Ukhtomsky was also passionate about Oriental culture and arts. Ukhtomsky was strongly attracted to Asian art on aesthetic grounds, finding the sort of beauty that he craved. He was the standalone figure in Russian establishment to proclaim himself Buddhist. During his journeys he amassed a large collection of Chinese and Tibetan art, that eventually numbered over 2,000 pieces. They were displayed in the Alexander III Museum in Moscow (now the State Historical Museum), and were also exhibited at the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1900, earning Ukhtomsky a gold medal.