Kazakh is the 2nd largest ethnic group in Mongolia after the Kalkh Mongol, with 120,000 Kazakhs. About 100,000 live in Bayan-Olgii province. The Kazakh tribe were consolidated with the formation of the Kazakh Khanate during the 15th century, when Ghirey and Janibek, sons of Golden Horde khan Baraq broke away from Abu‘l-Khayr Khan. Abu‘l-Khayr Khan consolidated the Uzbek tribe subsequently. The Kazakh khanate is the longest of the surviving khanates that was descended directly from the Golden Horde. The last khan was proclaimed, albeit already controlled by the Russian Empire, during mid 19th century. There were many wars between the Dzungars Mongol and the Khazakh in early 18th century, at the same time when the Kazakh faces threats with the growing Russian Empire. With the death of Tauke Khan, the khanate splintered into 3 Juz - Great, Middle, and Little, each Juz with their own Khan. The Middle Juz consolidated power subsequently. The Kazakh in Mongolia were descendants of Kazakh who migrated towards the Altai, and China. Before the fall of USSR in 1991, barely any Kazakh from Mongolia visited Kazakhstan. Soviet collectivism means that little of the nomadic culture were preserved in Kazakhstan, making a visit to Kazakhs from Mongolia a unique experience. Kazakhs in Mongolia are also not aware of their ancestry Juz. That said, many Kazakh Mongolian are invited to return to Kazakhstan, and many students are given scholarship to Astana University where courses are conducted in Kazakh. Bayan-Ölgii and its historical landscape was presented prior.
Many Kazakh families owns an eagle, and Aikhan is of no exception. Its a small 2-year old Burkit that needs to be tamed. She tried to fly away many times, but one of her foot was tied to a pole secured into the ground and gaurded by the rock where the eagle stands…24/7 rain or shine! His father‘s name is Aikhan, and he is one of the many Kazakhs residing in a valley between Tsambagarav to Bayan Nuur. Its summer time; a lean chapan (coat) and a borik (fur hat) transformed him into a Khan-liked KAZAKH!
Yerkhan and family reside at Sogoog valley near Tavan Bogd National Park. It has good sheldter and it enable the family to stay here throughout the year. Portraitures taken were rather make-shift one here, with chapan (coat) and skull cap (tobetai) over the every-day clothing, revealing the rubber Chinese-made rubber sandals. Yerkhan has a few grandsons! The yongest one is smart and hyper active.
A Kazakh man with his son and daughters on a single motorbike. Captured in a valley between Tsambagarav to Bayan Nuur where many Kazakh families resides in the summer.
Its summer holidays, and the children were out, playing and herding at the same time. We came prepared with small snacks as present, and the word spreaded, three more at the back! Bayan Nuur translates as Rich Lake, and it is slightly salty, but the animals drinks from it. Craggy rock forms surround the lake, making it rather picturesque. Strong wind rake big waves, making the lake feels more like a sea.
Mrs Toktoson and family resides at the foot of the southern face of Tsambagarav Uul (Mountain). Women works hard to milk the animals and they produce all the food for the family - all diary products and flour-based products including noodles.
Youngest of the family, and loved by all! She is quite willful, but was immediately shy when asked to posed for a photo.
A young Kazakh man from a family near Tsagaan Gol (White River) which is fed by the jade-coloured water running from from the 2 main glaciers from Tavan Bogd. It was late August and grass cutting was ubiquitous throughout Bayan-Olgii, usually aided by trucks. A very healthy and tame Bactrain camel was used here, simply controlled by a pair of sticks across its nose, and towed by the horse!
The word Kazakh may come from the Turkish verb qaz (to wander), because the Kazakhs were wandering steppemen. They are free riders. Captured here is a horseman galloping from a plain to a hill top briskly, equipped only with a pair of binoculars.
Khovd is peculiar at first glance, whereby many residents reside along the river in gers just outside the city during summer and they move back to the city during winter. Captured here is a casual soccer game in the late afternoon. Some days later, the entire city has no water for 2 days - perhaps thats the reasons for the sprawling ger district around Khovd.
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© 2026 Kim Lau
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