. I don't think Mongolians in general look like Koreans at all. Also there are actually many different ethnic groups in Mongolia although the majority are Khalkh Mongolians. At least in Ulaanbaatar I have often passed for a Mongolian unless I start talking. I actually like that because I don't have to be followed by streetchildren or get unnecessary extra attention. Probably my American/Hong Kong upbringing makes me not typical Chinese looking.
Anyways, I find Mongolians' physique and looks can vary a lot because of the mixture of ethnic tribes/groups. I saw both extremely big as well as tiny people, dark and fair skinned, brown and blue eyed and everything inbetween (although some I saw may be Uygur/Kazak/Turkic). But I certainly agree that there are several stereotypical Mongolian looks and that Mongolians are a beautiful people inside, too. I really miss the suutei tsai they make there.

[herman]

I was actually expecting people to talk about cultural differences between Mongolians and Han Chinese -- what do looks really matter if you are going to teach there? How they interact are more important!

Since I've never been to mainland China and Hong Kong Chinese are quite different from mainland Chinese in terms of social behavior and mentality etc., I'll just talk about what I experienced and felt about Mongolians while I was there.

I taught mostly adults and university-age students so perhaps that tells you about the Mongolians I met and get to talk to. I find them very open-minded, very easy to get along with, and have a good sense of humor. They're hard working and they're also willing and eager to express themselves, and they learn and adapt to new things quite quickly. Teachers are well respected there, like in most Asian cultures, yet they are not afraid to be candid if you ask them for opinion or input about your teaching (which I imagine can be rather difficult to happen in most Chinese or Japanese settings). I'd say they have a distinctive Asian culture but their ways are rather European if you need some comparison. Not any outstanding discrimination against foreignors that I know of (with the exception of immigrant Chinese and Koreans??? I don't know). I met a Filipina women who worked there for a month or so and she said she really enjoyed it, too.

As to the people in the countryside, my one personal experience confirms the fame of Mongolians for being really hospitable people. We visited a ger in the country, literally just dropped in, and they offered us a lot of food, not to mention mare's milk .

Well this is just my own experience. I was quite tempted to stay there if I could, although I think Mongolia may not be right for everyone. In Ulaanbaatar unless you know Mongolians who can speak your language, you could end up sticking to foreignors only (few seem to bother to learn Mongolian unless they're part of Peace Corps/VSO etc). And then if you can't tolerate a simple lifestyle (the city is not very modern to Western standards and may cause some people discomfort), you might end up like the British businessman I overheard at a food store ranting about how much he hated Mongolia. Erdenet (3rd largest city) is much more modern and clean compared to Ulaanbaatar, I hear. Otherwise the countryside is great.

Phew! Long post there. Good luck to anyone going to Mongolia!