Offset
The time difference between China Standard Time and Coordinated Universal Time is 8 hours.
China Standard Time (CST) is ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
CST: UTC+8
UTC: UTC
Neither China Standard Time nor Coordinated Universal Time is currently observing daylight saving time.
When to schedule
Standard business hours (9 AM–5 PM, Mon–Fri) in China Standard Time and Coordinated Universal Time don't overlap on the same weekday. Coordinated Universal Time is 8 hours behind China Standard Time.
With some flexibility, there’s a workable window outside standard hours:
- 3 PM–8 PM in China Standard Time (7 AM–12 PM in Coordinated Universal Time) — suggest 5:00 PM China Standard Time (9:00 AM Coordinated Universal Time).
This means an early start or late finish for one side, but it’s a reasonable slot for a one-off meeting.
Public holidays in 2026
National public holidays can affect availability — a counterpart is likely off work on their own holidays, so it's worth planning meetings and deadlines around them.
China
- New Year's DayThu, Jan 1
- Chinese New Year (Spring Festival)Tue, Feb 17
- Labour DayFri, May 1
- Dragon Boat FestivalFri, Jun 19
- Mid-Autumn FestivalFri, Sep 25
- National DayThu, Oct 1
About these zones
China Standard Time is also known as CST. To call China, dial +86.
Coordinated Universal Time is also known as UTC.
Coordinated Universal Time is approximately 8,050 miles west of China Standard Time.
Quick reference
Full 24-hour conversion table — tap any time to open it in the converter.
| CST-CHINA | UTC | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | 4:00 pm | -1 day |
| 1:00 am | 5:00 pm | -1 day |
| 2:00 am | 6:00 pm | -1 day |
| 3:00 am | 7:00 pm | -1 day |
| 4:00 am | 8:00 pm | -1 day |
| 5:00 am | 9:00 pm | -1 day |
| 6:00 am | 10:00 pm | -1 day |
| 7:00 am | 11:00 pm | -1 day |
| 8:00 am | 12:00 am | Same day |
| 9:00 am | 1:00 am | Same day |
| 10:00 am | 2:00 am | Same day |
| 11:00 am | 3:00 am | Same day |
| 12:00 pm | 4:00 am | Same day |
| 1:00 pm | 5:00 am | Same day |
| 2:00 pm | 6:00 am | Same day |
| 3:00 pm | 7:00 am | Same day |
| 4:00 pm | 8:00 am | Same day |
| 5:00 pm | 9:00 am | Same day |
| 6:00 pm | 10:00 am | Same day |
| 7:00 pm | 11:00 am | Same day |
| 8:00 pm | 12:00 pm | Same day |
| 9:00 pm | 1:00 pm | Same day |
| 10:00 pm | 2:00 pm | Same day |
| 11:00 pm | 3:00 pm | Same day |
Daylight saving time
Neither China Standard Time nor Coordinated Universal Time observes daylight saving time. The offset between these zones remains constant year-round.
See the daylight saving time page for transition dates across every time zone.
Daylight today
- Sunrise
- 4:51 AM
- Sunset
- 6:56 PM
- Day length
- 14h 5m
- Sunrise
- 5:56 AM
- Sunset
- 6:03 PM
- Day length
- 12h 7m
Daylight overlap: 5h — 1:56 PM–6:56 PM in China Standard Time (5:56 AM–10:56 AM in Coordinated Universal Time). Both locations are in daylight during this window.
Cities in these zones
Cities in China Standard Time
Browse all cities to see the current local time anywhere.
Airports in these zones
Airports in China Standard Time
- PVG
- SHA
- PEK
- PKX
- SZX
- CAN
- FUO
- CTU
- TFU
- TSN
Related conversions
Common conversions
- What is 9:00 am CST-CHINA in UTC?
- 9:00 am CST-CHINA is 1:00 am UTC.
- What is 12:00 pm CST-CHINA in UTC?
- 12:00 pm CST-CHINA is 4:00 am UTC.
- What is 12:30 pm CST-CHINA in UTC?
- 12:30 pm CST-CHINA is 4:30 am UTC.
- What is 2:00 pm CST-CHINA in UTC?
- 2:00 pm CST-CHINA is 6:00 am UTC.
- What is 5:00 pm CST-CHINA in UTC?
- 5:00 pm CST-CHINA is 9:00 am UTC.
- What is 11:30 pm CST-CHINA in UTC?
- 11:30 pm CST-CHINA is 3:30 pm UTC.