Xinjiang lies in the far northwest of China and is the country’s largest province. When you arrive there – especially in the south – you might not feel like you’re still in China, despite the Chinese characters on every shop sign. Beyond the differences in people and culture, time in Xinjiang also follows its own way, quite different from the rest of the country.
In this complete guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about the time in Xinjiang.
Table of Contents
What is the time zone of Xinjiang?
Even though Xinjiang is about 2,400 kilometres away from Beijing and sits 23 degrees of longitude to the west, it still follows Beijing Time. This policy was made by the Chinese government to maintain national unity and make communication across the country easier.
So, although Xinjiang is geographically in the UTC+6 time zone – close to Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar – it officially runs on Beijing Time, which is UTC+8.
So basically, the literal time in Xinjiang is eight hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Let’s look at a simple example to understand what that means in daily life.
- When its 0:00AM in London (UTC), its 08:00AM in Xinjiang
- When its 1:00AM in New York (UTC-5), ts 14:00PM in Xinjiang
- When its 9:00AM in Astana (UTC+5), its 12:00PM in Xinjiang.
- When its 8AM in Beijing （UTC+8），its 8:00AM in Xinjiang!
Here’s a simple list showing the time in Xinjiang compared with major world time zones and cities connected by direct flights. It gives you a clear idea of how the time difference might affect travellers.
- Almaty(ALMT): 3 hours ahead.
- Moscow (MSK): 5 hours ahead.
- Istanbul (TRT): 5 hours ahead.
- Kuala Lumpur (MYT): The time is identically the same.
Does Daylight Saving Time Exist in Xinjiang?
Since Xinjiang follows Beijing Time and China doesn’t use daylight saving time, this has a big impact on how locals organise their daily routines. It also makes things easier for travellers when planning a trip. Major attractions, restaurants, and hotels keep the same opening hours throughout the year, which makes processing information and scheduling activities much simpler.
The Uniqueness of Time in Xinjiang
Because Xinjiang lies in the UTC+6 zone but follows Beijing Time (UTC+8), its local schedule is quite unique within China. For example, during summer (from 1 May to 30 September), people usually work from 10:00 to 14:00 and then from 16:00 to 20:00. In winter (from 1 October to 30 April), working hours shift slightly to 10:00–14:00 and 15:30–19:30. So, if you need to handle any business in Xinjiang, such as exchanging currency at a bank, make sure to keep this special timetable in mind.
Tips For Adjusting to the Time in Xinjiang
It’s very important for travellers to adjust to the time in Xinjiang. Here are some practical tips to help you prepare:
- Check your phone: Most smartphones automatically update to the local time zone based on your location, but this feature might be turned off in your settings. Make sure to check your phone’s time settings before heading to Xinjiang.
- Use world clock apps: Add China to your world clock app so you can quickly compare the time in Xinjiang with other places.
- Bring a dual-time watch: If you prefer checking time the old-school way, a dual-time watch that shows both Xinjiang time and your home time can be really handy.
Conclusion
Adjusting to and embracing the time in Xinjiang is an important part of preparing for your trip. This distinctive way of keeping time reflects the region’s cultural differences from the rest of China – quite distinct, yet gradually blending under national policy.
So, set your watch accordingly and get ready to enjoy your fascinating and exciting journey in Xinjiang with YPT.
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