Altai City is the capital of the Govi-Altai province in western Mongolia. As of 2008, its population is 15,800. Altai City has a typical Mongolian co…Altai City is the capital of the Govi-Altai province in western Mongolia. As of 2008, its population is 15,800. Altai City has a typical Mongolian cold semi-arid climate with subarctic influences, although the climate is so dry as to qualify as a cold desert climate despite the annual mean being sufficient for sporadic permafrost. The climate experiences long, very dry and very cold winters with short, mild summers when the majority of the scant precipitation occurs.