The time zones of China refer to the time zone divisions used in China between 1918 and 1949. The first time zone plan was proposed by the Central Observatory (now Beijing Ancient Observatory) of the Beiyang government in Peking (Beijing) in 1918. The proposal divided the country into five time zones: Kunlun (UTC+05:30), Sinkiang-Tibet (UTC+06:00), Kansu-Szechwan (UTC+07:00), Chungyuan (UTC+08:00) and Chinghai (UTC+08:30). These time zones were ratified in 1939 by the Nationalist government in the Standard Time Conference, hosted by the Ministry of Interior of Executive Yuan. Because of the Second Sino-Japanese War, it was also stated that Kansu-Szechwan time shall be the sole national time during the war time. After the war in 1945, these five times zones were implemented nationwide. In 1949, after the Chinese Civil War, the Central People's Government abolished the five time zones and announced to use a single time zone UTC+08:00 named Beijing Time (). The term Chungyuan Standard Time () was still used by the Government of the Republic of China on Taiwan until the early 2000s.
Overview of the time zones Times zones of China from 1918 to 1949 (incl. claimed territories)Color Time offsetUTC+05:30UTC+06:00UTC+07:00UTC+08:00UTC+08:30NameKunlunSinkiang-TibetKansu-SzechwanChungyuanChangpaiChinesePinyinName originKunlun MountainsSinkiang (Xinjiang) and TibetKansu (Gansu) and Szechwan (Sichuan)Central PlainChangpai (Changbai) MountainsRef. longitude82°30′E90°E105°E120°E127°30′EApprox. presentday tz database
Time zones and administrative divisions Time zoneHistorical administrative divisions (as of 1945–49)Present administrative divisionsKunlun(UTC+05:30) Western part of Sinkiang Western part of Tibet Area Western part of Tibet Autonomous Region Western part of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous RegionSinkiang-Tibet(UTC+06:00) Eastern part of Sinkiang Eastern part of Tibet Area Western part of Sikang Western part of Tsinghai Western part of Mongolia Area (until 1946) Eastern part of Tibet Autonomous Region Eastern part of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Western part of Qinghai Western part of Mongolia Tuva Republic of RussiaKansu-Szechwan(UTC+07:00) Kansu Kwangsi Kweichow Ningsia Shensi Suiyuan Szechwan Yunnan Eastern part of Sikang Eastern part of Tsinghai Central part of Mongolia Area (until 1946) Municipality of Chongqing Gansu Guizhou Shaanxi Sichuan Yunnan Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Western part of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Eastern part of Qinghai Central part of MongoliaChungyuan(UTC+08:00) Anhwei Chahar Chekiang Fukien Honan Hopeh Hsingan Hunan Hupeh Jehol Kiangsi Kiangsu Kwangtung Liaoning Liaopeh Shansi Shantung Taiwan (after 1945) Eastern part of the Mongolia Area (until 1946) Hainan Special Administrative Region (split from Kwangtung in 1949) Municipality of Beijing Municipality of Kaohsiung Municipality of New Taipei Municipality of Shanghai Municipality of Taichung Municipality of Tainan Municipality of Taipei Municipality of Taoyuan Municipality of Tianjin Anhui PRC part of Fujian ROC part of Fujian (Kinmen and Matsu Islands) Guangdong Hong Kong and Macau Hainan Hebei Henan Hubei Hunan Jiangsu Jiangxi Shandong Shanxi Taiwan (including Penghu) Zhejiang Eastern part of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Western part of Liaoning Eastern part of MongoliaChangpai(UTC+08:30) Antung Heilungkiang Hokiang Kirin Nunkiang Sungkiang Heilongjiang Jilin Eastern part of Liaoning
See also Time in China Time zones
References