Residents » Work » Working Hours

The standard work week in China runs Monday through Friday, 9:00 to 18:00. Overtime is the norm and most local companies don't compensate workers for staying late. Government offices and state-owned offices open from 08:30 to 16:30 and sometimes close for an hour or so in the afternoon. Most restaurants also close early, 20:00 or 21:00, as most Chinese eat dinner around 6pm. All workers in China are entitled to three national holidays, each stretching into a week of vacation: Chinese New Year (usually in late January, late February), International Labour Day (first week of May) and National Day (first week of October). While employees get the week off, the government mandates that workers "make up" for the holiday by working through the previous weekend (resulting in only three days off).