Kül Tigin inscription

The Kül Tigin inscription is a carved stone memorial standing in the Orkhon Valley, measuring about 3.3 meters tall and 1.3 meters wide with detailed engravings in Old Turkic script and Chinese characters on its surface.

The monument was created in 732 CE to honor a prince and record major victories and events of his time. It dates from a period when a large khaganate ruled the region and maintained contact with neighboring lands.

The inscriptions show how people documented their most important events in Old Turkic language and reveal stories about leaders, conflicts, and connections with neighboring peoples that remain readable today.

The stone stands in a protected enclosure near Ögii Lake alongside a similar monument that was built for another important figure. The site is part of a UNESCO World Heritage area that welcomes visitors.

The stone rests on a carved turtle base, which is typical for monuments in the region. What makes this particularly notable is how the same message is carved in both Turkic and Chinese writing systems to reach different peoples.