China Time

Jimmy told me that daylight savings as just occurred back home. I was re-counting what the time difference was when I wondered whether China had daylight savings time. This being the country that has only one time zone ... for the whole country. Meaning, wherever you are in the country of China, whatever time it is in Beijing means that’s the time where you are.

That was when my welfare officer called to inform me of tomorrow’s transport schedule. I decided to ask her whether there was daylight savings in China. This is how the conversation went. Kinda cute, but also kinda funny. Remember, I’m using Chinglish.

Amy: Nancy, does China have daylight savings?
Nancy: what is that?
Amy: It is when ... in the winter ... you change times.
Nancy: You mean your teaching schedule? The school schedule?
Amy: No, I mean ... the time. The time on the clock. You change it. Because it’s winter. And then you change it again when it’s spring.
Nancy: But how can you change time? Time will always keep moving!
Amy: I mean, you just change time ahead or back one hour. In America we have “daylight savings” where two times a year, you change what time it is.
Nancy *half jokingly: Wow, America is so talented [li4 hai4 厉害]. You guys can change time!
Amy: we’re not literally changing time. We’re just changing the time that it says on the clock.
Nancy: ... but why?
Amy: ok. well, the fact that you have no idea what I’m talking about means that China has no “daylight savings.”
Nancy: ok! problem solved!