It is based on holotype DNHM D2867, a partial postcranial skeleton including bones from the limbs, shoulder and pelvic girdles, and vertebrae, which was described in 2007.

The type species is D. dongi, and it is the first named sauropod from the Yixian Formation, which is part of the well-known Jehol Group.

[1] Xu & Norel (2006) enlisted from Jehol group 25 species of non-avian dinosaurs, among them Ornithopoda (Jeholosaurus shangyuanensis, Jinzhousaurus yangi), Ankylosauria (Liaoningosaurus paradoxus) and Ceratopsia (Psittacosaurus meileyingensis, P. mongoliensis, P.

[3] (their list does not include taxa described later, as Yutyrannus),[4] Dromaeosauridae (Graciliraptor lujiatunensis, Microraptor gui, M. zhaoianus, Sinornithosaurus milleni), Troodontidae (Sinovenator changii, Mei long, Sinucerasaurus magodens), and further unclassified (Protarchaeopteryx robusta, Yixianosaurus longimanus).

In 2006 the fossils were gained by the Natural History Museum in Dalian and the Lufeng Dinosaur Research Center of Yunnan Province offered help in specimen preparation.

The generic name refers to a place where the bones have been found, a Dongbei region containing Chinese provinces Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang.

Its specific epithet honors palaeontology professor Dong Zhiming in recognition of his contributions to research and education in the field of Chinese dinosaurs.