Dong Honglin started his professional football career in 2016 when he was promoted to China League One side Dalian Yifang's first team squad.

[1] On 12 March 2016, he made his senior debut in a league game in a 2–0 home win over Zhejiang Yiteng, coming on for Sun Bo in the 89th minute.

[4] On 24 April 2018, Dong assisted Sun Guowen's opener in a 4–1 away win over Liaoning in the 2018 Chinese FA Cup.

[5] On 2 May 2018, he played in another FA Cup match against Chongqing Dangdai Lifan where he was substituted off due to injury.

[7] He would make his debut for the club on 1 May 2019, in a FA Cup match against Hebei China Fortune in a 1-0 victory.