BJT to CST Time Converter

Convert China Standard Time (BJT) to Central Standard Time (CST). Both time zones are shown live below; current offset between them is 13 hours behind.

Beijing · China Standard Time
00:36:28
Thursday, May 14, 2026
GMT+8 · UTC+08:00
Chicago · Central Standard Time
11:36:28
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
CDT · UTC-05:00

Convert a specific time

From: BJT (Beijing)
To: CST (Chicago)
--:--

Daylight Saving status right now

BJT (China Standard Time)
Observes DST
No
CST (Central Standard Time)
Observes DST
Yes
In DST right now
Yes
Next fall back
2026-11-01
Offset shift
UTC-05:00 → UTC-06:00

Heads up: CST observes DST while BJT does not. The 13-hour difference shown above will shift by one hour when CST starts or ends DST.

When can BJT and CST meet?

00
01
02
03
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08
09
10
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23
BJT
CST
Both zones in working hours (9am-5pm)
One zone working
Off-hours
Columns are hours of the day in Beijing (BJT). Each row shows the local working-hours state in that zone for the same moment in time.
No business-hours overlap exists between BJT and CST.
The two zones are too far apart for synchronous meetings during normal working hours. Plan async or schedule outside 9-5 on at least one side.

Hour-by-hour BJT to CST conversion table

BJT time (Beijing)CST time (Chicago)Status
00:00 Thu11:00 WedCST working
01:00 Thu12:00 WedCST working
02:00 Thu13:00 WedCST working
03:00 Thu14:00 WedCST working
04:00 Thu15:00 WedCST working
05:00 Thu16:00 WedCST working
06:00 Thu17:00 WedOff-hours both sides
07:00 Thu18:00 WedOff-hours both sides
08:00 Thu19:00 WedOff-hours both sides
09:00 Thu20:00 WedBJT working
10:00 Thu21:00 WedBJT working
11:00 Thu22:00 WedBJT working
12:00 Thu23:00 WedBJT working
13:00 Thu00:00 ThuBJT working
14:00 Thu01:00 ThuBJT working
15:00 Thu02:00 ThuBJT working
16:00 Thu03:00 ThuBJT working
17:00 Thu04:00 ThuOff-hours both sides
18:00 Thu05:00 ThuOff-hours both sides
19:00 Thu06:00 ThuOff-hours both sides
20:00 Thu07:00 ThuOff-hours both sides
21:00 Thu08:00 ThuOff-hours both sides
22:00 Thu09:00 ThuCST working
23:00 Thu10:00 ThuCST working

Times computed for today in each zone using the IANA time zone database. The conversion accounts for daylight saving time wherever applicable.

About these time zones

China Standard Time (BJT)
IANA identifier
Asia/Shanghai
Current UTC offset
UTC+08:00
Current abbreviation
GMT+8
Major cities in this zone
ShanghaiBeijingShenzhenGuangzhou
Central Standard Time (CST)
IANA identifier
America/Chicago
Current UTC offset
UTC-05:00
Current abbreviation
CDT
Major cities in this zone
ChicagoHoustonDallasAustinNew Orleans

Sun today in Shanghai and Chicago

Shanghai
Sunrise
05:00
Sunset
18:42
Solar noon
11:51
Daylight
13h 42m
Chicago
Sunrise
05:33
Sunset
20:02
Solar noon
12:48
Daylight
14h 28m

Related converters

CST to BJT (reverse)BJT to ESTBJT to PSTBJT to GMTBJT to UTCBJT to CETEST to CSTPST to CSTGMT to CSTUTC to CSTCET to CST
Looking for local time? See time in Shanghai or time in Chicago.

Frequently asked questions

What is the time difference between BJT and CST right now?+
CST (Central Standard Time) is currently 13 hours behind BJT (China Standard Time). The exact difference can change when one or both zones transition into or out of daylight saving time.
Does BJT or CST observe daylight saving time?+
BJT: does not observe daylight saving time. CST: observes daylight saving time.
When is the best time to schedule a meeting between BJT and CST?+
BJT and CST have no business-hour overlap, even at the edges of a typical workday. Async collaboration or non-9-5 scheduling is the practical choice.
What time is it in Chicago when it is 12:00 noon in Beijing?+
When it is 12:00 Thu in Beijing (BJT), it is 23:00 Wed in Chicago (CST).
Which IANA time zone identifiers are used for BJT and CST?+
BJT maps to "Asia/Shanghai" in the IANA database. CST maps to "America/Chicago". These identifiers are what most software libraries use to convert times accurately, including DST handling.
Is Beijing ahead of or behind Chicago?+
Whether Beijing (BJT) is ahead of or behind Chicago (CST) depends on the current UTC offsets. Right now CST is 13 hours behind BJT. The live converter and side-by-side clocks above always reflect the current direction.
What are the current UTC offsets for BJT and CST?+
BJT is UTC+08:00 (GMT+8) and CST is UTC-05:00 (CDT). Both offsets shift by one hour when the corresponding region enters or exits daylight saving time, so the live values on this page are the source of truth.
Can I schedule meetings during business hours for both BJT and CST?+
No standard business-hours overlap exists between BJT and CST. Plan asynchronous work or schedule outside 9-5 on at least one side.