Uighar city ruin, Baibalik, is situated 14km to west from the center
of Khutag-Undur soum, Bulgan province and locals also call it
Biibulag. 44 line of inscription was written on the stele which was
built in Saikhan soum, Bulgan province. In the inscription, Uighar king
Myunchur says that “I ordered to establish Baibalik city on bank of Selenge
River”. Therefore, researchers claim that this city was built by Myunchur, a
king of Uighar. Since its construction, the city had always been visited by
Sogd (current Tajikistan) and Chinese merchants, Sogd preachers.
They
did a missionary work and translated Buddhist writings into Uighar language.
Baibalik was a flourishing city and one of cultural centers in central Asia of
that period. There were two fortresses built of clay in the
city. But most part of them collapsed and only east and north
section of the northern fortress remained currently. This remained fortress is
4m high and 2m thick. Many tiny holes on the fortress are supposed to have been
used for observing outside. On northern fortress of the city there was a large
temple surrounded by lions of male and female. In 840, Baibalik city was
destroyed by Kyrgyz nomadic tribes from Yenisei River. All books and sutras
were burned during this destruction.
