Bayankhongor Province Travel Guide: The Sights & Experiences

Established in 1941, Bayankhongor Province covers an area of 116,000 km² and is divided into 20 soums and 101 baghs. It is located in the southwestern part of Mongolia, spanning the southern highlands of the Khangai Mountains, the ranges of the Gobi Altai Mountains, and the Altai foothill Gobi, crossing the Gobi–Khangai zone. Therefore, its territory consists of a combination of mountains, steppe, and valleys. The administrative center of Bayankhongor Province is Bayankhongor city, located 693 km from Ulaanbaatar. The highest point in the province is Ikh Bogd Mountain, rising to 3,957 meters in the Gobi Altai range, while the lowest point is 750 meters above sea level in the Altai foothill Gobi.

The province contains large Gobi areas such as Zeerengiyn Valley and Nomingiin Gobi, major rivers including the Baidrag and Tui rivers, and large lakes such as Boontsagaan, Orog, and Khukh lakes. It also has well-known hot springs including Shargaljuut Hot Spring, which reaches temperatures of up to 95°C, as well as Uukheg, Khuremt, Khaliut, and Urguut hot springs. In the northern part of the province, forest-steppe vegetation is found, while steppe and Gobi vegetation spreads across the central and southern parts. Rare plants such as goyoo, tsulkhir, vansemberuu, leader, and golden root grow here. The province is also home to animals found across Mongolia’s three natural zones, including marmots, foxes, wolves, snow leopards, argali sheep, and goitered gazelles. It is notable for being one of the few places where the critically endangered Mazaalai (Gobi bear) exists in small numbers. Bayankhongor Province is rich in coal, gold, and construction materials. In 1957, a strong earthquake caused a major fault approximately 300 km long behind Ikhbogd and Bayantsagaan soums, which is of particular interest.

Bayankhongor Province leads the country in camel population. Mare camel hoormog and thick aaruul shaped like camel hooves are abundant and are considered local brands. People of Bayankhongor often say, “Discover the origin of humankind from our land,” referring to the many-thousand-year-old historical monuments found in this area.