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Projected climate change will have a profound effect on the hydrological balance of river basins globally. Studying water balance modification under changing climate conditions is significant for future river basin management, especially in certain arid and semiarid areas. In this study, we evaluated water balance changes (1981–2011) in the upper Hailar River Basin on the Mongolian Plateau. To evaluate the hydrological resilience of the basin to climate change, we calculated two Budyko metrics, i.e. dynamic deviation (d) and elasticity (e). The absolute magnitude of d reflects the ability of a basin to resist the influence of climate change and maintain its stable ecological function, whereas parameter e is used to assess whether a basin is hydrologically elastic. Results revealed modification of the hydrological balance during the study period has manifested as a decreasing trend of runoff and runoff-precipitation ratio. Correspondingly, basin-averaged evapotranspiration has also shown a decreasing trend, attributable mainly to precipitation. Furthermore, the calculated elasticity (e = 8.03) suggests the basin has high hydrological resilience, which indicates the basin ecosystem may maintain its hydrological function to a certain extent under a changing climate. The results of this study could assist water resource management in the study area and the prediction of ecosystem response to future climate change. HIGHLIGHTS Water balance changes (1981–2011) in the upper Hailar River Basin on the Mongolian Plateau were investigated.; The hydrological balance during the study period has manifested as a trend of decrease of runoff and a decreased runoff–precipitation ratio.; The calculated elasticity (e = 8.03) suggests the basin has high hydrological resilience, which indicates the basin ecosystem might maintain its hydrological function to a certain extent under a changing climate.;