Bayannur is a prefecture-level city in western Inner Mongolia. Until December 1, 2003, the area was called the Bayannur league. Bayannur city has an area of 65,788 sq km. The name of the city in Mongolian means "Rich Lake." At the 2010 census the city proper has 520,300 inhabitants. It also borders Mongolia to the north. Bayannur features a desert climate marked by long, cold and very dry winters, very warm, somewhat humid summers, and strong winds, especially in spring. Most of the rain falls between July and September, with very little snow in winter.