Qingdao keeps UTC+8 (CST) all year. There is no daylight saving time, so the clock never changes.
Qingdao and your time
Qingdao at a glance
| Country | China |
|---|---|
| Region | Shandong |
| Time zone | Asia/Shanghai |
| Abbreviation now | CST |
| UTC offset now | UTC+8 |
| Daylight saving time | Not observed since 1991 |
| Coordinates | 36.06° N, 120.38° E |
Which time zone Qingdao uses
The clocks in Qingdao follow Asia/Shanghai and do not move with the seasons. The last daylight saving period here was in 1991. Since then the offset has stayed at UTC+8.
China spans 2 offsets. Qingdao shares its time with the capital, Beijing.
Clock changes in Qingdao, 2026 and 2027
No clock changes are scheduled in Qingdao for 2026 or 2027.
Qingdao time compared with major cities
When it is 9:00 AM in Qingdao, it is 8:00 PM (previous day) in New York, 12:00 PM in Sydney and 5:00 PM (previous day) in Los Angeles.
| City | Time now | Difference now | In January | In July | Shared office hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York (United States) | --:-- | 13 h behind | 13 h behind | 12 h behind | None |
| Los Angeles (United States) | --:-- | 16 h behind | 16 h behind | 15 h behind | None |
| London (United Kingdom) | --:-- | 8 h behind | 8 h behind | 7 h behind | None |
| Paris (France) | --:-- | 7 h behind | 7 h behind | 6 h behind | 1 h |
| Dubai (United Arab Emirates) | --:-- | 4 h behind | 4 h behind | 4 h behind | 4 h |
| Mumbai (India) | --:-- | 2 h 30 min behind | 2 h 30 min behind | 2 h 30 min behind | 5 h 30 min |
| Singapore | --:-- | Same time | Same time | Same time | 8 h |
| Tokyo (Japan) | --:-- | 1 h ahead | 1 h ahead | 1 h ahead | 7 h |
| Sydney (Australia) | --:-- | 3 h ahead | 3 h ahead | 2 h ahead | 5 h |
| UTC | --:-- | 8 h behind | 8 h behind | 8 h behind | None |
Because Qingdao keeps one offset all year, any change in the gap comes from the other city’s daylight saving time. Compare the January and July columns.
Shared office hours is the part of a 9 AM to 5 PM local working day that both cities have in common. Weekends are not taken into account.
Sunrise, sunset and day length in Qingdao
Today
| Sunrise | --:-- |
|---|---|
| Sunset | --:-- |
| Day length | -- |
| Solar noon | --:-- |
Over the year, daylight in Qingdao grows from 9 hours 42 minutes to 14 hours 37 minutes and back, a swing of 4 hours 55 minutes.
Daylight through the year in Qingdao
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | March 20 | 6:03 AM | 6:10 PM | 12 h 7 min |
| June solstice | June 21 | 4:42 AM | 7:19 PM | 14 h 37 min |
| September equinox | September 23 | 5:47 AM | 5:55 PM | 12 h 8 min |
| December solstice | December 22 | 7:06 AM | 4:48 PM | 9 h 42 min |
Clock time and sun time in Qingdao
Qingdao lies close to the centre of its time zone, so the sun is highest at about 12:00 PM on standard time, close to clock noon.
Places close to Qingdao
All the places listed below keep the same time as Qingdao.
| City | Distance | Time now | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jiaozhou | 42 km (26 mi) | --:-- | Same time |
| Nancun | 57 km (35 mi) | --:-- | Same time |
| Gaomi | 67 km (41 mi) | --:-- | Same time |
| Zhucheng | 88 km (55 mi) | --:-- | Same time |
| Pingdu | 89 km (55 mi) | --:-- | Same time |
| Laixi | 89 km (55 mi) | --:-- | Same time |
| Jingzhi | 93 km (58 mi) | --:-- | Same time |
| Dongcun | 105 km (66 mi) | --:-- | Same time |
More cities in China
All time zones and cities in China
Tools for time in Qingdao
- Convert a time to or from Qingdao: pick a date and time and see it in every city on your list.
- Add Qingdao to your world clock to keep it next to your own time.
- Find a meeting time that falls inside office hours in Qingdao and the other cities you work with.
- Open a full-screen clock for your own time zone.
Frequently asked questions
What time zone is Qingdao in?
Qingdao uses the Asia/Shanghai time zone, which is UTC+8 (CST) all year.
Does Qingdao use daylight saving time?
Not any more. Qingdao last changed its clocks for daylight saving time in 1991 and now stays on UTC+8 all year.
What is the time difference between Qingdao and New York?
Qingdao is 13 hours ahead of New York in January and 12 hours ahead of New York in July, because New York moves its clocks for daylight saving time and Qingdao does not.
Is Qingdao on the same time as Beijing?
Yes. Qingdao and Beijing both use UTC+8 right now.
How long is the longest day in Qingdao?
About 14 hours 37 minutes, around the June solstice. The shortest day, around the December solstice, has about 9 hours 42 minutes of daylight.
Time zone rules: IANA tz database, version 2026e. Place names and coordinates: GeoNames. Sunrise and sunset are calculated from the coordinates and can differ by a minute or two from local almanacs.