Business Hours in China

The Chinese government stipulates a five-day workweek and the business hour is regulated as no more than 8 hours a day and no more than 44 hours a week in the Labor Law of People's Republic of China.

The regular working time generally is from Monday to Friday, with Saturday and Sunday off. The Chinese people usually work between 08:00 and 18:00 each day, with a lunch break from 12:00 to 14:00. However, local variations may occur due to the time difference or policy in different cities. For instance, the working day in Xinjiang usually starts from 09:00 or 10:00 due to its longitude.

The working hours of Chinese companies may be from 08:00 to 17:00, 08:30 to 17:30 or 09:00 to 18:00. The official organizations like the government offices usually work from 09:00 to 17:00 with a one-hour siesta, and they do not work on Saturdays and Sundays.

Hospitals, post offices, banks and scenic sights are always open daily from 08:30-09:30 to 16:00-18:00, but the hospital clinics and its first-aid center are usually served for 24 hours. Hotels also offer the round-the-clock service to any lodger. Shops, department stores and supermarkets are open every day from 08:30-09:30 to 21:30, including public holidays. Restaurants and bars are always open from around 10:00 to the late night, sometimes even into the small hours or for all night. 

Airports and coach stations are open from the first flight and bus to the last ones, but some service counters inside them may be closed earlier, at 21:00 or 22:00. Railway stations are open round the clock as trains run all day, but service counters like left luggage are closed at 20:00 – 23:00. Most bus stations or public bus in cities stop service at 21:00 – 23:00, but large cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou has overnight buses. Taxies are available 24 hours, but it is hard to take one at peak hours (07:00 – 09:00 and 17:00 – 19:00) and shift changing hours (around 18:00 in Beijing, 17:30 – 19:30 in Guangzhou, and 15:00 – 16:30 in Xi'an).

Besides the regular days off (Saturday and Sunday), Chinese people also enjoy the holidays of Chinese New Year (Spring Festival), Qingming Festival, May Day, Dragon Boat Day, Mid-Autumn Day, National Day, and New Year's Day. Take the Chinese New Year for an example. According to the state regulations, Chinese people can take three days off, including the December 30th, January 1st and January 2nd of the Chinese lunar calendar. So, during this time, most sectors are closed. Only some service sectors, like banks, post offices, tourist companies and railway stations, are open.