Dongzhimen is a transportation node in Beijing.

The 2nd Ring Road currently links, albeit somewhat indirectly, with two roads which eventually become the Airport Expressway and China National Highway 101. A new flyover, and a new express road are being built that will connect directly with the Airport Expressway and is due within 2004.

The Beijing underground railway network has a node stop at Dongzhimen, where Lines 2 and 13 connect. Line 13 has its eastern terminus at Dongzhimen.

West of Dongzhimen is Guijie , or "Ghost Street" (Dongzhimen Inner Street), extremely well-known to locals as a food street.

East of Dongzhimen is Dongzhimen Outer Street , which connects with the Embassy area and ultimately to the 3rd Ring Road and the National Agricultural Exhibition Hall .

Dongzhimen was also the site of one of the old city walls of Beijing.

1.5 km from Dongzhimen lies the nearby Sanlitun bar street, well-known to the expat community.