Eastern Region
Dornod Aimag
Dornod, 'East', is Mongolia's easternmost aimag, a vast land of grassland steppe bordering Russia and China, home to great herds of Mongolian gazelle.
- Aimag centre
- Choibalsan
- Area
- 123,597 km²
- Population (2025)
- 83,859
- Population (2020 census)
- 82,054
- Soums
- 14
- From Ulaanbaatar
- About 655 km by road
Overview
It contains Lake Buir and the battlefields of Khalkhin Gol, where Soviet and Mongolian forces defeated Japan in 1939.
Highlights
- The eastern steppe, one of the largest intact grasslands in the world
- Lake Buir on the border with China
- The Khalkhin Gol battle memorials
- Ruins of the Khitan-era city of Bars-Khot
When to Go
June to September.
Soums
Dornod has 14 soums. Fuller guides to individual soums are in preparation.
| Soum | Mongolian | Population (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| KherlenХэрлэнAimag centre: Choibalsan | Хэрлэн | 46,773 |
| SergelenСэргэлэн | Сэргэлэн | 2,053 |
| BayantümenБаянтүмэн | Баянтүмэн | 3,023 |
| BulganБулган | Булган | 2,159 |
| KhölönbuirХөлөнбуйр | Хөлөнбуйр | 1,931 |
| ChoibalsanЧойбалсан | Чойбалсан | 2,615 |
| Bayan-UulБаян-Уул | Баян-Уул | 4,733 |
| BayandunБаяндун | Баяндун | 3,131 |
| Tsagaan-OvooЦагаан-Овоо | Цагаан-Овоо | 3,987 |
| DashbalbarДашбалбар | Дашбалбар | 3,674 |
| GurvanzagalГурванзагал | Гурванзагал | 1,488 |
| ChuluunkhorootЧулуунхороот | Чулуунхороот | 1,852 |
| KhalkhgolХалхгол | Халхгол | 3,348 |
| MatadМатад | Матад | 3,092 |
Also in the Region