Inside the Rugged Lives of Mongolia’s Nomads | Short Film Showcase
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.พ. 2025
- Filmmaker Brandon Li captures life in western Mongolia in his film Nomads of Mongolia. Watch the nomadic Kazakh people train eagles to hunt, herd yaks, and race camels in this visually stunning short.
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The Short Film Showcase spotlights exceptional short videos created by filmmakers from around the web and selected by National Geographic editors. We look for work that affirms National Geographic's belief in the power of science, exploration, and storytelling to change the world. The filmmakers created the content presented, and the opinions expressed are their own, not those of National Geographic Partners.
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Brandon Li: / rungunshoot
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Inside the Rugged Lives of Mongolia’s Nomads | Short Film Showcase
• Inside the Rugged Live...
National Geographic
/ natgeo
Spent two weeks with these people in the Altai Mountains and then had the pleasure of witnessing the famed eagle festival and so much more. These people are so loving, inviting, and are as hard as nails. This video only shows you a fraction of what it's like to be out there with an eagle hunter.
Hope they keep your community at an arms length.... You gmo, Vaccines, pesticide and your Jewish bankers 😠
@Vladimir Pennysuckovski also your name bring to mind imagery of a polish jew fellating abraham lincoln
Bet you experience Mongolian Wrestling bro ;)
Max Lønø they have guns
@@howardthealien2606 what's your point? Perhaps you should elaborate.
I admire these people. Once upon a time, their ancestors conquered much of the world
From the Slab Grave Culture of 1300bc to the Mongol Empire of 1300ad, most Eurasian nomads & their descendants came from or went to Mongolia.
Most of Asia, most of Europe, & much of North/East Africa were constantly overrun by Altaic-Uralic-Iranic speaking nomads related to or affected by proto-Mongols of Eastern Steppe.
Until 15th to 20th centuries AD when Europeans ruled world, these nomads were the dominant force in the three Old World continents.
They are Kazakh, not Mongolian
@@aguskurniawan6253 "Mongolian" is a nationality based on legal citizenship acquired by birthright, residence, marriage, or naturalization process. Mongol is an ethnicity defined by native language &/or genealogical records of recent Mongol ancestry. Self-identification may be a factor in Mongolian census. Only 96% of Mongolians are native Mongol, but foreign admixture can't be ruled out. Approximately 4% of Mongolian citizens are ethnic Kazakh or other ethnicity. These ethnic non-Mongols are minorities, but are still full members of the Mongolian population all the same. Their ancestors entered this country from Soviet Central Asia to escape collectivization of the Russian Steppes by Bolsheviks. That was nearly a hundred years ago, and they are still nomads more than the average Mongol. Even the Mongol nomad abandons their steppe for settlements because dzud killed their flock or herd. The roughly 132,000 Mongolian Kazakhs have a higher per capita number of nomads than the 3mil+ Mongols do. More than a third of their people live in Ulaanbaatar alone. Another 1mil+ Mongolians are nomads, so more than a tenth (about 12%) of them are Kazakh.
@@sirsha6973 ok
But they conquered the world so cruel,Saifudin Qutuz was Monggol nightmare.
These people seem to be doing just fine, without all of the modern conveniences we take for granted.
+Lord Luke "Seem" is the key word here.
+Simon The Sinda Healthier? The average lifespan on the modern mongolian steppes is 52 years old. LOL!
+Bob Belson (JEW-JITSU) If first world countries keep becoming more obese our average lifespan will hit 30
MarioDragon
Funny, America and Mexico are officially the two fattest nations on Earth by Population alone, yet we live 21 more years on Average then Mongolian and Kazakh Nomads. LOL
They live in a TENT all year round including Winter. Hes not a healthy life. Beautiful but not healthy.
+Bob Belson (JEW-JITSU) Yes, it is healthier, despite the cold. They're not eating fatty processed crap, and they're very active.
i love the way this was filmed
Nicole Valladares hii
sup?
Ikr
It's a masterpeice.
Bruh lmao, simps? I'm joking 😂.
I liked when he feeds the Eagle and the look the Eagle gives him in return when he caresses its neck.
What a masterpiece, the music, cinematography- everything captured the experience of what it must be like to live in that environment.
I can pause the video at ANY time and use that frame as a wallpaper!
2:35
@@carlosromulo1066 lmao dude made me laugh
Riding horses with that backdrop looks so badass.
it is hard life but it is beautiful culture... simple amazing and hustle.. 💪
well its quite easy tbh
Amit Gurung how?
it’s easy , I live there but I only visit the country side in summer
@g % It is simple, not easy
@g % Of course! Getting a daily beating in order to live won't be that bad for long and after a while you won't be able to live any other way but not everything has to be relativised
The Kazakhs in Mongolia preserved the nomadic culture far better than their kinsmen in Kazakhstan and Northwestern China. Mongolian independence was almost nominal during the Soviet times but still it managed to be the last refuge of very ancient cultures.
+Soyolbold S but the Kazakhs in Mongolia have bit different culture than rest of Khalkha Mongolians. Plus Kazakhs have slight European blood in them.
+Phanteus the people living in Khovd province are all mixed with Kazakh and Khalkh Mongol blood. Plus Mongols and Kazakhs are extremly similar people, more like brothers due to same lifestyle, same belief of Tenger, and similar culture etc
nope. Not at all. Kazakh nation is Turkic nation, but mongol nation is not. Mongols and kazakhs have very different culture, language and even apperance. Also kazakhs are muslims but mongols are not. So basically kazakhs and mongols differ in almost every aspect.
Very different culture? LOL!
Dude look at old pictures, they have had similar or almost same culture.
Batur Bilguun No they differs absolutely. The Kazakh nation believes not to the tenger, they are Muslims.
This filming is the absolutely most stunning I have ever seen. I have been going to Mongolia every year for the past ten years and this film maker is AWESOME!!!
Really cool to see that Mongolian Kazakhs save our true -TURKIC (Huns) culture in Mongolia! Thank you Mongolia!
Greeting from Kazakhstan!
Thank you, this is not just about Mongolia, it is Altaic (Turk) province who shows real Turk Kazakh nomads...who reside here and still living their rich culture.
It is so happens that Ignorant people are commenting negative aspect or distinguish between Mongol and Kazakh... I feel shameful. But thank you again.
you are always welcome brother
Batuka Ganbat yes
wow, thanks, I've never seen any comment that kazakhs are actually grateful for that we/mongols let them live freely the way they want. anyways, i love my kazakh people :))
Ayana M no problem
The cinematography is mesmerizing. 6 minutes of consistent good quality? Whoever directed this short film did a great job.
Thank you. I have great respect for these strong people and thank you again for telling their story! I'd give anything to spend a few weeks with them as well!
I admire the Kazakh people of Mongolia, they are still keeping their ancient culture and lives, besides they are out of their historical homeland
The music, the shoot, the editting, the effect, sooo cinematic. AAhhhhh. My soul has been feed to the maximum capacity. God bless the whole people who make this video.
I am a Bashkir and my people live in a similar way, we are connected to Kazakhs
how wonderful to see people in harmony with their environment
this is probably the most beautiful video ive ever watched. it seems to capture the rugged lifestyle of the mongolians beautifully and i adore all aspects of it. from the milking of the yak to the wrestling to the eagles hunting, i adored every second of it.
Kazakh tùrk people
so many ignorant comments here. First of all, mongolia is multi ethnic/tribal country. All ethnic groups live together peacefully under Mongol identity and citizenship. Mongolian "ethnic" Kazakhs preserve their tradition more than today's Kazakhs of Kazakhstan and China. You all should be grateful for that.
allie burne we are;) I appreciate that a lot, one day I will visit this beautiful land
That is very true, Kazakhs in Kazakhstan don't even speak their language, forgot their culture, most of them consider themselves Russian.
@@belleblanch5374 That is not true. We speak Kazakh and we are never consider ourself Russians. We are Kazakh Turks from Kypchak tribe.But yes, I agree they are more Qazaqs than us, because they preserved our beautiful Turk nomadic culture in best forms.
Life under mongol rule would have been nice
@@rustamnargeyev1114 Kazakh people are Mongol people just like Tuva and many other Mongol Turkic speaking tribes. Mongol became bilingual. People are trying to make Mongol Empire and race two separate thing and it never was. We are all Altaic nomadic people united under Mongolia by our great Khan Chingis. It included Kazakh, Khalka, Buryad and all the other Mongol tribes. In Mongolia what we manage to keep our motherland is what we managed to separate when we got out of the Manchurian colony when Chinese took over. The arrival of the Golden Horde Mongols to Egypt resulted in a significant number of Mongols accepting Islam. By the 1330s, three of the four major khanates of the Mongol Empire had become Muslim. These were the Jochi's Ulus, Hulagu's Ulus and Chagatai's Ulus.Turkic language was adopted later by some Mongol tribes like Kazakhs and Tuva. In the Chagatai Khanate, the Turkic language that was adopted by the Mongol elites became known as the Chagatai language, a descendant of Karluk Turkic. Besides in Mongolia no one is pure Mongol or should I say Khalkha as during the communist regime Russians favoured Khalkha which all the other minority ethnic groups in Mongolia registered as Khalkha but the reality is very different. We are all mixed with the rest of Mongol tribes or in your language Turkic Kipchak whatever you think Kazakh or other Turkic speaking ethnic groups are. For instance, my dad is Khalkha but my mum is half Tuvan and Buryat and I am definitely a descendent of Chingis and Mongol.
Oh my God! They look so beautiful! Their smile melt me. I wish to see more their documentary. Amazing!
Major props to the film team. The vivid landscapes, background music, shooting angles, contrasts, colors, editing, everything, absolutely amazing great job 👍
I've had a dream to visit Mongolia and live with nomads for a couple of years now. Will be going this summer with my brother on motorbikes. I hope to god I find a nomad family to live with for a while... See you there!
Did you do it?
My Best of luck and God Bless you both
any progress on that aspiration
@@irisrelay8564 did any of you
@@cupid2021 did any of you
Proud of my roots and happy to see nomad culture still alive.
This is how people need to live
go back and look at their teeth and say that...looks painful to me
Nonfucking way HAHA
Totally agreed. It is my own belief that in humanity’s early days, humans lived as they originally should: without civilization.
No thank you. I'm fine living in comfort and not worrying about winter and plagues.
@@sputn1k931 That's because you're not an adult
Love love love. This is both moving and mystifying. Bravo
I pray their way of life lives forever, consistent and traditional. It's not easy, but it looks much more fulfilling than the modern day to day Corporate slaving most of us do just to buy groceries.
If it looks so amazing in video; Imagine how wonderful it would be in reality.
It's like you try to cook beshbarmak while camping next time or milk a buffalo. It would be wonderful if you can do that.
Proud to be from a nomadic nation 😊😊😊
Arab nomadic people
Irish nomadic people✊
This is too spectacular. The people, nature, animals and culture. Purely breathtaking.
4:36 the old man with glasses looks badass
He looks like mi Abuelo.
He is badass !
Lol I was expecting shades
Salute to you Brandon Li. I love your films. The way this was filmed, It feels like a full production thing going on over here, but you did all that by just using your Sony camera. Amazing.
Mongols.... The people who conquered the largest continuous empire in history.... There was time when the word mongol gave chills across entire Asia and Europe.... Incredible....
EPIC EPIC EPIC ... Well Done Brandon Li
This was profoundly beautiful.
I'm Qazaq from Qazaqstan(Dasht e' Kypchak - from Steppes of Kypchaks) and I'm happy to see my people living in freedom and preserving our Turk Kypchak nomadic Culture.
For all negative comments from ignorants,nationalists I say these people are Turk Qazaq people from Mongolia ,Bayungli region. And I would like to thank Mongols from deep of my heart e who give full freedom to our people and do not oppress them unlike Chinese Fashist Government.
Let's forget about nationalism let's focus on humanity!!!
This was so beautiful and well-done, I couldn't take my eyes off the screen!
Ｉlove this country，the horse，the eagle，the mountain，the plain，the people，so amazing
Wow. Beautiful...
I show this to my students every year when we are learning about Pastoralism. Thank you!
I'm half Mongolian and i've been to Mongolia before and I felt the freedom, the air, the life and the freshness.Genghis Khan ruled half of the world for us. He saved our lives. HE GAVE US PEACE!
He was a very incredible leader, that's for sure
@_cle0 lum1nals_ educate yourself son, the Capital City in winter is polluted only cucu
The opening scene with the eagle is epic
Beautifully done, compelling watching.
Kazakhs ! My Kazakh people ! May Tengri protect you, give you strength and prosperity! May Umai protect your lands! Live as long as possible !
When You fall, you stand up; if fall again, stand up again; if fall once again, stand up again till you stand still.
Straight up incredible
Loved the way this video is beautifully filmed 😍 love their tough and glorious lifestyle.
the beauty of Mongolian culture is unmatched.
Это Казахи Kazakh people
@Eight lnfinity Mongolian people come in different religions and shapes. Does that surprise you? Kazakhs have Mongolian roots. The culture is too rich to be contained by a simple tag.
I've seen Kazakh/ Mongolian they're pretty n handsome people
Пьер Безухов. Безухов They are Turkic people, but you will find Kazakhs with Mongol genes. Many Central Asians carry the Mongol gene. Anyway, Kazakhs are descendants of Turkic and Mongol tribes.
wow, and to think nearly all of Eurasia contenant was invaded and taken over by folks who only lived off the land is impressive.
Just amazing . Lots of love from Bangladesh
omg dat old men petting eagles. how badass they are
@surna i respect but you cant understand. i said how badass he is
Truly beautiful.
this is how i want to live my life. in wild, free
These are Kazakhs living near Western Mongolia, not Mongolians. Most Mongolians don't use Eagles for hunting, has different clothes, and look bit different.
yes you are right
Kazakh nationality living in Mongolia, the golden eagle hunting, hunting ancient tradition of the oldest. this is kazakhs indigenous traditions
they are ethnically Kazakhs but they are citizens of Mongolia.
Phanteus They are Mongolians actually. If you're a citizen of Mongolia then you're a Mongolian regardless of your ethnicity.
Дарын Тиынхан ұлы Their nationality is not kazakh if it was they wouldnt be living in Mongolia
They are not Mongols, they are Kazakhs living in Mongolia!✨👍🏻❤️
Doesn't matter, same ancestor.
They have the same ancestors so
They are mongols. Different tribe of mongols. Bitgii iim teneg bait bee mangaraa
They are Kazakh Turks
@@usuhbino
This was beautifully filmed.
I’m mongolian and enjoy this live during summer
These people and their culture brought the whole world to their knees. Absolutely amazing. China, Persia, the Arabs. No one was a match for them. Literally the only thing that stopped them going eastwards and westwards was the weather
This Short Documentary is EXTRAORDINARY!
Life in steppes isn't easy,so that's why these Turk, Mongolian are so competitive.
They're fierce fighter.
Just remember Mughal,Turk.
Bidu Bidu
Turks are nation who invaded whole world by creating 16 empires (except antartica).
Huns>Gokturks>Avars>Timurids>Seljuks>Ottomans and many more.
Even Mongol empire's biggest part was Turkic.
Even swedish historians says that Odin and the peoples around him was Turkic.
Turkic history is supernatural,not a poor human job.We are war race for sure.
You little worm ;)
Bidu Bidu
We have riden horse in everywhere on all continents.
Only way to defeat Turks is to start a civil war in their territories.
We are master race,we are best empire creators,and war masters.
All the nations on earth has been defated and leaded by Turks.
Bidu Bidu Remember how rome empire and their papa was crying in front of Atilla,at their strongest age.
Spartans,persian and other newbies are just a chonky fat cats in front of Turks :)
@@turkthekhagan4916 now your left with nothing lol where have all those empires gone oh that's right they perishes in the halls of history and innovation because they couldnt conquer death and couldnt evolve to modern standards
thaman p
I dont care about Turkey's peoples/citizens
ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT !!!!
that mongolian wearing wolf skin coat while holding an eagle is so cool
Izzuddin Baihaqi It is fox fur not wolves.
Thats not Mongolian wear. It's Kazakh people in this video.
@@bdojomartialartsclub598 They're in Mongolia, NOT Kazakhstan.
@@MrSFblack they're in Mongolia but they're not Mongolian.
They are Kazakh living in Mongolia
Such beautiful people and life!
Kazakh forever
That food had no business looking that good
They are kazakhs(turkcik nation). I proud with my nation.
berna gürgen Tusinbedim?
berna gürgen Ortak turki sozdermen jaz
berna gürgen Tusindim!
+
not turcik, but turcik-language
。。。。。 。。。。。On Todays Mongolian teritory was Eastern part of Turckic kaganat 600 - 700y. So we know our history and names of our ancesters in sequence and especially tribes. We memorize all of that. So your words changes nothing!
To know people like these were my ancestors is breathtaking.
This is amazingggggg!!
Hey Darling please give me your contact number because It's urgent please
Brandon Li is amazing.
For those people who say Kazakhs are not Mongolians...I'M THE DADDY OF THESE PEOPLE! SO THEY ARE ACTUALLY MONGOLIAN BECAUSE KAZAKHS ARE MY KIDS LIKE THE MONGOLS DO
GENGHIS KHAN lmao
But your stepchildren kazakhs are so misbehaved and unrespectfull towards Mongols nowadays
Genghis Khan hear out your lady mongolian lmao 😭😂😂
Not all the Kazakhs honey ;)
Hi dad.
They are living happy and tension free life, away from technology ❤
Прекрасный документальный фильм! Потрясающая работа!
The filming is gorgeous !!
Kazakh 💪
Incredible people and country. I often think about living with people like this and leave everything behind, easier said then done I know.
Hi all! Come and enjoy once-a-lifetime experience in western Mongolia. Here you will be maximum close to nature and explore ancient culture of nomadic eagle hunter's lifestyle!!!
Is horse archery something the Mongolians still do for hunting.
Кыс жел суык шыгар быр тал жокн
Mongolians have the most aura of any people in the world
those guys invaded half of the known world centuries ago.true masters of war i respect that
The only time in recorded history the Afghan warlords weren't butchering each other was when Temujin's boot was on their necks.
@@oldsagerat omg 😭🤣
Arab defeated you in Egybt
@@godspearontheearth917 they were not arabs actually, memluks were ex slave turkic soldiers
@@haydeyyallah but the leader were muslim from Mamulik
Can we just soak in this incredible music🏆💯💯🏆 I started the doc and walked away and was dancing 💃🏾
Okay now onto this short doc ☺️
This is amazing.
Many thanks to this splendid video, especially the sound, throat singing stuff..
I'm of Chinese ethnic background, but I really admire the Mongols and their nomadic way of life.
dhg1234 this people are Kazakhs
Oh OK. My apologies. Some of their outfits do look Mongolian, but I see the description mentioning Kazakhs.
dhg1234 that's OK.😊 Mongols don't have tradition as Eagle Hunting!!!
@@jaimelannisterfromkaz2488 do u support ur goverment?
These are the coolest people I've seen
Brandon Li is the Chinese guy who's been living in Mongolia, right? Kudos on submitting a cool video for The National Geographic. But I'm curious why he didn't include any of the other Mongolians who still do something similar.
Admittedly, our Kazakh brothers have the eagle, but all the rest (the animal wrangling and wrestling) has long been done by Mongolians, too. Mongolian nomads are a little more modernized. You'll see a solar panel hooked up to a car battery and a motorbike, maybe.
Like
These Altaian Kazakhs are Mongolian Kazakhs. They are as a refugee migrated from western Xinjiang, China to Mongolia in 19 century. Kazakh refugees fled to Mongolia begins in 1840 with many refugees arriving from areas now Xin Jiang, Western China. Records suggest that in 1905, there were 1370 Kazakh households, increasing to 1,870 households by 1924 (the year Mongolia adopted socialism). By 1989, the Kazakh population grew to approximately 120,000 individuals...Unfortunately, Kazakhstan does not live this lifestyle anymore. Russian Soviets and Tsarists committed genocide on Kazakhs in Kazakhstan and forced them to give up their nomadic lifestyle and brainwashed by Russification. Same thing for Kazakhs in China. Only Mongolians gave them an entire region to live in freedom. Mongolian Kazakhs are not Kazakhstan Kazakhs. They are a Mongolian citizen. It is so true that eagle hunting only exists in Mongolia today.
@@romanchristopher4399 They are Kerei people, their ancestors were the closest allies with Mongol tribes. Like Tughrul khan.
wow great cinematography
I love this kind of life simple beautiful
This is real way of living a free life🤗
Beautiful 💙
Im from Europe and have nothing to do with mongolia but i started loving asian culture especially mongolias south east asia and japanese such incredible culture music and history/way of living
Wow. This is, really cool, actually!
A wonderful life of nature oriented!
amazing videography. Hats off to you
AMAZING!
These are the Kazakh people who live in the west of Mongolia, they lead a nomadic lifestyle.
Керемет дүние екен! Бауырларымыз қандастарымыз аман болсын
The genius of Brandon Li
wanna go, wanna learn, wanna live this way for some years of my life
M JP
And how did you meet that kind of people?
MrPeolo me 2
Iam Mongolian ...n iam so proud to be
THIS IS HOW CHANGAZ KHAN CONQUER THE WORLD