Shabbat Times in Chengdu

Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest, begins at sunset on Friday and ends after nightfall on Saturday. In Chengdu, candle lighting is performed 18 minutes before sunset, following local communal custom. Havdalah, the ceremony that concludes Shabbat, is recited after nightfall (tzait haKochavim, when three medium-sized stars are visible). We display the 72-minute opinion by default; the 8.5° (GRA) opinion corresponds to approximately 36 minutes after sunset at equinox, and 16.1° (Rabbeinu Tam) to approximately 72 minutes.

The weekly Torah portion (Parashat HaShavua) this week is Bereshis, read in synagogues across Chengdu on Shabbat morning.

The blessing recited when lighting Shabbat candles (Hadlakat Nerot) is one of the most cherished rituals welcoming the Sabbath. It is traditionally recited after lighting the candles, waving the hands over the flames in a welcoming gesture, and covering the eyes — so that the blessing precedes the act of enjoying the light.

In Chengdu, candles are lit 18 minutes before sunset — at 18:25 this week. The minimum is one candle, though many families light two (representing “Shamor” and “Zachor”, the two words used in the Torah to command Shabbat observance), and some add a candle for each member of the household. Source: Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 263.

Chengdu has no permanent synagogue or Chabad center; its Jewish population is small and largely transient. Jewish visitors to the city typically coordinate Shabbat hospitality and kosher food through Chabad centers in larger Chinese cities before traveling.

Practical notes: Sichuan cuisine leans heavily on pork and non-kosher ingredients, so travelers keep to hotel breakfasts, produce markets, or self-catering; candle-lighting times on this page are calculated for Chengdu's coordinates at the local custom of 18 minutes before sunset.

• No permanent Chabad center — coordinate with Chabad in Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou
• Kosher food requires advance planning
• Accurate local candle-lighting times calculated on this page

Planning a Shabbat in Chengdu? Check the full-year Shabbat schedule for Chengdu and the daily Zmanim. Community details above reflect publicly listed centers and may change — contact the centers directly for current schedules and kosher arrangements.