Three numbers. The ones that decide the meeting.
When the world meets at work.
Read the day in both zones.
If it's this in Sofia, it's that in Guangzhou.
When it's 8:00 am in Sofia, it's 1:00 pm in Guangzhou — midday there, the same day.
When it's 10:00 am in Sofia, it's 3:00 pm in Guangzhou — afternoon there, the same day.
When it's 12:00 pm in Sofia, it's 5:00 pm in Guangzhou — afternoon there, the same day.
When it's 3:00 pm in Sofia, it's 8:00 pm in Guangzhou — evening there, the same day.
When it's 5:00 pm in Sofia, it's 10:00 pm in Guangzhou — night there, the same day.
When it's 9:00 pm in Sofia, it's 2:00 am in Guangzhou — late night there, the next day.
Crossing the border. Money, language, plugs.
Money changes hands at the border: Sofia uses the BGN (лв) and Guangzhou uses the CNY (¥). Language shifts too — Bulgarian in Sofia, Chinese in Guangzhou. Cars drive on the right in both, so rentals feel familiar.
- Country
- Bulgaria
- Capital
- Sofia
- Currency
- Bulgarian lev (BGN · лв)
- Language
- Bulgarian
- Calling code
- +359
- Drives on
- Right
- Country
- China
- Capital
- Beijing
- Currency
- Chinese yuan (CNY · ¥)
- Language
- Chinese
- Calling code
- +86
- Drives on
- Right
Quick answers. Before you book the call.
What's the time difference between Sofia and Guangzhou?
Sofia is 5 hours ahead of Guangzhou. Sofia runs on GMT+3 and Guangzhou on GMT+8. The gap can shift by an hour when either side enters or leaves daylight saving — the live clocks above always reflect the current offset.
When it's 10 am in Sofia, what time is it in Guangzhou?
10:00 am in Sofia is 3:00 pm in Guangzhou on the same day — afternoon there. The same shift applies to any hour; the quick-conversion cards and the 24-hour table above cover the full day.
When it's 3 pm in Sofia, what time is it in Guangzhou?
3:00 pm in Sofia is 8:00 pm in Guangzhou on the same day — evening there. The same shift applies to any hour; the quick-conversion cards and the 24-hour table above cover the full day.
When's the best time to schedule a meeting?
There are 3 hours where both cities are inside a 09:00–17:00 workday. Aim for the middle of that window so neither side is starting or closing out.
Does daylight saving time change the difference?
Yes, if either city observes DST. When one side shifts and the other doesn't, the gap changes by one hour. The DST badges under each clock show whether each zone is currently shifted and when the next transition lands.
How far is Sofia from Guangzhou?
About 8,285 km as the crow flies (great-circle distance). A non-stop commercial flight cruises that in roughly 10h 15m, not counting airport time, winds, or routing around restricted airspace.
Can I send this meeting time as a calendar invite?
Yes. Pick a time on the slider above, open the meeting card, customize the title and duration, then download the .ics file. It imports cleanly into Google Calendar, Outlook, and Apple Calendar with the correct timezone attached.
What currency do Sofia and Guangzhou use?
Sofia uses the Bulgarian lev (BGN, лв); Guangzhou uses the Chinese yuan (CNY, ¥). Check the live rate before transferring money or paying with a card abroad — most banks add a 1–3 % FX margin on top of the mid-market rate.
How do I call Sofia from Guangzhou?
Dial the international prefix used by your carrier (often 00), then +359, then the local number — drop any leading zero of the city or mobile code. For free calls, WhatsApp, Signal, and FaceTime work over Wi-Fi regardless of country code.
What language is spoken in Sofia and Guangzhou?
Sofia primarily speaks Bulgarian; Guangzhou speaks Chinese. English is widely used in business contexts in major cities of both, but written contracts may need translation.
Do Sofia and Guangzhou drive on the same side of the road?
Yes — both drive on the right. Rental cars feel identical between the two.