Dongzhimen

Dongzhimen in 1908

The landmark of Dongzhimen today - the headquarters of China National Petroleum Corporation/PetroChina

Dongzhimen (simplified Chinese: 东直门; traditional Chinese: 東直門; pinyin: Dōngzhímén; lit. "East Straight Gate") was a gate in the old Beijing city fortifications. It is now a commercial center and transportation node in Beijing. ^[1]

History[]

The Marquis of Extended Grace lived near Dongzhimen.

Transport[]

The 2nd Ring Road currently links with two roads which eventually become the Airport Expressway and China National Highway 101. A new flyover, and a new express road connects directly with the Airport Expressway.

The Beijing subway network has a interchange station at Dongzhimen, where Lines 2, 13 and Capital Airport Express connect. Line 13 has its eastern terminus at Dongzhimen.

Dongzhimen also has an extensive public bus hub just outside the Dongzhimen station. Buses numbered greater than 800 start from a long-distance bus station area, which serves a wide range of locations inside and outside of Beijing. This includes special buses to the Great Wall and long-distance buses to the mountains and caves north of Beijing and smaller suburban districts such as Pinggu.

Ghost Street[]

West of Dongzhimen is (簋街), or "Food vessel street" (Dongzhimen Inner Street). The character for Gui (簋) refers to a round-mouthed bamboo basket for food. The name is frequently mistaken for a similar-sounding word, meaning "ghost", so some refer to the street as "Ghost street". The street stretches for over one kilometer, and 90% of the commercial shops in the street house more than 150 eateries.

Nearby areas[]

Connecting to the east of Dongzhimen is , which connects with the Northern Diplomatic Area and ultimately to the 3rd Ring Road as well as the .

1.5 km from Dongzhimen lies the nearby Sanlitun (三里屯) bar street, commonly frequented by the expat community located in the heart of Beijing's North Diplomatic Area.

References[]

^ Latimer D. (2014) The Improbable Beijing Guidebook, Sinomaps, Beijing, ISBN 978-7-5031-8451-2, p.69

Coordinates: 39°56′28″N 116°26′01″E / 39.9411°N 116.4336°E / 39.9411; 116.4336

[1] Latimer D. (2014) The Improbable Beijing Guidebook, Sinomaps, Beijing, ISBN 978-7-5031-8451-2, p.69

[1]

v t Old city of Beijing
Subdivisions	Imperial City Forbidden City
Fortifications and towers	Andingmen Bell and Drum towers Chaoyangmen Chongwenmen Di'anmen Dongzhimen Duanmen Deshengmen Fuchengmen Guang'anmen Tiananmen Xizhimen Xuanwumen Yongdingmen Zhengyangmen Zhonghuamen
Forbidden City	Meridian Gate Gate of Supreme Harmony Hall of Mental Cultivation Hall of Supreme Harmony Belvedere of Embodying Benevolence Hall of Central Harmony Belvedere of Spreading Righteousness Hall of Preserving Harmony Gate of Thriving Imperial Clan Gate of Heavenly Purity Palace of Heavenly Purity Hall of Union Palace of Earthly Tranquility Gate of Divine Might
Imperial gardens, temples and offices	Jingshan Park Beihai Park Zhongnanhai Taimiao (Imperial Ancestral Temple) Zhongshan Park Confucius Temple Guozijian Beijing Ancient Observatory Beijing Zoo Old Summer Palace Summer Palace Fragrant Hills Jade Spring Hill Temple of Heaven Temple of Earth Temple of the Sun Temple of the Moon Xiannongtan (Temple of Agriculture)
Temples and gardens	Shichahai Yonghe Temple Fayuan Temple White Cloud Temple Zhenjue Temple Miaoying Temple Wanshou Temple Temple of Azure Clouds Badachu Dongyue Temple Guanghua Temple Tanzhe Temple Wofo Temple Big Bell Temple Bailin Temple Guangji Temple Fahai Temple Changchun Temple Zhihua Temple Yunju Temple Tianning Temple
Mosques and churches	Xuanwumen Cathedral Xishiku Cathedral Xizhimen Cathedral Wangfujing Cathedral St. Michael's Church Niujie Mosque