Shanghai Time Now - Current Time in China
Time Zone
UTC+8 (China Standard Time)
Daylight Saving
Not observed
Longitude
121.4737° E
Latitude
31.2304° N
Shanghai, China - Time Information
Shanghai is the largest city in China and one of the world's leading financial centers, located on the eastern coast of China at the mouth of the Yangtze River. As China's economic, financial, trade, and shipping hub, Shanghai boasts one of the world's busiest container ports and a skyline filled with modern skyscrapers. Shanghai follows China Standard Time (CST), which is UTC+8, and like the rest of mainland China, does not observe Daylight Saving Time adjustments throughout the year.
China Standard Time (CST) is the official time standard used throughout China. It is 8 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+8). Unlike the United States and European countries, China does not implement Daylight Saving Time, ensuring consistent time year-round which simplifies time management and global business coordination.
Time Difference from Shanghai to Major Cities
| City | Time Difference | Current Time |
|---|---|---|
| New York | -12/-13 hours | |
| London | -8 hours | |
| Tokyo | +1 hour | |
| Sydney | +2/+3 hours | |
| Los Angeles | -15/-16 hours |
*Time differences may vary during DST changes in other regions. Shanghai (CST) is 8 hours ahead of UTC year-round.
Shanghai Time vs New York Time Comparison
Shanghai time is 12 hours ahead of New York (in winter) or 13 hours ahead (in summer). This means when it's 3:00 PM in Shanghai, it's typically 2:00-3:00 AM in New York. This significant time difference has important implications for business communications and remote meeting arrangements between China and the United States.
Since New York observes Daylight Saving Time but Shanghai maintains the same standard time year-round, the time difference between the two cities varies with the seasons. As international financial centers, the time difference between Shanghai and New York is particularly important for global financial market trading schedules. Keep this in mind when arranging international video conferences and business activities.
Frequently Asked Questions about Shanghai Time
What time is it in Shanghai now?
The current time in Shanghai is displayed at the top of this page. Shanghai follows China Standard Time (CST, UTC+8) year-round.
What is the time difference between Shanghai and New York?
Shanghai is 12 hours ahead of New York (during standard time) or 13 hours ahead (during Daylight Saving Time). The exact difference depends on whether New York is observing DST.
Does Shanghai observe Daylight Saving Time?
No, Shanghai does not observe Daylight Saving Time. China has not used DST since 1992, maintaining a consistent UTC+8 time zone throughout the year.
How do I set my device to Shanghai Time?
On most devices, you can set your time zone to "UTC+8" or choose "(GMT+08:00) Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Urumqi" or "Asia/Shanghai" from the time zone menu in your system settings.
How can I get the exact current time in Shanghai?
The current Shanghai time is displayed at the top of this page. Shanghai time is the same as Beijing time, both following China's official standard time based on the National Time Service Center. You can get accurate Shanghai time from this website, the National Time Service Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, or the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory website.
Is Shanghai time the same as Beijing time?
Yes, Shanghai and Beijing use the same time standard. All of China uniformly uses Beijing time (UTC+8) as the standard time, so whether you're in Shanghai, Beijing, or any other city in China, the standard time is the same.
About Shanghai Time
Need to know the current time in Shanghai, China? World Time offers accurate real-time clock for Shanghai, including China Standard Time (CST) information and live comparisons with cities like New York, London, Tokyo, and Sydney. This page helps travelers, business professionals, and global teams coordinate meetings across time zones.
As China's economic center and international metropolis, Shanghai attracts numerous multinational companies and financial institutions. Understanding the time difference between Shanghai and major cities around the world is particularly important for global business professionals, investors, and employees of multinational companies. Located on China's eastern coast, Shanghai has minimal time differences with Asian financial centers like Tokyo and Hong Kong, but significant time differences with western financial centers like New York and London, which has important implications for global financial market trading times and cross-time zone collaboration.