Dongzhimen

Dongzhimen — the Gate of Direct East — was one of the nine gates of the Ming dynasty inner city wall. The gate was demolished in 1915 to improve traffic flow; the name now attaches to a major transport interchange rather than a physical structure. The interchange brings together Metro Lines 2 and 13, the Airport Express to Capital Airport, and multiple bus lines in a complex multi-level building that handles one of the highest passenger volumes in the city.

The practical importance of Dongzhimen as a base for visitors lies in the direct Airport Express connection, which runs every ten minutes and reaches Capital Airport in about twenty minutes. Hotels near the interchange offer a pragmatic option for early morning flights without the need to cross the city.

Gui Jie — Ghost Street — runs east from the interchange for about two kilometres along Dongzhimennei Street. The name refers to the street's historical association with night trade, which was, in popular superstition, appropriate territory for spirits (gui). The current street operates as a continuous restaurant strip with an emphasis on crayfish during the summer season, when outdoor tables extend onto the pavement and the combination of red lanterns, shells, and loud conversation creates a genuinely festive atmosphere. Year-round, the late-night hours — the street is consistently busy after midnight — make it useful for anyone arriving late and needing a substantial meal.

The Lama Temple (Yonghegong), Beijing's largest and most active Tibetan Buddhist monastery, is twenty minutes on foot or one metro stop north, making the Dongzhimen area a reasonable base for a combination of practical access and sightseeing.