In July 1921 in the centre of Ulaanbaatar, the 'hero of the revolution', Damdin Sükhbaatar, declared Mongolia's final independence from the Chinese. The Square now bears his name and features a statue of him astride his horse. Sükhbaatar would have been very disappointed to learn that the Square was also where the first protests were held in 1990, which eventually led to the fall of communism in Mongolia.

Today, the Square is occasionally used for rallies, ceremonies and even rock concerts, but is generally a serene place where only the photographers are doing anything. Near the centre of the square, look for the large plaque that lists the former names of the city - Örgöö, Nomiin Khuree, Ikh Khuree and Niislel Khuree.

The enormous marble construction on the north end was completed in 2006 in time for the 800-year anniversary of Chinggis Khaan's coronation. At its centre is a seated bronze Chinggis Khaan statue lording over his nation. He is flanked by Ögedei (on the west) and Kublai (east). Two famed Mongol soldiers (Boruchu and Mukhlai) guard the entrance to the monument.

Behind the Ghengis monument stands Parliament House, commonly known as Government House. An inner courtyard of the building actually holds a large ceremonial ger used for hosting visiting dignitaries.

To the northeast is the tall, modern Palace of Culture, a useful landmark containing the Mongolian National Modern Art Gallery and several other cultural institutions. At the southeast corner of the Square, the salmon-pinkish building is the State Opera & Ballet Theatre.

The clay-red building to the southwest is the Mongolian Stock Exchange, which was opened in 1992 in the former Children's Cinema. The small park opposite the Stock Exchange contains a 0-kilometer marker, the point from which all distances in Mongolia are measured. For a blast from the past, walk east from the southeast corner of the Square to the Lenin statue. (For an even more dramatic bust of Lenin walk into the former Lenin Museum, on the north side of Liberty Sq.)