What Time Is It in China Right Now?

Introduction

Doing business in China requires a working knowledge of the local time. It is important to recognize the time zone differences whenever transactions or communications are done between countries. China has only one time zone, so the time throughout the nation is the same. This blog aims to help you understand what time is it in China right now.

Time Zone

China is located in the China Standard Time zone (CST or GMT+8). This is 8 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). This means that when midnight strikes in Greenwich, the clock in China reads 8.00am. Since the introduction of Daylight Saving Time in the country, UTC+8 is the time difference year-round.

Clocks and Calendars

The official time measurement in China is based on their national standard called ‘Beijing Time’. This is the same time as in ‘Beijing’. Other abbreviations also use this time measurement, such as ‘CST’ or ‘GMT +8’.

The official calendar used in China is the Chinese Calendar which is lunisolar-time based. This calendar deviates from the Gregorian Calendar, however, the Chinese calendar follows 12 months and is calculated based on the rotation of the Moon. New Years Day is calculated based on the Chinese calendar with the new day, typically beginning at midnight between 4th and 5th January.

Time Now

At the time of writing this blog, the time in China is currently 14:30. Setting your clocks according to this time is essential if doing business in China. The time difference should be taken into consideration when planning any calls or correspondence between you and any persons in the country.

Conclusion

It is important to always check and be aware of the local time in China if you are doing business or communicating with anyone in the country. China has only one time zone, China Standard Time (CST or GMT +8) and the official calendar is the Chinese Calendar. Currently, the time in China is 14:30.