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Working Hours

The government stipulates a five-day workweek that spans Monday to Friday. Normal working hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a one-hour lunch break. Almost all government offices, institutions, schools, and other official units do not work on Saturday and Sunday.

Hospitals, post offices, banks, monuments, and museums are usually open seven days a week from 8:30 or 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Hospital emergency clinics are open even when the rest of the hospital is closed to visitors.

Shops usually remain open from 8:30 or 9:00 a.m. to 8 p.m. everyday, including public holidays.

Restaurants and bars stay open later at night. It is possible to eat as late as 10:00 p.m., and some open-air restaurants even stay open into the small hours of the night. You will find that these times are approximate and subject to local variations. For example, in western Chinese cities, such as Xinjiang, offices often open later due to the time difference with Beijing time.