World Business Hub

Doing Business in China: Time, Currency and Market Guide

See China business hours, Beijing time, local currency, and a market reference before you call or email.

Country snapshot

CapitalBeijing
Currency Renminbi yuan (CNY)
Time zoneAsia/Shanghai
Business weekMonday to Friday
Stock exchangeShanghai Stock Exchange
Market codeSSE

Time now

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Doing business in China

China remains one of the most important business markets globally, especially for manufacturing, sourcing, trade, technology, and international supply chains. The time difference with Europe is significant but still manageable with a planned overlap window. UK teams often work best with early-morning communication and well-structured follow-up messages.

Business etiquette and practical notes

Preparation matters. Share agendas in advance, keep communication respectful, and use written summaries to reduce ambiguity after meetings.

Currency converter

1 CNY to selected home currency
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Rates update from a daily exchange-rate API.

Market chart

Shanghai Stock Exchange

Frequently asked questions

Early morning in the UK usually gives the best overlap with afternoon hours in China.

China uses the renminbi yuan, with the currency code CNY.

The Shanghai Stock Exchange is one of the main market references for China.