Tool · Travel tools
What time is it in China?
北京时间 Běijīng shíjiān · Beijing Time, UTC+8
One time zone for the whole country and no daylight saving time. Here is the time in China now, the difference from where you are, and the best hours to call.
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Beijing Time
Your time and China time
China is UTC+8.
Beijing office hours, about 9:00–18:00 on weekdaysNight in China (23:00–7:00)
The answer
China runs on one time zone, Beijing Time (China Standard Time), UTC+8, and does not use daylight saving time. It is 12 hours ahead of New York in summer and 13 in winter, and 7 hours ahead of London in summer and 8 in winter. The clock above shows the current time in China.
China time around the world
How far ahead China is today. Cities with daylight saving time move by an hour in spring and autumn; China does not.
| City | Local time now | China is |
|---|---|---|
| New York | — | 12 hours ahead |
| Los Angeles | — | 15 hours ahead |
| Chicago | — | 13 hours ahead |
| Toronto | — | 12 hours ahead |
| Mexico City | — | 14 hours ahead |
| São Paulo | — | 11 hours ahead |
| London | — | 8 hours ahead |
| Paris | — | 7 hours ahead |
| Berlin | — | 7 hours ahead |
| Moscow | — | 5 hours ahead |
| Dubai | — | 4 hours ahead |
| Delhi | — | 2.5 hours ahead |
| Bangkok | — | 1 hour ahead |
| Singapore | — | same time |
| Tokyo | — | 1 hour behind |
| Seoul | — | 1 hour behind |
| Sydney | — | 3 hours behind |
| Auckland | — | 5 hours behind |
One country, one clock
China stretches across about five geographical time zones but has kept a single standard time since 1949: Beijing Time, eight hours ahead of UTC. In the far west the sun can rise after 9:00 by the clock, and in Xinjiang many people also use an unofficial local time two hours behind Beijing, so check which one a timetable or appointment uses.
China tried daylight saving time from 1986 to 1991 and dropped it. Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan are also on UTC+8 all year. The clock on this page uses your device’s time and the time zone database built into your browser.
Questions readers ask
How many time zones does China have?
Officially one. All of China, from Shanghai to Kashgar, uses Beijing Time (UTC+8), although the country spans about five geographical time zones. In Xinjiang many people also use an unofficial local Xinjiang Time, two hours behind Beijing.
Does China have daylight saving time?
No. China used daylight saving time from 1986 to 1991 and has not used it since, so Beijing Time is UTC+8 all year. The time difference with countries that do change their clocks moves by an hour twice a year.
What is the time difference between China and the US?
China is 12 hours ahead of New York in summer (EDT) and 13 in winter (EST), and 15 hours ahead of Los Angeles in summer (PDT) and 16 in winter (PST).
What is the time difference between China and the UK?
China is 7 hours ahead of London in summer (BST) and 8 hours ahead in winter (GMT).
What is the time difference between China and Australia?
Sydney is 3 hours ahead of China during Australian daylight saving time (October to April) and 2 hours ahead the rest of the year.
Are Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan on the same time as Beijing?
Yes. Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan all use UTC+8 all year, the same as Beijing Time.
When is a good time to call China?
Many offices in China work roughly 9:00 to 18:00 Beijing time on weekdays, with a lunch break around noon. The planner on this page shows those hours in your own time zone. Remember the weekend working days and public holidays in the China holiday planner.
Related tools
Sources
- Wikipedia, Time in China (Beijing Time, daylight saving 1986–1991, Xinjiang Time) · accessed 28 Oct 2026
- IANA Time Zone Database (Asia/Shanghai), via the visitor’s browser · accessed 28 Oct 2026
Update log. 28 October 2026 — published. Next review due 26 January 2027. Suggest a correction
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