17–28 August 2026 · Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

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UNCCD COP17 Ulaanbaatar 2026Visitor
Guide

Culture & Events

Stories of Mongolia

The cultural concept behind COP17 and a portrait of Mongolia today.

Cultural Concept

Ger Wall

Ornament Frame

Ger Wall Simplified

Ger Wall

Ornament Frame

Ger Wall Simplified

Ger Wall

The official COP17 patterns — Ger Wall, Ornament Frame, Ger Wall Simplified — in their approved colourways.

Restoring Land, Restoring Hope:

A Mongolian Vision of Shared Stewardship and Collective Resilience

For centuries, Mongolia’s nomadic civilization has understood land not as property, but as a living heritage entrusted to each generation with the responsibility to protect, restore, and pass forward.

This worldview reflects a profound principle increasingly recognized in global sustainability discourse: humanity’s well-being is inseparable from the health of the ecosystems upon which it depends.

As the international community gathers under the UNCCD COP17 theme “Restoring Land, Restoring Hope,” Mongolia offers a cultural perspective rooted in coexistence, stewardship, and collective responsibility. The visual identity draws inspiration from traditional ecological knowledge and the enduring relationship between people and nature, reinterpreted through the language of contemporary sustainable development.

More than a design system, it is a visual expression of a shared global commitment to restore degraded landscapes, strengthen community resilience, and safeguard opportunities for future generations.

The Foundation of the Visual Language

In Mongolian culture, nature is not merely observed. It is celebrated, praised, and remembered through song, poetry, and oral traditions. The flowing rhythms of mountain and river hymns, their repetition, expansion, and return, mirror the cycles of ecosystems: renewal, adaptation, continuity, and regeneration.

Inspired by these living rhythms, the visual system evolves as an organic and interconnected structure rather than a static ornament. It symbolizes the dynamic relationship between people, land, water, biodiversity, and culture.

This approach reflects a growing international understanding that ecological restoration is not only a scientific or technical endeavor, it is also a cultural process that reconnects communities with the landscapes they depend upon.

The visual language therefore embodies the spirit of “Restoring Land, Restoring Hope” by transforming traditional ecological wisdom into a contemporary expression of resilience, partnership, and renewal.

Layer 1The Ger Wall

Collective Stewardship for Shared Landscapes

The lattice wall of the Mongolian ger is composed of many individual elements that, when connected, create a strong and adaptable structure capable of expanding, contracting, and moving with the rhythms of nomadic life.

This structure serves as a powerful metaphor for land restoration. No single institution, community, or nation can restore degraded ecosystems alone. Sustainable land management requires collaboration across governments, local communities, Indigenous and traditional knowledge holders, civil society, the private sector, academia, and international partners.

The COP17 ger wall pattern: a band of interlocking diamonds in shades of teal, fanning out from a compressed centre, each diamond carrying a traditional Mongolian khee motif, with four-petal rosettes at the crossings
The ger wall lattice, with khee motifs set into the diamonds

The interconnected lattice symbolizes

  • Ecological connectivity across landscapes and ecosystems
  • The flow and interdependence of water systems
  • Community cooperation and social resilience
  • Global partnerships for sustainable development
  • Multi-stakeholder action envisioned under SDG 17

Like the ger wall, successful restoration depends on the strength of connections. Each element contributes to the stability of the whole.

The structure therefore represents a vision of collective stewardship where local knowledge and global cooperation come together to restore land, strengthen resilience, and create hope for future generations.

Layer 2Felt Weaving

Many Hands, One Future

The making of felt is one of the oldest and most enduring traditions of Mongolia’s nomadic heritage. Created through the collective effort of communities from shearing wool to pressing, shaping, and strengthening the final material it reflects a process of cooperation, patience, and shared purpose.

The resulting felt is stronger than the individual fibers from which it is formed. This process offers a compelling parallel to land restoration.

Reversing land degradation, combating desertification, and building climate resilience require the combined contributions of communities, governments, scientists, businesses, women, youth, and international partners. Just as individual fibers become a resilient whole, collective action transforms fragmented efforts into lasting impact.

The felt weave, repeating — one 323px tile of the agency's sheet

The felt motif symbolizes

  • Community-led restoration
  • Social cohesion and collective responsibility
  • Intergenerational knowledge transfer
  • Women’s contributions to sustainable livelihoods
  • The weaving together of local action and global ambition

In this sense, felt weaving becomes a visual expression of the UNCCD vision: that restoring land is ultimately about restoring relationships between people and nature, between communities and landscapes, and between present and future generations.

It is through these connections that land is restored and hope is renewed.

Mongolian traditional patterns (khee) and scrolls (ugalz) deeply reflect the nomadic lifestyle, deep connection to nature, and spiritual beliefs of the Mongolian people.

Mongolian designs are generally divided into three categories:

Animal Motifs
Stylized representations of livestock, wildlife, and mythical creatures symbolizing strength and prosperity.
Geometric Shapes
Symmetrical and interlocking patterns representing eternity, balance, and order.
Plant Motifs
Floral elements, trees, and grass symbolizing growth, peace, and beauty.

The COP17 brand visual system connects traditional Mongolian knowledge of nature and harmony with modern sustainability principles. Rooted in symbolism of goodness, unity, peace, and abundance, the brand draws on three core concepts:

  • A rhythmic base pattern inspired by praise songs to mountains and rivers.
  • The protective lattice walls of the Mongolian ger, symbolizing collective sustainability.
  • The heritage of communal felt-making, expressing collaboration.

Supporting motifs include animal, geometric, and plant patterns, with over ten traditional designs woven in—such as the Belget Guruus (mythical unicorn of unity and peace), flowing water motifs from Xiongnu artifacts symbolizing purity and continuity, cloud and Bayankhoshuu patterns for abundance and renewal, and the Tree of Life for eternal cycles.

Together, these elements form a comprehensive identity that embodies COP17’s vision: “Restoring land, Restoring hope” through Mongolian tradition and way of life.

Contemporary Mongolia

Food & Dining

Mongolian cuisine heavily features mutton, beef, flour, and dairy.

Must-Try Dishes:

  • Buuz: Steamed meat-filled dumplings (a national staple).
  • Khuushuur: Deep-fried meat pasties, best eaten piping hot.
  • Tsuivan: Hand-cut stir-fried noodles with meat and vegetables.
  • Suutei Tsai: Traditional warm, salted milk tea served with most meals.

Vegetarians: UB actually has vegan/vegetarian dedicated spots like Luna Blanca and Loving Hut. Outside the capital, however, vegetarian choices become much more limited.

Shopping

Cashmere, felt crafts, and leather goods are popular souvenirs. For a local vibe, wander Narantuul Market and for convenience, head to the Shangri La Mall or State Department Store.

Credit cards (Visa/Mastercard) work reliably in malls, hotels, and medium-to-large restaurants. Always carry local currency, Mongolian Tögrög (MNT) for smaller markets, street stalls, and taxis.

You can also find a selection of these goods at shops within the venue.

Local Customs

Passing Items: Always use your right hand to give or receive items. Supporting your right elbow with your left hand is an extra sign of respect.

Ger Etiquette: When visiting a traditional tent (ger), step inside using your right foot first. Never step on the wooden door threshold, as this is seen as bad luck for the host family. Once inside, walk clockwise around the center poles.

Body Language: Avoid pointing directly at people with your index finger, use an open palm instead. If you accidentally step on someone’s foot, offer a brief, gentle handshake as an immediate gesture of apology.

Useful Mongolian Phrases

Hello- Sain baina uu? /Sayn bay-noo?/

Thank you - Bayrlalaa /Byar-lah-lah/

Goodbye - Bayrtai /Byar-tie/

You’re welcome - Zuuger ee /Zoo-gehr-ay/

Okay - Za /Zah/

Excuse me / Sorry- Uuchlaarai /Ooh-chlah-rye/

Nightlife in Ulaanbaatar

Ulaanbaatar has a dynamic nightlife scene during summer, with most popular bars and lounges concentrated within a short radius of Sukhbaatar Square, Peace Avenue, and the Huuhdiin 100 (Children’s 100) district.

Kitchen & Bar Operating Hours: While cocktail lounges and pubs stay open until 12:00 AM – 2:00 AM (and nightclubs until 4:00 AM), most restaurant and lounge kitchens close between 9:00 PM and 10:00 PM. If you are looking for a full dinner after late-running conference sessions, plan to order food early!

Late-Night Transport: Download the Tino app before heading out. It offers reliable, metered rides and avoids the need to flag down unmarked cars late at night.

Payments: Visa and Mastercard are accepted at virtually all central venues. Keeping a small amount of local currency (MNT) is recommended for smaller purchases or tips.

Time Zone

Ulaanbaatar runs on UTC+8. No daylight saving time, so your schedule stays steady.

Tipping

Not a strict custom, but appreciated. In restaurants, 5–10% are polite. Round up taxi fares instead of tipping.

Where the organizers send people

43 places around Ulaanbaatar, recommended by the COP17 hosts. Each one opens in Google Maps.

Coffee

Where to dine

Where to go for drinks

Nightlife