Situated within the Eastern European Time Zone, Egypt is two hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), also known as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). All of Egypt is within this single time zone. When you are calculating time differences between the capital of Egypt, Cairo, and other world cities, UTC/GMT +2 is the figure to remember for most of the year when Egypt is on standard time.
Egypt implements Daylight Saving Time for a period between spring and fall. In 2011, this period starts on April 30 and ends on August 21. During this period, Egypt time moves an hour ahead of standard time; while Egypt is on Daylight Saving Time, the time in Cairo is UTC/GMT +3.
Despite its large size, China has a single time zone, China Standard Time. All of the country, including the capital Beijing, is eight hours ahead of UTC/GMT. China does not observe Daylight Saving Time. In order to work out the time difference between Beijing and cities in other time zones, remember that China throughout the year is UTC/GMT +8.
When Egypt is on standard time, Cairo is six hours behind Beijing. During this time, when it is 1 p.m. in Cairo, it is 7 p.m. in Beijing. In 2011, standard time operates up to April 30 and after August 21. However, between April 30 and August 21 in 2011 when Egypt is on Daylight Saving Time, Cairo is only five hours behind Beijing. During these months, when the time is 1 p.m. in Cairo, the time in Beijing is 6 p.m.
