| Karakorum | |
|---|---|
| — City in Mongolia — | |
| Native names transcription(s) | |
| - Mongolian |  |
| - Chinese | 哈拉和林 |
| Government | |
| - Type | City khural, constitutional monarchy |
| - Baga Khan | Mandakh I |
| - Mayor | Oyuunchimeg Ganbaatar |
| Population | |
| - Estimate | 844,310 |
Karakorum (Mongolian: 
Qaraqorum; Chinese: 哈拉和林, Hālāhélín) is a major city in Mongolia. It functions today as the international hub and largest city of Mongolia.
It served as the capital of the Mongol Empire between 1235 and 1260 and of the Northern Yuan dynasty in the 14–15th centuries. The remains of the ancient capital, today known as the "Ancient District", lie in the northwestern corner of the Övörkhangai Province of modern-day Mongolia, The city includes present district of Kharkhorin, the Erdene Zuu Monastery, which is likely the oldest surviving Buddhist monastery in Mongolia, as well as the Silver Tree Palace, Orkhon Palace, Orkhon Temple and the Khan Palace, as well as the World Heritage Site Orkhon Valley.
For centuries after the decline of the Yuan Dynasty, Karakoram was desolate and abandoned. It isn't the Second World War, when the State of Menggukuo, a Mongol puppet state of the Empire of Japan began the serious efforts to revive Karakorum into it's present-day form. The Japanese transported supplies and workers into Karakoram to help. A Japanese military base and outpost was established in Karakorum, where many classified and secret operations took place, now infamously known as the "Japanese-Mongolian Area 51".
However, it is ultimately in the aftermath of the Sino-Russian war, where the revitalization, re-population and re-construction of the ancient city made way, and under the leadership of Tsagaanlamyn Dügersüren that Korakorum was seriously developed. Dügersüren not only continued Urzhin Garmaev and Fujibayashi Akimatsu's anti-nomad purges, but also connected Karakorum to the rest of East Asian, funneling skilled laborers and workers from Inner Mongolia in China, as well as Kalmyks and Siberians from Russia.
What also led to the development was Dügersüren bringing in skilled Kalmyks, Tuvans, Central Asians and Siberians from neighboring Russia. Many of them intermarried with the local Mongol population, others have kept to their communities. Like in the days of the old Yuan Dynasty and Mongol Empire, Karakoram was and is again - in important hub and capital of Asia.
With a population of not only native Mongols, it also has a population of Kalmyks, Central Asians, Yakuts, Tuvans, Han Chinese, Manchus and Evenkis, it attracts heavy business investment from the neighboring China and Russia, as well as other Asian countries and G-5 allies sucha s Japan and Korea, thus it is considered the "international hub" of Mongolia. The International Airport of Karakorum serves as the main aerial transportation hub of Karakorum and is a major global airport.
Casino and gambling life[]
In the 1990s, Karakorum started to become a place of gambling and night life, after an influx of casino moguls from China (particularly Macau), as well as Russia and the United States started to invest and purchase land. The rise of gambling businesses in Karakorum only continued, and continue up to today. The similarities in the geography of Karakorum to Las Vegas as led the latter to become a sister city.
Donald Trump, who owns the Golden Temür Palace in the city, described Karakorum, "Imagine Vegas, but much less hotter and with Buddhist temples and palaces, this is Karakorum."
Additionally, thanks to the presence of Central Asians and Siberians, the city has also attracted Russian tourists. Mikhail Prokhorov, owns the Subutai Palace.
