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By political policy, China maintains a single time zone, which is eight hours ahead of the [[Coordinated Universal Time]] ([[UTC+8]]). Before the [[Chinese Civil War]] in 1949 there were five time zones in China{{fact|data=2011|date=January 2011}}. |
By political policy, China maintains a single time zone, which is eight hours ahead of the [[Coordinated Universal Time]] ([[UTC+8]]). Before the [[Chinese Civil War]] in 1949 there were five time zones in China{{fact|data=2011|date=January 2011}}. |
Revision as of 06:38, 10 February 2011
By political policy, China maintains a single time zone, which is eight hours ahead of the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+8). Before the Chinese Civil War in 1949 there were five time zones in China[citation needed].
Although all jurisdictions within the region are placed under the same time zone, for historical and political reasons, different jurisdictions keep their own time standard with their own names.
- The People's Republic of China maintains the time standard called Beijing Time (北京时间) domestically but is commonly referred to as China Standard Time internationally.
- In Hong Kong, the standard is called Hong Kong Time.
- In Macau, the standard is called Macau Standard Time.
- In Taiwan, the standard is officially called National Standard Time (國家標準時間) but has been commonly referred to as Chungyuan Standard Time (中原標準時間, Central Standard Time), Taipei Time (台北時間), and since late 2000s Taiwan Standard Time (台灣標準時間).
History
Time zones were first set up and made official in China in 1912 under the Republic of China. The country was divided into five time zones, namely GMT+5.5, GMT+6, GMT+7, GMT+8 and GMT+8.5. Before that, time varied, while astrological predictions were conducted according to the time standard based on the locations of then capitals of the imperial dynasties.[citation needed] A summer time was observed in 1919 in Tianjin and Shanghai, and parts of China from 1935 to 1962.[citation needed]
After the Chinese Civil War in 1949. the People's Republic of China established one single time zone (UTC+8) for the entirety of its claimed territories, while the [Republic of China] continued to place the remaining territories of Taiwan under the UTC+8 time zone. In other words, although the two had different policies, the outcome was that they were all placed under the same time zone.
Until 1997, Hong Kong and 1999, Macau had, respectively, been colonies of the United Kingdom and Portugal. Despite being part of the People's Republic of China today, as special administrative regions they have retained their own policies regarding time zones over the respective regions. Due to their geographical locations, both are within the GMT/UTC+8 time zone.
Republic of China from 1912 to 1949
In 1912, the Central Observatory of the Republic of China in Peking (now romanised as Beijing) divided the country into five time zones, namely Kunlun Time Zone (GMT+5.5), [#Sinkiang-Tibet|Sinkiang-Tibet Time Zone] GMT+6, Kansu-Szechuan Time Zone (GMT+7). Chungyuan Standard Time Zone (GMT+8), and Changpai Time Zone (GMT+8.5). These time zones were ratified in 1939 in the standard time conference of the Ministry of Interior of the Executive Yuan.
These time zones were no longer in effective use after 1949.when the PRC was established on mainland China, as the new government had its own policies regarding the time zones on mainland China. However, as the ROC still claimed that it had sovereignty over mainland China, the time zones that were assigned in 1912 are still in use in the view of the Government of the ROC, which had retreated to Taiwan. Some government departments on Taiwan still refer to the time on Taiwan as "Central Standard Time".
People's Republic of China
After the Chinese Civil War, in 1949, a unified time zone - GMT+08 - was established by the People's Republic of China for all its territories, called Beijing Time (sometimes known as Chinese Standard Time). Daylight saving time was observed from 1986 to 1991.[1]
The unified time zone policy was adopted by the Communist Party of China or the People's Republic government some time between 27 September 1949, and 6 October 1949. The exact date is unknown, due to poor documentation of government policy decisions at the founding of the People's Republic of China, and the fact that the PRC government had not yet gained control over significant parts of mainland China at this time. However, recent research suggests that the policy was most likely adopted on 27 September 1949.[2]
Although the only official time zone in the PRC is Beijing Time, the People's Congress of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, due to its geographical location in the westernmost part of the country, proclaimed Ürümqi Time (UTC+6), two hours behind Beijing. Although this is not officially recognized, it is the time observed locally by most residents. Most stores and government offices in Xinjiang have modified opening hours, commonly running from 10am to 7pm Beijing Time. Times for buses, trains, and other public transportation are often given in Xinjiang time, regardless of the ethnicity of the speaker.[3]
Hong Kong
As a Special Administrative Region Hong Kong maintains its own time. Hong Kong Time is UTC+8 all year round. Due to longitude, Hong Kong has the same time as that in the rest of China. Therefore, Hong Kong Time is actually in the same time zone as the Chinese Standard Time. Greenwich Mean Time was adopted as the basis in 1904, and UTC was adopted as a standard in 1972. Before that, local time was determined by astronomical observations at the Hong Kong Observatory using a 6-inch Lee Equatorial and a 3-inch Transit Circle.
Macau
As a Special Administrative Region Macau maintains its own time. Macao Standard Time[4] (Chinese: 澳門標準時間; Portuguese: Hora Oficial de Macau[5] ) is the time in Macau. The time is UTC+8 all year round, and daylight saving time is not applied. Macau Standard Time is in the same time zone as China Standard Time, also known as Beijing Standard Time or simply Beijing Time used in the rest of China, and Hong Kong Time in Hong Kong. There was daylight saving time in the past.[citation needed]
See also
External links
Government departments responsible for time services:
- National Time Service Center, the Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Hong Kong Observatory (Hong Kong)
- Direccão dos Servicos Meterológicos e Geofisicos (Macau)
References
- ^ "Chinese political advisors make suggestions on resource saving". Chinese Government's Official Web Portal. People's Republic of China. 7 July 2007. Retrieved 26 July 2008.
China tried out summer time from 1986 to 1991.
- ^ Guo, Qingsheng (2003) "Beijing Time at the Beginning of PRC", China Historical Materials of Science and Technology 24(1)
- ^ "The Working-Calendar for The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Government". The Government of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Region of China. Retrieved 26 July 2008.
Urumqi Time (GMT+6) is 2 hours behind Beijing Time
- ^ Macao Standard Time, Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau
- ^ [1]