Daowai District is one of nine districts of Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang Province in Northeast China. It forms part of the city's urban core, making it one of the central districts of the Harbin metropolitan area rather than a separate city.
The district is located in the eastern portion of Harbin's urban centre. It borders Hulan District to the north, Acheng District to the southeast, Xiangfang District to the south, Nangang District to the southwest, and Songbei District to the west. Bin County lies to its east.
As a district of Harbin, Daowai is part of the administrative structure of Heilongjiang's provincial capital. Its position within the city's core places it among the districts that make up the central urban area of Harbin.