Mongolian Buddhism: A Buddha image at Erdene Zuu Monastery near Karakoram. Karakorum (Qara Qorum) was the capital of the Mongol Empire in the 13th century; and of the Northern Yuan in the 14-15th century. Its ruins lie in the northwestern corner of the Ovorkhangai Province of Mongolia; near today's town of Kharkhorin; and adjacent to the Erdene Zuu monastery. They are part of the upper part of the World Heritage Site Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape.