The business hours differ for different enterprises and cities in China. Hotels, restaurants, post offices, banks, government apparatus and private enterprises all have their different work hours.
Shops are open from 10:00 to 21:00, while some may be open earlier at 09:00 and last to 22:00. During the May Day Holiday (May 1st-7th) and the National Day Holiday (October 1st-7th), all shops prolong their service hours by half hour to one and a half hours. However, it is different during the traditional Spring Festival. Shops are closed early in the afternoon on the eve of the Chinese New Year and shorten their hours.
Most big restaurants are open 10:00-21:00, and restaurants may have afternoon break between approximately 14: 30-17:30 in some cities. Some small restaurants supplying breakfast opens earlier at 06:30, and there are also restaurants offers round-o'clock service. Restaurants will prolong their service time during the holidays and even stay open overnight on the eve of the Chinese New Year.
Post offices don't have the same business hours in a city. Most offices open at 8:30 or 9:00 and are closed at 17:00 or 18:00. At weekends, festivals and holidays, the working hours is shortened by one to three hours. It is the same with banks. But some banks may be closed at weekends and during holidays, for there are many self-service banks installing with CDM, ATM, and Self-service Fee Paying Machine.
The business hours for government apparatus are mostly 09:00-17:00, with an hour's break at noon. The private enterprises practice eights working hours a day, from 08:00-08:30 to 18:00, and permit a flexible period for lunch and siesta.