Living in China: Getting Familiar with Different Times

China is a fascinating and diverse country that is home to a number of different languages, cultures, and lifestyles. This is true especially when it comes to the time in China. Whether it’s knowing where the time zone divisions are, the local customs, or understanding the traditional calendar system, there are important aspects that both residents and visitors to China must have knowledge of. With time being such an integral part of life, understanding it can be the difference between an enjoyable and successful stay in China or one full of headaches and confusion.

Time Zone Divisions in China

China is divided into four distinct time zones, which are called Beijing Time. Officially, the entire country operates on Beijing Time, except for the province of Xinjiang. This province, located in the far west of the country, follows Xinjiang Time, which is two hours ahead of Beijing Time. The times for each of the four time zones are as follows:

1. Beijing Time – GMT+8

2. Shanghai Time – GMT+8

3. Urumqi Time – GMT+6

4. Guangzhou Time – GMT+8

It’s important to be aware of these time zones whenever traveling in or around China. For example, if you’re traveling from Beijing to Shanghai, you’ll likely be arriving in the middle of the night. But, if you’re traveling from Beijing to Urumqi, you’ll arrive in the evening since it’s two hours ahead.

Local Customs

All parts of China have various customs relating to time in one way or another. For example, the Beijing clock is one hour earlier than the clock in Shanghai, meaning that the clock will be striking twelve o’clock at 11:00 p.m. in Beijing and 12:00 a.m. in Shanghai. The Chinese communicate the time through the use of Chinese characters, rather than Arabic numerals. Additionally, in Mandarin, the hour is preceded by the character for xiǎoshí, meaning “little hour”.

Traditional Chinese Calendar System

The traditional Chinese calendar system is still used today, in addition to the Gregorian calendar, which is based on the Western system. The Chinese calendar is based on the cycles of the moon and is much more complex than the Gregorian calendar. It takes into account the phases of the moon, the solar year, and the Chinese zodiac. The months are determined by the phases of the moon, with each month either having 29 or 30 days as a result.

The Chinese calendar is based on sixty-year cycles. Each one of these cycles is known as a jiéqì (節氣), which is made up of five twelve-year cycles. These are often referred to as the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Each element corresponds to two zodiac animals (for example, metal corresponds to the rat and the pig).

The year itself is made up of twelve months, which are often referred to by their element names. For example, the first month is known as the “wood month” and the last is referred to as the “water month”. Similarly, the days of the week are referred to by their element names as well: Sunday is referred to as “metal day” while Tuesday is referred to as “fire day”.

Conclusion

Understanding the time and customs in China can be challenging, but it’s essential for anyone planning to travel or live in the country. By understanding the time zone divisions, local customs, and the traditional calendar system, you can be sure to make the most of your experience in China.