Hong Kong to Shanghai
+0hHong Kong
HKTSOURCEShanghai
CSTGreen rows indicate typical business hours (9 AM - 5 PM)
HKT and CST on the World Map
The map below highlights the HKT (Hong Kong Time) and CST (China Standard Time) timezone regions across the globe.
HKT – Hong Kong Time
UTC+08:00Hong Kong Time (HKT, UTC+08:00) is the time zone for Hong Kong, 8 hours ahead of UTC.
- •Hong Kong does not observe daylight saving time and has kept UTC+08:00 since 1979.
- •HKT shares its offset with China Standard Time, Singapore Time and Philippine Time.
- •The Hong Kong Stock Exchange opens at 09:30 HKT.
- •Hong Kong Time does not change with the seasons, so its gap to other zones is fixed.
CST – China Standard Time
UTC+08:00China Standard Time (CST) covers all of mainland China, 8 hours ahead of UTC.
- •China uses a single time zone despite spanning 5 geographical zones.
- •In Xinjiang (western China), sunset can be as late as midnight in summer.
- •China abolished daylight saving time in 1991.
- •The Shanghai Stock Exchange operates on CST/Beijing Time.
About Hong Kong
WikipediaHong Kong Time (HKT) is UTC+8 with no daylight saving. As a major financial gateway to China, Hong Kong trading hours overlap with European morning sessions.
The city has one of the world's most efficient and affordable public transit systems.
About Shanghai
WikipediaShanghai operates on China Standard Time (CST), UTC+8. As China's economic powerhouse and home to the SSE, Shanghai time is essential for global investors.
The Maglev train from Shanghai airport reaches 431 km/h, the fastest commercial train in the world.
Hong Kong to Shanghai Time Difference – Complete Guide
Hong Kong runs on Hong Kong Standard Time (HKT) at UTC+08:00. Shanghai runs on China Standard Time (CST) at UTC+08:00. That puts Hong Kong no time difference Shanghai — a difference of +0h at the current offsets.
In practice, when it is 9:00 AM in Hong Kong it is 9:00 AM in Shanghai. Midnight in Hong Kong is 12:00 AM in Shanghai. Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the offset between them stays constant all year.
Hong Kong to Shanghai time conversion table
| Hong Kong (HKT) | Shanghai (CST) | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 AM | 12:00 AM | same day |
| 6:00 AM | 6:00 AM | same day |
| 7:00 AM | 7:00 AM | same day |
| 8:00 AM | 8:00 AM | same day |
| 9:00 AM | 9:00 AM | same day |
| 12:00 PM | 12:00 PM | same day |
| 3:00 PM | 3:00 PM | same day |
| 5:00 PM | 5:00 PM | same day |
| 6:00 PM | 6:00 PM | same day |
| 9:00 PM | 9:00 PM | same day |
Why people convert Hong Kong to Shanghai time
- Scheduling a call from Hong Kong to Shanghai: a 10:00 AM start in Hong Kong lands at 10:00 AM in Shanghai, so you can confirm the slot without doing the arithmetic yourself.
- Finding shared working hours: both Hong Kong and Shanghai are inside the 9-to-5 working day between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM HKT time (9:00 AM–5:00 PM CST). That is roughly 8 hours of usable overlap.
- Watching a live event or market open: Hong Kong viewers need 9:00 AM in Shanghai to catch a 9:00 AM start there, and 12:00 AM if the event is anchored to Hong Kong.
- Always state the zone abbreviation, not just the hour. "3:00 PM HKT" is unambiguous; "3 PM" across a +0h gap is not.
- Block 9:00 AM–5:00 PM HKT as the recurring meeting window if you work primarily from Hong Kong and need Shanghai colleagues present.
About HKT (Hong Kong Time)
Hong Kong Time (HKT) is fixed at UTC+08:00 all year and does not observe daylight saving time. Hong Kong last used summer time in 1979 and has kept a single offset since. HKT shares the UTC+08:00 offset with China Standard Time, Singapore Time, Malaysian Time, Philippine Time and Australian Western Standard Time, but is listed separately because Hong Kong maintains its own timekeeping authority. As a major financial centre, Hong Kong's trading hours set the rhythm for markets across Asia, opening at 09:30 HKT which is 01:30 in London and 20:30 the previous evening in New York.
About CST (China Standard Time)
China Standard Time (CST, also known as Beijing Time) is used across all of mainland China despite the country spanning five geographical time zones. This single-timezone policy was adopted in 1949. China does not observe daylight saving time. CST is shared with Hong Kong (HKT), Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines, making UTC+08:00 one of the most used offsets in the world.
Best time to call between Hong Kong and Shanghai
Both Hong Kong and Shanghai sit inside the 9 AM – 5 PM working day between 9:00 AM–5:00 PM HKT, which is 9:00 AM–5:00 PM CST. That gives roughly 8 hours of shared time — the safest window for a live call or meeting.
Business hours overlap
Hong Kong and Shanghai share 8 hours of working-hours overlap (9:00 AM–5:00 PM HKT), so scheduling a live meeting is straightforward.
Hong Kong is no time difference Shanghai (HKT UTC+08:00 → CST UTC+08:00). The shared working window is 9:00 AM–5:00 PM HKT. Remember to re-check around daylight-saving transitions.
Learn More About Time
Dive deeper into the fascinating world of timekeeping, time zones, and how they shape our global society:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between Hong Kong and Shanghai?
Hong Kong (HKT, UTC+08:00) is no time difference Shanghai (CST, UTC+08:00). The gap is currently +0h.
How do I convert Hong Kong time to Shanghai time?
Add +0h to Hong Kong local time. For example, 9:00 AM in Hong Kong is 9:00 AM in Shanghai.
What time is it in Shanghai right now?
Shanghai uses CST at UTC+08:00. Use the live converter at the top of this page — it updates in real time and already accounts for the +0h offset from Hong Kong.
What is the best time to call Shanghai from Hong Kong?
Call between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM HKT — that maps to 9:00 AM–5:00 PM CST and keeps both parties inside the working day.
Which is ahead, Hong Kong or Shanghai?
Hong Kong and Shanghai are currently on the same clock.
Do Hong Kong and Shanghai use different time zones?
Hong Kong (Hong Kong) uses HKT at UTC+08:00, while Shanghai (China) uses CST at UTC+08:00. The IANA identifiers are Asia/Hong_Kong and Asia/Shanghai.
Does daylight saving time affect the Hong Kong–Shanghai difference?
Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the +0h offset between Hong Kong and Shanghai is fixed all year.
Which other cities share Hong Kong's time zone?
HKT also covers Hong Kong, Kowloon, Tsuen Wan, Sha Tin.
Which countries use HKT, Hong Kong's zone?
HKT is used in Hong Kong SAR.
What is the time difference between Hong Kong and Shanghai?
Shanghai is +0h from Hong Kong.
What timezone is Hong Kong in?
Hong Kong Time (HKT) is UTC+8 with no daylight saving. As a major financial gateway to China, Hong Kong trading hours overlap with European morning sessions.
What timezone is Shanghai in?
Shanghai operates on China Standard Time (CST), UTC+8. As China's economic powerhouse and home to the SSE, Shanghai time is essential for global investors.
What are the business hours in Hong Kong?
Standard business hours in Hong Kong are 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM HKT.
What are the business hours in Shanghai?
Standard business hours in Shanghai are 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM CST.
What is the best time to schedule a call between Hong Kong and Shanghai?
The best overlap for a call is when both cities are in business hours. Hong Kong works 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM HKT and Shanghai works 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM CST (+0h difference). Try scheduling during the overlapping window for maximum convenience.
What currencies are used in Hong Kong and Shanghai?
Hong Kong uses HKD (HK$) while Shanghai uses CNY (¥). Check current exchange rates when planning travel or business between these cities.
How do Hong Kong and Shanghai compare in size?
Hong Kong has a population of approximately 7.5 million (metro: 7.5 million), while Shanghai has approximately 24.9 million (metro: 28.5 million).
What are the major landmarks in Hong Kong and Shanghai?
Hong Kong is known for Victoria Peak, Tian Tan Buddha, Victoria Harbour. Shanghai is famous for The Bund, Oriental Pearl Tower, Yu Garden.
Do Hong Kong and Shanghai have stock exchanges?
Yes. Hong Kong has the HKEX (Hong Kong Stock Exchange) and Shanghai has the SSE (Shanghai Stock Exchange). The +0h time difference affects trading hour overlaps between these exchanges.
Which countries use HKT (Hong Kong Time)?
HKT is used in Hong Kong SAR.
Does HKT observe daylight saving time?
No, HKT does not observe daylight saving time and remains at UTC+08:00 year-round.
What are some interesting facts about HKT?
Hong Kong does not observe daylight saving time and has kept UTC+08:00 since 1979. HKT shares its offset with China Standard Time, Singapore Time and Philippine Time.
Which cities are in the CST timezone?
Major cities in the CST timezone include Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Hong Kong, Taipei, Wuhan.
What is the UTC offset for CST?
China Standard Time (CST) is at UTC+08:00.
What should I know about the CST timezone?
China uses a single time zone despite spanning 5 geographical zones. In Xinjiang (western China), sunset can be as late as midnight in summer.
When is it midnight in Hong Kong, what time is it in Shanghai?
When it is 12:00 AM (midnight) in Hong Kong (HKT), it is +0h later in Shanghai (CST).
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