Chaoyang extends west to Chaoyangmen on the eastern 2nd Ring Road, and nearly as far east as the Ximazhuang toll station on the Jingtong Expressway. Within the urban area of Beijing, it occupies 475 square kilometres (183 sq mi), making it the central city's largest district, with Haidian second. Chaoyang has a total population of around 3.5m making it the most populous district in Beijing.

Chaoyang District is one of the fastest growing districts in the Beijing Metropolitan Area. There are several subway lines running through the district.

Chaoyang, to the north and east, is the most cosmopolitan area of the city. It hosts nearly all of the city’s 150-plus embassies, the headquarters of many foreign companies, and top Western bars and restaurants, notably in the Sanlitun area.

It has green areas, such as the sprawling Chaoyang Park or Olympic Park and the smaller but more historical Ritan Park or Hongjingli Park, shopping districts such as the Silk Market and Russian-influenced Yabao Street, and the large art district 798. It is vast enough to include Beijing Capital Airport which is surrounded by Shunyi Distric but an exclave of Chaoyang District.

Chaoyang is home to the majority of Beijing's many foreign embassies, the well-known Sanlitun bar street, as well as Beijing's growing central business district. The Olympic Green, built for the 2008 Summer Olympics, is also in Chaoyang.

The Beijing Capital Airport, although surrounded by the Shunyi District, is an exclave of Chaoyang District.