Time in China now
China runs on 2 different clocks, because its zones sit at different offsets or change for summer at different times. The times are worked out from the time zone database that every phone and computer uses.
Sunrise and sunset in Shanghai.
Worked out for the coordinates of Shanghai from the position of the sun, and updated every minute. On the longest day of 2026 the sun is up there for 14h 11m, and on the shortest day for 10h 7m.
- Sunrise
- Sunset
- Day length
- Solar noon
- Moon phase
- Moon lit
Public holidays in China, 2026.
The 22 public holiday dates for 2026, with the days left to each one counted from today. Dates come from the open source holidays library.
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1JanNew Year's DayThursday · Passed
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2JanDay off (substituted from 01/04/2026)Friday · Passed
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16FebChinese New Year's EveMonday · Passed
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17FebChinese New Year (Spring Festival)Tuesday · Passed
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18FebChinese New Year (Spring Festival)Wednesday · Passed
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19FebChinese New Year (Spring Festival)Thursday · Passed
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20FebDay off (substituted from 02/14/2026)Friday · Passed
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23FebDay off (substituted from 02/28/2026)Monday · Passed
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5AprTomb-Sweeping DaySunday · Passed
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6AprTomb-Sweeping Day (observed)Monday · Passed
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1MayLabor DayFriday · Passed
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2MayLabor DaySaturday · Passed
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4MayLabor Day (observed)Monday · Passed
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5MayDay off (substituted from 05/09/2026)Tuesday · Passed
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19JunDragon Boat FestivalFriday · Passed
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25SepMid-Autumn FestivalFriday · In 9 days
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1OctNational DayThursday · In 15 days
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2OctNational DayFriday · In 16 days
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3OctNational DaySaturday · In 17 days
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5OctNational Day (observed)Monday · In 19 days
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6OctDay off (substituted from 09/20/2026)Tuesday · In 20 days
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7OctDay off (substituted from 10/10/2026)Wednesday · In 21 days
Shanghai compared with other cities.
How the clock in Shanghai lines up with cities around the world, right now. The last column counts from Shanghai, not from where you are.
| City | Country | Local time | From Shanghai |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | Eastern Time | --:-- | |
| Chicago | Central Time | --:-- | |
| Denver | Mountain Time | --:-- | |
| Phoenix | Mountain Time without daylight saving | --:-- | |
| Los Angeles | Pacific Time | --:-- | |
| Honolulu | Hawaii-Aleutian Time | --:-- | |
| London | United Kingdom | --:-- | |
| Dubai | United Arab Emirates | --:-- | |
| Tokyo | Japan | --:-- | |
| Sydney | Australia | --:-- |
Clock changes in China.
China does not change its clocks for summer, so the time difference with countries that do shifts twice a year.
Countries in Europe and North America move their clocks in spring and autumn. Their difference from Shanghai therefore changes by an hour twice a year, while the clock in Shanghai stays where it is.
Countries on the same time as Shanghai.
These countries keep the same standard offset from Coordinated Universal Time, UTC+8, so their clocks read the same for most of the year. See every country on the countries page.
Quick answers about time in the United States.
Short, clear answers about US time zones, daylight saving time and federal holidays.
01
What time is it in China now?
The clock at the top of this page shows the current time in Shanghai and it updates every second. The other columns show the rest of the country, because China spans 2 clocks.
02
How many time zones does China have?
China keeps 2 different clocks, from UTC+6 in the west to UTC+8 in the east. The strip at the top of this page shows each one with the zone names it covers, such as Asia/Shanghai and Asia/Urumqi.
03
Does China use daylight saving time?
No. China stays on UTC+8 all year, so the clock never moves. Countries that do change their clocks come one hour closer or one hour further away twice a year.
04
What is the UTC offset in China?
Shanghai is UTC+8 all year. The offset next to the clock above is worked out live, so it already includes any daylight saving time in force today.
05
What is the time difference between China and New York?
Shanghai is 13 hours ahead of New York in winter and 12 hours ahead of New York in summer. The table above updates as the clocks move.
06
What is the time difference between China and London?
Shanghai is 8 hours ahead of London in winter and 7 hours ahead of London in summer. The table above updates as the clocks move.
07
What is the time difference between China and New Delhi?
Shanghai is 2.5 hours ahead of New Delhi all year. The table above updates as the clocks move.
08
When is the next public holiday in China?
The holiday list on this page counts the days to the next date from today. In 2026 the first public holiday is New Year's Day on Thursday, 1 January 2026 and the last is Day off (substituted from 10/10/2026) on Wednesday, 7 October 2026.
09
How many public holidays does China have in 2026?
22 public holiday dates are listed for 2026, and 11 of them fall on a Monday or a Friday, which makes a long weekend.
10
What time does the sun rise and set in Shanghai?
Today's sunrise, sunset, day length and solar noon for Shanghai are in the sun and moon section above, worked out from the position of the sun. On the longest day of 2026 the sun is up for 14h 11m, and on the shortest day for 10h 7m.