diff --git a/chaos/cases/conf/task-optimistic.yaml b/chaos/cases/conf/task-optimistic.yaml
index 9c77787274..84113731be 100644
--- a/chaos/cases/conf/task-optimistic.yaml
+++ b/chaos/cases/conf/task-optimistic.yaml
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ shard-mode: optimistic
 # so ignore sharding table check, seems has no effect on sync-diff-inspector
 # see https://dev.mysql.com/doc/relnotes/mysql/8.0/en/news-8-0-19.html
 ignore-checking-items: ["schema_of_shard_tables","auto_increment_ID"] # tables generated by go-sqlsmith may have auto increment ID
-timezone: "UTC"
 
 target-database:
   host: "tidb-0.tidb"
diff --git a/chaos/cases/conf/task-pessimistic.yaml b/chaos/cases/conf/task-pessimistic.yaml
index 4fb63cfbdb..0af0c2b7a2 100644
--- a/chaos/cases/conf/task-pessimistic.yaml
+++ b/chaos/cases/conf/task-pessimistic.yaml
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ shard-mode: pessimistic
 # so ignore sharding table check, seems has no effect on sync-diff-inspector
 # see https://dev.mysql.com/doc/relnotes/mysql/8.0/en/news-8-0-19.html
 ignore-checking-items: ["schema_of_shard_tables","auto_increment_ID"] # tables generated by go-sqlsmith may have auto increment ID
-timezone: "UTC"
 
 target-database:
   host: "tidb-0.tidb"
diff --git a/chaos/cases/conf/task-single.yaml b/chaos/cases/conf/task-single.yaml
index 31d91b60c7..e8b725b7d5 100644
--- a/chaos/cases/conf/task-single.yaml
+++ b/chaos/cases/conf/task-single.yaml
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 ---
 name: "task_single"
 task-mode: all
-timezone: "UTC"
 
 target-database:
   host: "tidb-0.tidb"
diff --git a/chaos/cases/source.go b/chaos/cases/source.go
index 545be2bb01..46e2f11780 100644
--- a/chaos/cases/source.go
+++ b/chaos/cases/source.go
@@ -45,16 +45,16 @@ func createSources(ctx context.Context, cli pb.MasterClient, cfg *config) error
 		return err
 	}
 
-	cfg1 := config2.NewSourceConfig()
-	cfg2 := config2.NewSourceConfig()
-	cfg3 := config2.NewSourceConfig()
-	if err = cfg1.ParseYaml(string(s1Content)); err != nil {
+	cfg1, err := config2.ParseYaml(string(s1Content))
+	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if err = cfg2.ParseYaml(string(s2Content)); err != nil {
+	cfg2, err := config2.ParseYaml(string(s2Content))
+	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if err = cfg3.ParseYaml(string(s3Content)); err != nil {
+	cfg3, err := config2.ParseYaml(string(s3Content))
+	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
diff --git a/cmd/dm-syncer/config.go b/cmd/dm-syncer/config.go
index a5780680ee..85a879bfe3 100644
--- a/cmd/dm-syncer/config.go
+++ b/cmd/dm-syncer/config.go
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ import (
 	"flag"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
-	"time"
 
 	"github.com/BurntSushi/toml"
 	"github.com/go-mysql-org/go-mysql/mysql"
@@ -27,6 +26,7 @@ import (
 	router "github.com/pingcap/tidb-tools/pkg/table-router"
 
 	"github.com/pingcap/dm/dm/config"
+	"github.com/pingcap/dm/pkg/log"
 	"github.com/pingcap/dm/pkg/utils"
 )
 
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ type commonConfig struct {
 	SafeMode   bool
 	MaxRetry   int
 
+	// deprecated
 	TimezoneStr string
 
 	SyncerConfigFormat bool
@@ -76,13 +77,13 @@ func (c *commonConfig) newConfigFromSyncerConfig(args []string) (*config.SubTask
 		EnableGTID:   c.EnableGTID,
 		SafeMode:     c.SafeMode,
 		MaxRetry:     c.MaxRetry,
-		TimezoneStr:  c.TimezoneStr,
 	}
 
 	cfg.FlagSet = flag.NewFlagSet("dm-syncer", flag.ContinueOnError)
 	fs := cfg.FlagSet
 
 	var SyncerConfigFormat bool
+	var timezoneStr string
 
 	fs.BoolVar(&cfg.printVersion, "V", false, "prints version and exit")
 	fs.StringVar(&cfg.Name, "name", "", "the task name")
@@ -101,7 +102,7 @@ func (c *commonConfig) newConfigFromSyncerConfig(args []string) (*config.SubTask
 	fs.BoolVar(&cfg.EnableGTID, "enable-gtid", false, "enable gtid mode")
 	fs.BoolVar(&cfg.SafeMode, "safe-mode", false, "enable safe mode to make syncer reentrant")
 	fs.IntVar(&cfg.MaxRetry, "max-retry", 100, "maxinum retry when network interruption")
-	fs.StringVar(&cfg.TimezoneStr, "timezone", "", "target database timezone location string")
+	fs.StringVar(&timezoneStr, "timezone", "", "target database timezone location string")
 	fs.BoolVar(&SyncerConfigFormat, "syncer-config-format", false, "read syncer config format")
 
 	if err := fs.Parse(args); err != nil {
@@ -119,6 +120,10 @@ func (c *commonConfig) newConfigFromSyncerConfig(args []string) (*config.SubTask
 		return nil, errors.Trace(err)
 	}
 
+	if timezoneStr != "" {
+		log.L().Warn("'--timezone' is deprecated, needn't set it anymore.")
+	}
+
 	return cfg.convertToNewFormat()
 }
 
@@ -146,6 +151,7 @@ func (c *commonConfig) newSubTaskConfig(args []string) (*config.SubTaskConfig, e
 	var syncerConfigFormat bool
 	var printVersion bool
 	var serverID uint
+	var timezoneStr string
 
 	fs.BoolVar(&printVersion, "V", false, "prints version and exit")
 	fs.StringVar(&cfg.Name, "name", "", "the task name")
@@ -163,7 +169,7 @@ func (c *commonConfig) newSubTaskConfig(args []string) (*config.SubTaskConfig, e
 	fs.BoolVar(&cfg.EnableGTID, "enable-gtid", false, "enable gtid mode")
 	fs.BoolVar(&cfg.SafeMode, "safe-mode", false, "enable safe mode to make syncer reentrant")
 	fs.IntVar(&cfg.MaxRetry, "max-retry", 100, "maxinum retry when network interruption")
-	fs.StringVar(&cfg.Timezone, "timezone", "", "target database timezone location string")
+	fs.StringVar(&timezoneStr, "timezone", "", "target database timezone location string")
 	fs.StringVar(&cfg.Name, "cp-table-prefix", "dm-syncer", "the prefix of the checkpoint table name")
 	fs.BoolVar(&syncerConfigFormat, "syncer-config-format", false, "read syncer config format")
 
@@ -172,6 +178,9 @@ func (c *commonConfig) newSubTaskConfig(args []string) (*config.SubTaskConfig, e
 	if err := cfg.Parse(args, false); err != nil {
 		return nil, errors.Trace(err)
 	}
+	if timezoneStr != "" {
+		log.L().Warn("'--timezone' is deprecated, needn't set it anymore.")
+	}
 
 	if serverID != 101 {
 		cfg.ServerID = uint32(serverID)
@@ -202,7 +211,6 @@ func newCommonConfig() *commonConfig {
 	fs.BoolVar(&cfg.EnableGTID, "enable-gtid", false, "enable gtid mode")
 	fs.BoolVar(&cfg.SafeMode, "safe-mode", false, "enable safe mode to make syncer reentrant")
 	fs.IntVar(&cfg.MaxRetry, "max-retry", 100, "maxinum retry when network interruption")
-	fs.StringVar(&cfg.TimezoneStr, "timezone", "", "target database timezone location string")
 	fs.BoolVar(&cfg.SyncerConfigFormat, "syncer-config-format", false, "read syncer config format")
 
 	return cfg
@@ -265,8 +273,7 @@ type syncerConfig struct {
 	// MaxDMLConnectionTimeout string `toml:"execute-dml-timeout" json:"execute-dml-timeout"`
 	// ExecutionQueueLength    int    `toml:"execute-queue-length" json:"execute-queue-length"`
 
-	TimezoneStr string         `toml:"timezone" json:"timezone"`
-	Timezone    *time.Location `json:"-"`
+	TimezoneStr string `toml:"timezone" json:"timezone"`
 
 	printVersion bool
 }
@@ -343,7 +350,6 @@ func (oc *syncerConfig) convertToNewFormat() (*config.SubTaskConfig, error) {
 		},
 
 		ConfigFile: oc.ConfigFile,
-		Timezone:   oc.TimezoneStr,
 		From:       oc.From,
 		To:         oc.To,
 	}
diff --git a/dm/config/source_config.go b/dm/config/source_config.go
index d2ed9a2825..a4303d5c83 100644
--- a/dm/config/source_config.go
+++ b/dm/config/source_config.go
@@ -82,6 +82,13 @@ type SourceConfig struct {
 
 // NewSourceConfig creates a new base config for upstream MySQL/MariaDB source.
 func NewSourceConfig() *SourceConfig {
+	c := newSourceConfig()
+	c.adjust()
+	return c
+}
+
+// NewSourceConfig creates a new base config without adjust.
+func newSourceConfig() *SourceConfig {
 	c := &SourceConfig{
 		Purge: PurgeConfig{
 			Interval:    60 * 60,
@@ -94,7 +101,6 @@ func NewSourceConfig() *SourceConfig {
 			BackoffMax:      Duration{DefaultBackoffMax},
 		},
 	}
-	c.adjust()
 	return c
 }
 
@@ -140,12 +146,13 @@ func (c *SourceConfig) Parse(content string) error {
 }
 
 // ParseYaml parses flag definitions from the argument list, content should be yaml format.
-func (c *SourceConfig) ParseYaml(content string) error {
+func ParseYaml(content string) (*SourceConfig, error) {
+	c := newSourceConfig()
 	if err := yaml.UnmarshalStrict([]byte(content), c); err != nil {
-		return terror.ErrConfigYamlTransform.Delegate(err, "decode source config")
+		return nil, terror.ErrConfigYamlTransform.Delegate(err, "decode source config")
 	}
 	c.adjust()
-	return nil
+	return c, nil
 }
 
 // EncodeToml encodes config.
@@ -311,16 +318,20 @@ func (c *SourceConfig) AdjustServerID(ctx context.Context, db *sql.DB) error {
 }
 
 // LoadFromFile loads config from file.
-func (c *SourceConfig) LoadFromFile(path string) error {
+func LoadFromFile(path string) (*SourceConfig, error) {
+	c := newSourceConfig()
 	content, err := ioutil.ReadFile(path)
 	if err != nil {
-		return terror.ErrConfigReadCfgFromFile.Delegate(err, path)
+		return nil, terror.ErrConfigReadCfgFromFile.Delegate(err, path)
 	}
-	if err := yaml.UnmarshalStrict(content, c); err != nil {
-		return terror.ErrConfigYamlTransform.Delegate(err, "decode source config")
+	if err = yaml.UnmarshalStrict(content, c); err != nil {
+		return nil, terror.ErrConfigYamlTransform.Delegate(err, "decode source config")
 	}
 	c.adjust()
-	return c.Verify()
+	if err = c.Verify(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return c, nil
 }
 
 func (c *SourceConfig) check(metaData *toml.MetaData, err error) error {
diff --git a/dm/config/source_config_test.go b/dm/config/source_config_test.go
index 793c0b18c0..3aaddb3653 100644
--- a/dm/config/source_config_test.go
+++ b/dm/config/source_config_test.go
@@ -32,9 +32,8 @@ import (
 const sourceSampleFile = "../worker/source.yaml"
 
 func (t *testConfig) TestConfig(c *C) {
-	cfg := NewSourceConfig()
-
-	c.Assert(cfg.LoadFromFile(sourceSampleFile), IsNil)
+	cfg, err := LoadFromFile(sourceSampleFile)
+	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 	cfg.RelayDir = "./xx"
 	c.Assert(cfg.RelayDir, Equals, "./xx")
 	c.Assert(cfg.ServerID, Equals, uint32(101))
@@ -63,18 +62,24 @@ func (t *testConfig) TestConfig(c *C) {
 	// test update config file and reload
 	c.Assert(cfg.Parse(tomlStr), IsNil)
 	c.Assert(cfg.ServerID, Equals, uint32(100))
-	c.Assert(cfg.ParseYaml(yamlStr), IsNil)
-	c.Assert(cfg.ServerID, Equals, uint32(100))
-	c.Assert(cfg.Parse(originCfgStr), IsNil)
-	c.Assert(cfg.ServerID, Equals, uint32(101))
-	c.Assert(cfg.ParseYaml(originCfgYamlStr), IsNil)
-	c.Assert(cfg.ServerID, Equals, uint32(101))
+	cfg1, err := ParseYaml(yamlStr)
+	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
+	c.Assert(cfg1.ServerID, Equals, uint32(100))
+	cfg.Filters = []*bf.BinlogEventRule{}
+	cfg.Tracer = map[string]interface{}{}
+
+	var cfg2 SourceConfig
+	c.Assert(cfg2.Parse(originCfgStr), IsNil)
+	c.Assert(cfg2.ServerID, Equals, uint32(101))
+
+	cfg3, err := ParseYaml(originCfgYamlStr)
+	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
+	c.Assert(cfg3.ServerID, Equals, uint32(101))
 
 	// test decrypt password
 	clone1.From.Password = "1234"
-	clone1.ServerID = 101
 	// fix empty map after marshal/unmarshal becomes nil
-	clone1.From.Session = map[string]string{}
+	clone1.From.Session = cfg.From.Session
 	clone1.Tracer = map[string]interface{}{}
 	clone1.Filters = []*bf.BinlogEventRule{}
 	clone2 := cfg.DecryptPassword()
@@ -96,6 +101,7 @@ func (t *testConfig) TestConfig(c *C) {
 	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 	c.Assert(clone4toml, Matches, "(.|\n)*backoff-rollback = \"5m(.|\n)*")
 	c.Assert(clone4toml, Matches, "(.|\n)*backoff-max = \"5m(.|\n)*")
+
 	var clone5 SourceConfig
 	c.Assert(clone5.Parse(clone4toml), IsNil)
 	c.Assert(clone5, DeepEquals, *clone4)
@@ -103,9 +109,10 @@ func (t *testConfig) TestConfig(c *C) {
 	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 	c.Assert(clone4yaml, Matches, "(.|\n)*backoff-rollback: 5m(.|\n)*")
 	c.Assert(clone4yaml, Matches, "(.|\n)*backoff-max: 5m(.|\n)*")
-	var clone6 SourceConfig
-	c.Assert(clone6.ParseYaml(clone4yaml), IsNil)
-	c.Assert(clone6, DeepEquals, *clone4)
+
+	clone6, err := ParseYaml(clone4yaml)
+	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
+	c.Assert(clone6, DeepEquals, clone4)
 
 	// test invalid config
 	dir2 := c.MkDir()
@@ -116,15 +123,15 @@ aaa: xxx
 `)
 	err = ioutil.WriteFile(configFile, configContent, 0o644)
 	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
-	err = cfg.LoadFromFile(configFile)
+	_, err = LoadFromFile(configFile)
 	c.Assert(err, NotNil)
 	c.Assert(err, ErrorMatches, "(.|\n)*field aaa not found in type config.SourceConfig(.|\n)*")
 }
 
 func (t *testConfig) TestConfigVerify(c *C) {
 	newConfig := func() *SourceConfig {
-		cfg := NewSourceConfig()
-		c.Assert(cfg.LoadFromFile(sourceSampleFile), IsNil)
+		cfg, err := LoadFromFile(sourceSampleFile)
+		c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 		cfg.RelayDir = "./xx"
 		return cfg
 	}
@@ -247,12 +254,12 @@ func subtestFlavor(c *C, cfg *SourceConfig, sqlInfo, expectedFlavor, expectedErr
 }
 
 func (t *testConfig) TestAdjustFlavor(c *C) {
-	cfg := NewSourceConfig()
-	c.Assert(cfg.LoadFromFile(sourceSampleFile), IsNil)
+	cfg, err := LoadFromFile(sourceSampleFile)
+	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 	cfg.RelayDir = "./xx"
 
 	cfg.Flavor = "mariadb"
-	err := cfg.AdjustFlavor(context.Background(), nil)
+	err = cfg.AdjustFlavor(context.Background(), nil)
 	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 	c.Assert(cfg.Flavor, Equals, mysql.MariaDBFlavor)
 	cfg.Flavor = "MongoDB"
@@ -270,8 +277,8 @@ func (t *testConfig) TestAdjustServerID(c *C) {
 	}()
 	getAllServerIDFunc = getMockServerIDs
 
-	cfg := NewSourceConfig()
-	c.Assert(cfg.LoadFromFile(sourceSampleFile), IsNil)
+	cfg, err := LoadFromFile(sourceSampleFile)
+	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 	cfg.RelayDir = "./xx"
 
 	c.Assert(cfg.AdjustServerID(context.Background(), nil), IsNil)
diff --git a/dm/config/subtask.go b/dm/config/subtask.go
index d534b83c85..f52219fb7d 100644
--- a/dm/config/subtask.go
+++ b/dm/config/subtask.go
@@ -19,11 +19,6 @@ import (
 	"flag"
 	"fmt"
 	"strings"
-	"time"
-
-	"github.com/pingcap/dm/pkg/log"
-	"github.com/pingcap/dm/pkg/terror"
-	"github.com/pingcap/dm/pkg/utils"
 
 	"github.com/BurntSushi/toml"
 	bf "github.com/pingcap/tidb-tools/pkg/binlog-filter"
@@ -31,6 +26,10 @@ import (
 	"github.com/pingcap/tidb-tools/pkg/filter"
 	router "github.com/pingcap/tidb-tools/pkg/table-router"
 	"go.uber.org/zap"
+
+	"github.com/pingcap/dm/pkg/log"
+	"github.com/pingcap/dm/pkg/terror"
+	"github.com/pingcap/dm/pkg/utils"
 )
 
 // task modes.
@@ -118,6 +117,8 @@ func (db *DBConfig) Decode(data string) error {
 
 // Adjust adjusts the config.
 func (db *DBConfig) Adjust() {
+	// force set session time zone to UTC here.
+	AdjustTargetDBTimeZone(db)
 }
 
 // SubTaskConfig is the configuration for SubTask.
@@ -150,8 +151,8 @@ type SubTaskConfig struct {
 	HeartbeatReportInterval int    `toml:"heartbeat-report-interval" json:"heartbeat-report-interval"`
 	EnableHeartbeat         bool   `toml:"enable-heartbeat" json:"enable-heartbeat"`
 	Meta                    *Meta  `toml:"meta" json:"meta"`
-	Timezone                string `toml:"timezone" josn:"timezone"`
-
+	// deprecated
+	Timezone string `toml:"timezone" json:"timezone"`
 	// RelayDir get value from dm-worker config
 	RelayDir string `toml:"relay-dir" json:"relay-dir"`
 
@@ -274,10 +275,8 @@ func (c *SubTaskConfig) Adjust(verifyDecryptPassword bool) error {
 	}
 
 	if c.Timezone != "" {
-		_, err := time.LoadLocation(c.Timezone)
-		if err != nil {
-			return terror.ErrConfigInvalidTimezone.Delegate(err, c.Timezone)
-		}
+		log.L().Warn("'timezone' is deprecated, please remove this field.")
+		c.Timezone = ""
 	}
 
 	dirSuffix := "." + c.Name
diff --git a/dm/config/subtask_test.go b/dm/config/subtask_test.go
index 101d9b7512..b0241206fb 100644
--- a/dm/config/subtask_test.go
+++ b/dm/config/subtask_test.go
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ func (t *testConfig) TestSubTask(c *C) {
 		ShardMode:       "optimistic",
 		SourceID:        "mysql-instance-01",
 		OnlineDDLScheme: "pt",
-		Timezone:        "Asia/Shanghai",
 		From: DBConfig{
 			Host:     "127.0.0.1",
 			Port:     3306,
@@ -74,7 +73,6 @@ func (t *testConfig) TestSubTaskAdjustFail(c *C) {
 			Name:            "test-task",
 			SourceID:        "mysql-instance-01",
 			OnlineDDLScheme: "pt",
-			Timezone:        "Asia/Shanghai",
 			From: DBConfig{
 				Host:     "127.0.0.1",
 				Port:     3306,
@@ -133,14 +131,6 @@ func (t *testConfig) TestSubTaskAdjustFail(c *C) {
 			},
 			"\\[.*\\], Message: online scheme rtc not supported.*",
 		},
-		{
-			func() *SubTaskConfig {
-				cfg := newSubTaskConfig()
-				cfg.Timezone = "my-house"
-				return cfg
-			},
-			"\\[.*\\], Message: invalid timezone string: my-house.*",
-		},
 	}
 
 	for _, tc := range testCases {
diff --git a/dm/config/task.go b/dm/config/task.go
index 99af958b70..e133cc04c4 100644
--- a/dm/config/task.go
+++ b/dm/config/task.go
@@ -20,20 +20,18 @@ import (
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
-	"time"
 
+	"github.com/coreos/go-semver/semver"
+	"github.com/dustin/go-humanize"
 	bf "github.com/pingcap/tidb-tools/pkg/binlog-filter"
 	"github.com/pingcap/tidb-tools/pkg/column-mapping"
 	"github.com/pingcap/tidb-tools/pkg/filter"
 	router "github.com/pingcap/tidb-tools/pkg/table-router"
+	"go.uber.org/zap"
+	"gopkg.in/yaml.v2"
 
 	"github.com/pingcap/dm/pkg/log"
 	"github.com/pingcap/dm/pkg/terror"
-
-	"github.com/coreos/go-semver/semver"
-	"github.com/dustin/go-humanize"
-	"go.uber.org/zap"
-	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v2"
 )
 
 // Online DDL Scheme.
@@ -71,6 +69,8 @@ var (
 	defaultBatch                   = 100
 	defaultQueueSize               = 1024 // do not give too large default value to avoid OOM
 	defaultCheckpointFlushInterval = 30   // in seconds
+	// force use UTC time_zone.
+	defaultTimeZone = "+00:00"
 
 	// TargetDBConfig.
 	defaultSessionCfg = []struct {
@@ -282,10 +282,11 @@ type TaskConfig struct {
 	// don't save configuration into it
 	MetaSchema string `yaml:"meta-schema" toml:"meta-schema" json:"meta-schema"`
 
-	EnableHeartbeat         bool   `yaml:"enable-heartbeat" toml:"enable-heartbeat" json:"enable-heartbeat"`
-	HeartbeatUpdateInterval int    `yaml:"heartbeat-update-interval" toml:"heartbeat-update-interval" json:"heartbeat-update-interval"`
-	HeartbeatReportInterval int    `yaml:"heartbeat-report-interval" toml:"heartbeat-report-interval" json:"heartbeat-report-interval"`
-	Timezone                string `yaml:"timezone" toml:"timezone" json:"timezone"`
+	EnableHeartbeat         bool `yaml:"enable-heartbeat" toml:"enable-heartbeat" json:"enable-heartbeat"`
+	HeartbeatUpdateInterval int  `yaml:"heartbeat-update-interval" toml:"heartbeat-update-interval" json:"heartbeat-update-interval"`
+	HeartbeatReportInterval int  `yaml:"heartbeat-report-interval" toml:"heartbeat-report-interval" json:"heartbeat-report-interval"`
+	// deprecated
+	Timezone string `yaml:"timezone" toml:"timezone" json:"timezone"`
 
 	// handle schema/table name mode, and only for schema/table name
 	// if case insensitive, we would convert schema/table name to lower case
@@ -593,14 +594,10 @@ func (c *TaskConfig) adjust() error {
 		sort.Strings(unusedConfigs)
 		return terror.ErrConfigGlobalConfigsUnused.Generate(unusedConfigs)
 	}
-
 	if c.Timezone != "" {
-		_, err := time.LoadLocation(c.Timezone)
-		if err != nil {
-			return terror.ErrConfigInvalidTimezone.Delegate(err, c.Timezone)
-		}
+		log.L().Warn("`timezone` is deprecated and useless anymore, please remove it.")
+		c.Timezone = ""
 	}
-
 	if c.RemoveMeta {
 		log.L().Warn("`remove-meta` in task config is deprecated, please use `start-task ... --remove-meta` instead")
 	}
@@ -632,7 +629,6 @@ func (c *TaskConfig) SubTaskConfigs(sources map[string]DBConfig) ([]*SubTaskConf
 		}
 		cfg.HeartbeatUpdateInterval = c.HeartbeatUpdateInterval
 		cfg.HeartbeatReportInterval = c.HeartbeatReportInterval
-		cfg.Timezone = c.Timezone
 		cfg.Meta = inst.Meta
 
 		cfg.From = dbCfg
@@ -710,7 +706,6 @@ func FromSubTaskConfigs(stCfgs ...*SubTaskConfig) *TaskConfig {
 	c.EnableHeartbeat = stCfg0.EnableHeartbeat
 	c.HeartbeatUpdateInterval = stCfg0.HeartbeatUpdateInterval
 	c.HeartbeatReportInterval = stCfg0.HeartbeatReportInterval
-	c.Timezone = stCfg0.Timezone
 	c.CaseSensitive = stCfg0.CaseSensitive
 	c.TargetDB = &stCfg0.To // just ref
 	c.OnlineDDLScheme = stCfg0.OnlineDDLScheme
@@ -815,5 +810,27 @@ func AdjustTargetDBSessionCfg(dbConfig *DBConfig, version *semver.Version) {
 			lowerMap[cfg.key] = cfg.val
 		}
 	}
+	// force set time zone to UTC
+	if tz, ok := lowerMap["time_zone"]; ok {
+		log.L().Warn("session variable 'time_zone' is overwritten with UTC timezone.",
+			zap.String("time_zone", tz))
+	}
+	lowerMap["time_zone"] = defaultTimeZone
 	dbConfig.Session = lowerMap
 }
+
+// AdjustTargetDBTimeZone force adjust session `time_zone` to UTC.
+func AdjustTargetDBTimeZone(config *DBConfig) {
+	for k := range config.Session {
+		if strings.ToLower(k) == "time_zone" {
+			log.L().Warn("session variable 'time_zone' is overwritten by default UTC timezone.",
+				zap.String("time_zone", config.Session[k]))
+			config.Session[k] = defaultTimeZone
+			return
+		}
+	}
+	if config.Session == nil {
+		config.Session = make(map[string]string, 1)
+	}
+	config.Session["time_zone"] = defaultTimeZone
+}
diff --git a/dm/config/task_test.go b/dm/config/task_test.go
index 9fe4a4b6bb..ba09f6df46 100644
--- a/dm/config/task_test.go
+++ b/dm/config/task_test.go
@@ -35,7 +35,6 @@ name: test
 task-mode: all
 shard-mode: "pessimistic"       
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"         
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"     
 case-sensitive: false        
 online-ddl-scheme: "gh-ost" 
 clean-dump-file: true     
@@ -137,7 +136,6 @@ name: test
 task-mode: all
 shard-mode: "pessimistic"       
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"         
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"     
 case-sensitive: false        
 online-ddl-scheme: "gh-ost" 
 clean-dump-file: true     
@@ -244,8 +242,8 @@ name: test
 task-mode: all
 is-sharding: true
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
-enable-heartbeat: true
 timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
+enable-heartbeat: true
 ignore-checking-items: ["all"]
 
 target-database:
@@ -308,7 +306,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: true
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 enable-heartbeat: true
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 ignore-checking-items: ["all"]
 `)
 	err = ioutil.WriteFile(filepath, configContent, 0o644)
@@ -325,7 +322,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: true
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 enable-heartbeat: true
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 ignore-checking-items: ["all"]
 `)
 	err = ioutil.WriteFile(filepath, configContent, 0o644)
@@ -340,7 +336,6 @@ name: test
 is-sharding: true
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 enable-heartbeat: true
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 ignore-checking-items: ["all"]
 `)
 	err = ioutil.WriteFile(filepath, configContent, 0o644)
@@ -358,7 +353,6 @@ meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 enable-heartbeat: true
 heartbeat-update-interval: 1
 heartbeat-report-interval: 1
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
@@ -436,7 +430,6 @@ meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 enable-heartbeat: true
 heartbeat-update-interval: 1
 heartbeat-report-interval: 1
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
@@ -543,13 +536,14 @@ func (t *testConfig) TestGenAndFromSubTaskConfigs(c *C) {
 		metaSchema          = "meta-sub-tasks"
 		heartbeatUI         = 12
 		heartbeatRI         = 21
-		timezone            = "Asia/Shanghai"
 		maxAllowedPacket    = 10244201
 		fromSession         = map[string]string{
-			"sql_mode": " NO_AUTO_VALUE_ON_ZERO,ANSI_QUOTES",
+			"sql_mode":  " NO_AUTO_VALUE_ON_ZERO,ANSI_QUOTES",
+			"time_zone": "+00:00",
 		}
 		toSession = map[string]string{
-			"sql_mode": " NO_AUTO_VALUE_ON_ZERO,ANSI_QUOTES",
+			"sql_mode":  " NO_AUTO_VALUE_ON_ZERO,ANSI_QUOTES",
+			"time_zone": "+00:00",
 		}
 		security = Security{
 			SSLCA:         "/path/to/ca",
@@ -648,8 +642,7 @@ func (t *testConfig) TestGenAndFromSubTaskConfigs(c *C) {
 				BinLogPos:  456,
 				BinLogGTID: "1-1-12,4-4-4",
 			},
-			Timezone: timezone,
-			From:     source1DBCfg,
+			From: source1DBCfg,
 			To: DBConfig{
 				Host:             "127.0.0.1",
 				Port:             4000,
@@ -717,7 +710,6 @@ func (t *testConfig) TestGenAndFromSubTaskConfigs(c *C) {
 		EnableHeartbeat:         stCfg1.EnableHeartbeat,
 		HeartbeatUpdateInterval: heartbeatUI,
 		HeartbeatReportInterval: heartbeatRI,
-		Timezone:                timezone,
 		CaseSensitive:           stCfg1.CaseSensitive,
 		TargetDB:                &stCfg1.To,
 		MySQLInstances: []*MySQLInstance{
@@ -889,22 +881,22 @@ func (t *testConfig) TestAdjustTargetDBConfig(c *C) {
 	}{
 		{
 			DBConfig{},
-			DBConfig{Session: map[string]string{}},
+			DBConfig{Session: map[string]string{"time_zone": "+00:00"}},
 			semver.New("0.0.0"),
 		},
 		{
 			DBConfig{Session: map[string]string{"SQL_MODE": "ANSI_QUOTES"}},
-			DBConfig{Session: map[string]string{"sql_mode": "ANSI_QUOTES"}},
+			DBConfig{Session: map[string]string{"sql_mode": "ANSI_QUOTES", "time_zone": "+00:00"}},
 			semver.New("2.0.7"),
 		},
 		{
 			DBConfig{},
-			DBConfig{Session: map[string]string{tidbTxnMode: tidbTxnOptimistic}},
+			DBConfig{Session: map[string]string{tidbTxnMode: tidbTxnOptimistic, "time_zone": "+00:00"}},
 			semver.New("3.0.1"),
 		},
 		{
 			DBConfig{Session: map[string]string{"SQL_MODE": "", tidbTxnMode: "pessimistic"}},
-			DBConfig{Session: map[string]string{"sql_mode": "", tidbTxnMode: "pessimistic"}},
+			DBConfig{Session: map[string]string{"sql_mode": "", tidbTxnMode: "pessimistic", "time_zone": "+00:00"}},
 			semver.New("4.0.0-beta.2"),
 		},
 	}
diff --git a/dm/dm-ansible/conf/task_advanced.yaml.example b/dm/dm-ansible/conf/task_advanced.yaml.example
index 6b1fbe2c66..9b56179388 100644
--- a/dm/dm-ansible/conf/task_advanced.yaml.example
+++ b/dm/dm-ansible/conf/task_advanced.yaml.example
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ meta-schema: "dm_meta"  # meta schema in downstreaming database to store meta in
 enable-heartbeat: false  # whether to enable heartbeat for calculating lag between master and syncer
 # heartbeat-update-interval: 1  # interval to do heartbeat and save timestamp, default 1s
 # heartbeat-report-interval: 10 # interval to report time lap to prometheus, default 10s
-# timezone: "Asia/Shanghai" # target database timezone, all timestamp event in binlog will translate to format time based on this timezone, default use local timezone
 
 target-database:
   host: "192.168.0.1"
diff --git a/dm/dm-ansible/scripts/dm_instances.json b/dm/dm-ansible/scripts/dm_instances.json
index 8862183488..95c6fef83d 100644
--- a/dm/dm-ansible/scripts/dm_instances.json
+++ b/dm/dm-ansible/scripts/dm_instances.json
@@ -1504,7 +1504,6 @@
       "30d"
     ]
   },
-  "timezone": "",
   "title": "Test-Cluster-DM-worker-instances",
   "uid": "le1FDN_Wz",
   "version": 1
diff --git a/dm/master/bootstrap.go b/dm/master/bootstrap.go
index 1697c5cf48..13d5db0b13 100644
--- a/dm/master/bootstrap.go
+++ b/dm/master/bootstrap.go
@@ -162,13 +162,13 @@ func (s *Server) importFromV10x(ctx context.Context) error {
 }
 
 // collectSourceConfigFilesV1Import tries to collect source config files for v1.0.x importing.
-func (s *Server) collectSourceConfigFilesV1Import(tctx *tcontext.Context) (map[string]config.SourceConfig, error) {
+func (s *Server) collectSourceConfigFilesV1Import(tctx *tcontext.Context) (map[string]*config.SourceConfig, error) {
 	files, err := ioutil.ReadDir(s.cfg.V1SourcesPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	cfgs := make(map[string]config.SourceConfig)
+	cfgs := make(map[string]*config.SourceConfig)
 	for _, f := range files {
 		if f.IsDir() {
 			continue // ignore sub directories.
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ func (s *Server) collectSourceConfigFilesV1Import(tctx *tcontext.Context) (map[s
 			return nil, err
 		}
 
-		cfgs[cfgs2[0].SourceID] = *cfgs2[0]
+		cfgs[cfgs2[0].SourceID] = cfgs2[0]
 		tctx.Logger.Info("collected source config", zap.Stringer("config", cfgs2[0]))
 	}
 
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ func (s *Server) collectSourceConfigFilesV1Import(tctx *tcontext.Context) (map[s
 
 // waitWorkersReadyV1Import waits for DM-worker instances ready for v1.0.x importing.
 // NOTE: in v1.0.x, `count of DM-worker instances` equals `count of source config files`.
-func (s *Server) waitWorkersReadyV1Import(tctx *tcontext.Context, sourceCfgs map[string]config.SourceConfig) error {
+func (s *Server) waitWorkersReadyV1Import(tctx *tcontext.Context, sourceCfgs map[string]*config.SourceConfig) error {
 	// now, we simply check count repeatedly.
 	count := len(sourceCfgs)
 	ctx2, cancel2 := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), waitWorkerV1Timeout)
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ func (s *Server) getSubtaskCfgsStagesV1Import(tctx *tcontext.Context) (
 }
 
 // addSourcesV1Import tries to add source config into the cluster for v1.0.x importing.
-func (s *Server) addSourcesV1Import(tctx *tcontext.Context, cfgs map[string]config.SourceConfig) error {
+func (s *Server) addSourcesV1Import(tctx *tcontext.Context, cfgs map[string]*config.SourceConfig) error {
 	var (
 		added []string
 		err   error
diff --git a/dm/master/bootstrap_test.go b/dm/master/bootstrap_test.go
index 66bf4b0b03..bf1797c4b8 100644
--- a/dm/master/bootstrap_test.go
+++ b/dm/master/bootstrap_test.go
@@ -68,13 +68,12 @@ func (t *testMaster) TestCollectSourceConfigFilesV1Import(c *C) {
 	}
 	password := os.Getenv("MYSQL_PSWD")
 
-	// load a valid source file.
-	cfg1 := config.NewSourceConfig()
+	cfg1, err := config.LoadFromFile("./source.yaml")
+	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 	// fix empty map after marshal/unmarshal becomes nil
-	cfg1.From.Session = map[string]string{}
+	cfg1.From.Adjust()
 	cfg1.Tracer = map[string]interface{}{}
 	cfg1.Filters = []*filter.BinlogEventRule{}
-	c.Assert(cfg1.LoadFromFile("./source.yaml"), IsNil)
 	cfg1.From.Host = host
 	cfg1.From.Port = port
 	cfg1.From.User = user
@@ -95,8 +94,8 @@ func (t *testMaster) TestCollectSourceConfigFilesV1Import(c *C) {
 	cfgs, err = s.collectSourceConfigFilesV1Import(tctx)
 	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 	c.Assert(cfgs, HasLen, 2)
-	c.Assert(cfgs[cfg1.SourceID], DeepEquals, *cfg1)
-	c.Assert(cfgs[cfg2.SourceID], DeepEquals, *cfg2)
+	c.Assert(cfgs[cfg1.SourceID], DeepEquals, cfg1)
+	c.Assert(cfgs[cfg2.SourceID], DeepEquals, cfg2)
 
 	// put a invalid source file.
 	c.Assert(ioutil.WriteFile(filepath.Join(s.cfg.V1SourcesPath, "invalid.yaml"), []byte("invalid-source-data"), 0o644), IsNil)
@@ -122,17 +121,17 @@ func (t *testMaster) TestWaitWorkersReadyV1Import(c *C) {
 	s.cfg.V1SourcesPath = c.MkDir()
 	c.Assert(s.scheduler.Start(ctx, etcdTestCli), IsNil)
 
-	cfg1 := config.NewSourceConfig()
-	c.Assert(cfg1.LoadFromFile("./source.yaml"), IsNil)
+	cfg1, err := config.LoadFromFile("./source.yaml")
+	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 	cfg2 := cfg1.Clone()
 	cfg2.SourceID = "mysql-replica-02"
-	cfgs := map[string]config.SourceConfig{
-		cfg1.SourceID: *cfg1,
-		cfg2.SourceID: *cfg2,
+	cfgs := map[string]*config.SourceConfig{
+		cfg1.SourceID: cfg1,
+		cfg2.SourceID: cfg2,
 	}
 
 	// no worker registered, timeout.
-	err := s.waitWorkersReadyV1Import(tctx, cfgs)
+	err = s.waitWorkersReadyV1Import(tctx, cfgs)
 	c.Assert(err, ErrorMatches, ".*wait for DM-worker instances timeout.*")
 
 	// register one worker.
diff --git a/dm/master/scheduler/scheduler.go b/dm/master/scheduler/scheduler.go
index eadedf69c5..0caf2acaad 100644
--- a/dm/master/scheduler/scheduler.go
+++ b/dm/master/scheduler/scheduler.go
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ type Scheduler struct {
 	// - recover from etcd (calling `recoverSources`).
 	// delete:
 	// - remove source by user request (calling `RemoveSourceCfg`).
-	sourceCfgs map[string]config.SourceConfig
+	sourceCfgs map[string]*config.SourceConfig
 
 	// all subtask configs, task name -> source ID -> subtask config.
 	// add:
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ type Scheduler struct {
 func NewScheduler(pLogger *log.Logger, securityCfg config.Security) *Scheduler {
 	return &Scheduler{
 		logger:              pLogger.WithFields(zap.String("component", "scheduler")),
-		sourceCfgs:          make(map[string]config.SourceConfig),
+		sourceCfgs:          make(map[string]*config.SourceConfig),
 		subTaskCfgs:         make(map[string]map[string]config.SubTaskConfig),
 		workers:             make(map[string]*Worker),
 		bounds:              make(map[string]*Worker),
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ func (s *Scheduler) CloseAllWorkers() {
 
 // AddSourceCfg adds the upstream source config to the cluster.
 // NOTE: please verify the config before call this.
-func (s *Scheduler) AddSourceCfg(cfg config.SourceConfig) error {
+func (s *Scheduler) AddSourceCfg(cfg *config.SourceConfig) error {
 	s.mu.Lock()
 	defer s.mu.Unlock()
 
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ func (s *Scheduler) GetSourceCfgByID(source string) *config.SourceConfig {
 	if !ok {
 		return nil
 	}
-	clone := cfg
+	clone := *cfg
 	return &clone
 }
 
@@ -1745,7 +1745,7 @@ func (s *Scheduler) updateStatusForUnbound(source string) {
 
 // reset resets the internal status.
 func (s *Scheduler) reset() {
-	s.sourceCfgs = make(map[string]config.SourceConfig)
+	s.sourceCfgs = make(map[string]*config.SourceConfig)
 	s.subTaskCfgs = make(map[string]map[string]config.SubTaskConfig)
 	s.workers = make(map[string]*Worker)
 	s.bounds = make(map[string]*Worker)
diff --git a/dm/master/scheduler/scheduler_test.go b/dm/master/scheduler/scheduler_test.go
index 75581797d4..6b818e5597 100644
--- a/dm/master/scheduler/scheduler_test.go
+++ b/dm/master/scheduler/scheduler_test.go
@@ -100,7 +100,6 @@ func (t *testScheduler) testSchedulerProgress(c *C, restart int) {
 		taskName2    = "task-2"
 		workerInfo1  = ha.NewWorkerInfo(workerName1, workerAddr1)
 		workerInfo2  = ha.NewWorkerInfo(workerName2, workerAddr2)
-		sourceCfg1   config.SourceConfig
 		subtaskCfg1  config.SubTaskConfig
 		keepAliveTTL = int64(5) // NOTE: this should be >= minLeaseTTL, in second.
 
@@ -116,10 +115,11 @@ func (t *testScheduler) testSchedulerProgress(c *C, restart int) {
 			}
 		}
 	)
-	c.Assert(sourceCfg1.LoadFromFile(sourceSampleFile), IsNil)
+	sourceCfg1, err := config.LoadFromFile(sourceSampleFile)
+	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 	sourceCfg1.SourceID = sourceID1
 	sourceCfg1.EnableRelay = true
-	sourceCfg2 := sourceCfg1
+	sourceCfg2 := *sourceCfg1
 	sourceCfg2.SourceID = sourceID2
 
 	c.Assert(subtaskCfg1.DecodeFile(subTaskSampleFile, true), IsNil)
@@ -375,9 +375,9 @@ func (t *testScheduler) testSchedulerProgress(c *C, restart int) {
 	// source2 not exists before.
 	t.sourceCfgNotExist(c, s, sourceID2)
 	// add source2.
-	c.Assert(s.AddSourceCfg(sourceCfg2), IsNil)
+	c.Assert(s.AddSourceCfg(&sourceCfg2), IsNil)
 	// source2 added.
-	t.sourceCfgExist(c, s, sourceCfg2)
+	t.sourceCfgExist(c, s, &sourceCfg2)
 	// source2 should bound to worker2.
 	t.workerBound(c, s, ha.NewSourceBound(sourceID2, workerName2))
 	t.sourceBounds(c, s, []string{sourceID1, sourceID2}, []string{})
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ func (t *testScheduler) testSchedulerProgress(c *C, restart int) {
 	}), IsTrue)
 	c.Assert(terror.ErrSchedulerSourceOpTaskExist.Equal(s.RemoveSourceCfg(sourceID2)), IsTrue)
 	// source2 keep there.
-	t.sourceCfgExist(c, s, sourceCfg2)
+	t.sourceCfgExist(c, s, &sourceCfg2)
 	// source2 still bound to worker2.
 	t.workerBound(c, s, ha.NewSourceBound(sourceID2, workerName2))
 	t.sourceBounds(c, s, []string{sourceID1, sourceID2}, []string{})
@@ -550,9 +550,9 @@ func (t *testScheduler) sourceCfgNotExist(c *C, s *Scheduler, source string) {
 	c.Assert(scm, HasLen, 0)
 }
 
-func (t *testScheduler) sourceCfgExist(c *C, s *Scheduler, expectCfg config.SourceConfig) {
+func (t *testScheduler) sourceCfgExist(c *C, s *Scheduler, expectCfg *config.SourceConfig) {
 	cfgP := s.GetSourceCfgByID(expectCfg.SourceID)
-	c.Assert(cfgP, DeepEquals, &expectCfg)
+	c.Assert(cfgP, DeepEquals, expectCfg)
 	scm, _, err := ha.GetSourceCfg(etcdTestCli, expectCfg.SourceID, 0)
 	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 	cfgV := scm[expectCfg.SourceID]
@@ -708,11 +708,11 @@ func (t *testScheduler) TestRestartScheduler(c *C) {
 		workerAddr1  = "127.0.0.1:8262"
 		workerInfo1  = ha.NewWorkerInfo(workerName1, workerAddr1)
 		sourceBound1 = ha.NewSourceBound(sourceID1, workerName1)
-		sourceCfg1   config.SourceConfig
 		wg           sync.WaitGroup
 		keepAliveTTL = int64(2) // NOTE: this should be >= minLeaseTTL, in second.
 	)
-	c.Assert(sourceCfg1.LoadFromFile(sourceSampleFile), IsNil)
+	sourceCfg1, err := config.LoadFromFile(sourceSampleFile)
+	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 	sourceCfg1.SourceID = sourceID1
 
 	s := NewScheduler(&logger, config.Security{})
@@ -822,12 +822,12 @@ func (t *testScheduler) TestWatchWorkerEventEtcdCompact(c *C) {
 		workerAddr2  = "127.0.0.1:18262"
 		workerAddr3  = "127.0.0.1:18362"
 		workerAddr4  = "127.0.0.1:18462"
-		sourceCfg1   config.SourceConfig
 		keepAliveTTL = int64(2) // NOTE: this should be >= minLeaseTTL, in second.
 	)
-	c.Assert(sourceCfg1.LoadFromFile(sourceSampleFile), IsNil)
+	sourceCfg1, err := config.LoadFromFile(sourceSampleFile)
+	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 	sourceCfg1.SourceID = sourceID1
-	sourceCfg2 := sourceCfg1
+	sourceCfg2 := *sourceCfg1
 	sourceCfg2.SourceID = sourceID2
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 	defer cancel()
@@ -839,7 +839,7 @@ func (t *testScheduler) TestWatchWorkerEventEtcdCompact(c *C) {
 
 	// step 2: add two sources and register four workers
 	c.Assert(s.AddSourceCfg(sourceCfg1), IsNil)
-	c.Assert(s.AddSourceCfg(sourceCfg2), IsNil)
+	c.Assert(s.AddSourceCfg(&sourceCfg2), IsNil)
 	c.Assert(s.unbounds, HasLen, 2)
 	c.Assert(s.unbounds, HasKey, sourceID1)
 	c.Assert(s.unbounds, HasKey, sourceID2)
@@ -868,8 +868,8 @@ func (t *testScheduler) TestWatchWorkerEventEtcdCompact(c *C) {
 		c.Assert(ha.KeepAlive(ctx1, etcdTestCli, workerName2, keepAliveTTL), IsNil)
 	}()
 	c.Assert(utils.WaitSomething(30, 100*time.Millisecond, func() bool {
-		kam, _, err := ha.GetKeepAliveWorkers(etcdTestCli)
-		return err == nil && len(kam) == 2
+		kam, _, e := ha.GetKeepAliveWorkers(etcdTestCli)
+		return e == nil && len(kam) == 2
 	}), IsTrue)
 	cancel1()
 	wg.Wait()
@@ -877,14 +877,14 @@ func (t *testScheduler) TestWatchWorkerEventEtcdCompact(c *C) {
 	time.Sleep(time.Duration(keepAliveTTL) * time.Second)
 	var rev int64
 	c.Assert(utils.WaitSomething(30, 100*time.Millisecond, func() bool {
-		kam, rev1, err := ha.GetKeepAliveWorkers(etcdTestCli)
+		kam, rev1, e := ha.GetKeepAliveWorkers(etcdTestCli)
 		rev = rev1
-		return err == nil && len(kam) == 0
+		return e == nil && len(kam) == 0
 	}), IsTrue)
 
 	// step 4: trigger etcd compaction and check whether we can receive it through watcher
 	var startRev int64 = 1
-	_, err := etcdTestCli.Compact(ctx, rev)
+	_, err = etcdTestCli.Compact(ctx, rev)
 	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 	workerEvCh := make(chan ha.WorkerEvent, 10)
 	workerErrCh := make(chan error, 10)
@@ -962,10 +962,10 @@ func (t *testScheduler) TestLastBound(c *C) {
 		workerName2 = "dm-worker-2"
 		workerName3 = "dm-worker-3"
 		workerName4 = "dm-worker-4"
-		sourceCfg1  config.SourceConfig
 	)
 
-	c.Assert(sourceCfg1.LoadFromFile(sourceSampleFile), IsNil)
+	sourceCfg1, err := config.LoadFromFile(sourceSampleFile)
+	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 	sourceCfg1.SourceID = sourceID1
 	sourceCfg2 := sourceCfg1
 	sourceCfg2.SourceID = sourceID2
@@ -1052,8 +1052,8 @@ func (t *testScheduler) TestTransferSource(c *C) {
 	s.workers[workerName2] = worker2
 	s.workers[workerName3] = worker3
 	s.workers[workerName4] = worker4
-	s.sourceCfgs[sourceID1] = config.SourceConfig{}
-	s.sourceCfgs[sourceID2] = config.SourceConfig{}
+	s.sourceCfgs[sourceID1] = &config.SourceConfig{}
+	s.sourceCfgs[sourceID2] = &config.SourceConfig{}
 
 	worker1.ToFree()
 	c.Assert(s.boundSourceToWorker(sourceID1, worker1), IsNil)
@@ -1075,7 +1075,7 @@ func (t *testScheduler) TestTransferSource(c *C) {
 	c.Assert(worker1.Stage(), Equals, WorkerFree)
 
 	// test valid transfer: source -> worker = unbound -> free
-	s.sourceCfgs[sourceID3] = config.SourceConfig{}
+	s.sourceCfgs[sourceID3] = &config.SourceConfig{}
 	s.unbounds[sourceID3] = struct{}{}
 	c.Assert(s.TransferSource(sourceID3, workerName3), IsNil)
 	c.Assert(s.bounds[sourceID3], DeepEquals, worker3)
@@ -1095,7 +1095,7 @@ func (t *testScheduler) TestTransferSource(c *C) {
 	c.Assert(s.bounds[sourceID1], DeepEquals, worker4)
 
 	// test invalid transfer: source -> worker = unbound -> bound
-	s.sourceCfgs[sourceID4] = config.SourceConfig{}
+	s.sourceCfgs[sourceID4] = &config.SourceConfig{}
 	s.unbounds[sourceID4] = struct{}{}
 	c.Assert(s.TransferSource(sourceID4, workerName3), NotNil)
 	c.Assert(s.bounds[sourceID3], DeepEquals, worker3)
@@ -1147,8 +1147,8 @@ func (t *testScheduler) TestStartStopSource(c *C) {
 	s.workers[workerName2] = worker2
 	s.workers[workerName3] = worker3
 	s.workers[workerName4] = worker4
-	s.sourceCfgs[sourceID1] = config.SourceConfig{}
-	s.sourceCfgs[sourceID2] = config.SourceConfig{}
+	s.sourceCfgs[sourceID1] = &config.SourceConfig{}
+	s.sourceCfgs[sourceID2] = &config.SourceConfig{}
 
 	worker1.ToFree()
 	c.Assert(s.boundSourceToWorker(sourceID1, worker1), IsNil)
diff --git a/dm/master/server.go b/dm/master/server.go
index f158b79f8f..77f4b94948 100644
--- a/dm/master/server.go
+++ b/dm/master/server.go
@@ -1090,8 +1090,8 @@ func (s *Server) CheckTask(ctx context.Context, req *pb.CheckTaskRequest) (*pb.C
 func parseAndAdjustSourceConfig(ctx context.Context, contents []string) ([]*config.SourceConfig, error) {
 	cfgs := make([]*config.SourceConfig, len(contents))
 	for i, content := range contents {
-		cfg := config.NewSourceConfig()
-		if err := cfg.ParseYaml(content); err != nil {
+		cfg, err := config.ParseYaml(content)
+		if err != nil {
 			return cfgs, err
 		}
 
@@ -1123,8 +1123,8 @@ func parseAndAdjustSourceConfig(ctx context.Context, contents []string) ([]*conf
 func parseSourceConfig(contents []string) ([]*config.SourceConfig, error) {
 	cfgs := make([]*config.SourceConfig, len(contents))
 	for i, content := range contents {
-		cfg := config.NewSourceConfig()
-		if err := cfg.ParseYaml(content); err != nil {
+		cfg, err := config.ParseYaml(content)
+		if err != nil {
 			return cfgs, err
 		}
 		cfgs[i] = cfg
@@ -1155,6 +1155,7 @@ func adjustTargetDB(ctx context.Context, dbConfig *config.DBConfig) error {
 		config.AdjustTargetDBSessionCfg(dbConfig, version)
 	} else {
 		log.L().Warn("get tidb version", log.ShortError(err))
+		config.AdjustTargetDBTimeZone(dbConfig)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
@@ -1201,7 +1202,7 @@ func (s *Server) OperateSource(ctx context.Context, req *pb.OperateSourceRequest
 			err      error
 		)
 		for _, cfg := range cfgs {
-			err = s.scheduler.AddSourceCfg(*cfg)
+			err = s.scheduler.AddSourceCfg(cfg)
 			// return first error and try to revert, so user could copy-paste same start command after error
 			if err != nil {
 				resp.Msg = err.Error()
diff --git a/dm/master/server_test.go b/dm/master/server_test.go
index 997b1a94d1..1dd27ddff7 100644
--- a/dm/master/server_test.go
+++ b/dm/master/server_test.go
@@ -72,7 +72,6 @@ is-sharding: true
 shard-mode: ""
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 enable-heartbeat: true
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 ignore-checking-items: ["all"]
 
 target-database:
@@ -276,7 +275,7 @@ func testMockScheduler(ctx context.Context, wg *sync.WaitGroup, c *check.C, sour
 		cfg := config.NewSourceConfig()
 		cfg.SourceID = sources[i]
 		cfg.From.Password = password
-		c.Assert(scheduler2.AddSourceCfg(*cfg), check.IsNil, check.Commentf("all sources: %v", sources))
+		c.Assert(scheduler2.AddSourceCfg(cfg), check.IsNil, check.Commentf("all sources: %v", sources))
 		wg.Add(1)
 		ctx1, cancel1 := context.WithCancel(ctx)
 		cancels = append(cancels, cancel1)
@@ -308,7 +307,7 @@ func testMockSchedulerForRelay(ctx context.Context, wg *sync.WaitGroup, c *check
 		cfg := config.NewSourceConfig()
 		cfg.SourceID = sources[i]
 		cfg.From.Password = password
-		c.Assert(scheduler2.AddSourceCfg(*cfg), check.IsNil, check.Commentf("all sources: %v", sources))
+		c.Assert(scheduler2.AddSourceCfg(cfg), check.IsNil, check.Commentf("all sources: %v", sources))
 		wg.Add(1)
 		ctx1, cancel1 := context.WithCancel(ctx)
 		cancels = append(cancels, cancel1)
@@ -1504,8 +1503,8 @@ func (t *testMaster) TestOperateSource(c *check.C) {
 	s1.leader.Store(oneselfLeader)
 	c.Assert(s1.Start(ctx), check.IsNil)
 	defer s1.Close()
-	mysqlCfg := config.NewSourceConfig()
-	c.Assert(mysqlCfg.LoadFromFile("./source.yaml"), check.IsNil)
+	mysqlCfg, err := config.LoadFromFile("./source.yaml")
+	c.Assert(err, check.IsNil)
 	mysqlCfg.From.Password = os.Getenv("MYSQL_PSWD")
 	task, err := mysqlCfg.Yaml()
 	c.Assert(err, check.IsNil)
diff --git a/dm/master/task_advanced.yaml b/dm/master/task_advanced.yaml
index 6b1fbe2c66..9b56179388 100644
--- a/dm/master/task_advanced.yaml
+++ b/dm/master/task_advanced.yaml
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ meta-schema: "dm_meta"  # meta schema in downstreaming database to store meta in
 enable-heartbeat: false  # whether to enable heartbeat for calculating lag between master and syncer
 # heartbeat-update-interval: 1  # interval to do heartbeat and save timestamp, default 1s
 # heartbeat-report-interval: 10 # interval to report time lap to prometheus, default 10s
-# timezone: "Asia/Shanghai" # target database timezone, all timestamp event in binlog will translate to format time based on this timezone, default use local timezone
 
 target-database:
   host: "192.168.0.1"
diff --git a/dm/worker/relay_test.go b/dm/worker/relay_test.go
index 4b31463567..4bbec4a6b9 100644
--- a/dm/worker/relay_test.go
+++ b/dm/worker/relay_test.go
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ func (t *testRelay) TestRelay(c *C) {
 	cfg.RelayDir = dir
 	cfg.MetaDir = dir
 
-	relayHolder := NewRealRelayHolder(&cfg)
+	relayHolder := NewRealRelayHolder(cfg)
 	c.Assert(relayHolder, NotNil)
 
 	holder, ok := relayHolder.(*realRelayHolder)
diff --git a/dm/worker/server.go b/dm/worker/server.go
index 3ceb65cbbc..3efd1fe58b 100644
--- a/dm/worker/server.go
+++ b/dm/worker/server.go
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ func (s *Server) Start() error {
 	}
 	if !bound.IsEmpty() {
 		log.L().Warn("worker has been assigned source before keepalive", zap.Stringer("bound", bound), zap.Bool("is deleted", bound.IsDeleted))
-		if err2 := s.enableHandleSubtasks(&sourceCfg, true); err2 != nil {
+		if err2 := s.enableHandleSubtasks(sourceCfg, true); err2 != nil {
 			return err2
 		}
 		log.L().Info("started to handle mysql source", zap.String("sourceCfg", sourceCfg.String()))
@@ -452,7 +452,7 @@ func (s *Server) observeSourceBound(ctx context.Context, rev int64) error {
 							}
 							log.L().Info("will recover observeSourceBound",
 								zap.String("relay source", cfg.SourceID))
-							return s.enableHandleSubtasks(&cfg, false)
+							return s.enableHandleSubtasks(cfg, false)
 						}()
 						if err2 != nil {
 							return err2
@@ -653,7 +653,7 @@ func (s *Server) operateSourceBound(bound ha.SourceBound) error {
 	if !ok {
 		return terror.ErrWorkerFailToGetSourceConfigFromEtcd.Generate(bound.Source)
 	}
-	return s.enableHandleSubtasks(&sourceCfg, true)
+	return s.enableHandleSubtasks(sourceCfg, true)
 }
 
 func (s *Server) enableHandleSubtasks(sourceCfg *config.SourceConfig, needLock bool) error {
@@ -704,7 +704,7 @@ func (s *Server) operateRelaySource(relaySource ha.RelaySource) error {
 	if !ok {
 		return terror.ErrWorkerFailToGetSourceConfigFromEtcd.Generate(relaySource.Source)
 	}
-	return s.enableRelay(&sourceCfg, true)
+	return s.enableRelay(sourceCfg, true)
 }
 
 func (s *Server) enableRelay(sourceCfg *config.SourceConfig, needLock bool) error {
diff --git a/dm/worker/server_test.go b/dm/worker/server_test.go
index 1d078a3b88..ed9525bd5a 100644
--- a/dm/worker/server_test.go
+++ b/dm/worker/server_test.go
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ func (t *testServer) TestWatchSourceBoundEtcdCompact(c *C) {
 	rev, err := ha.DeleteSourceBound(etcdCli, cfg.Name)
 	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 	// step 2: start source at this worker
-	w, err := s.getOrStartWorker(&sourceCfg, true)
+	w, err := s.getOrStartWorker(sourceCfg, true)
 	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 	c.Assert(w.EnableHandleSubtasks(), IsNil)
 	// step 3: trigger etcd compaction and check whether we can receive it through watcher
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ func (t *testServer) TestWatchSourceBoundEtcdCompact(c *C) {
 		return s.getWorker(true) != nil
 	}), IsTrue)
 	cfg2 := s.getWorker(true).cfg
-	c.Assert(*cfg2, DeepEquals, sourceCfg)
+	c.Assert(cfg2, DeepEquals, sourceCfg)
 	cancel1()
 	wg.Wait()
 	c.Assert(s.stopWorker(sourceCfg.SourceID, true), IsNil)
@@ -435,7 +435,7 @@ func (t *testServer) TestWatchSourceBoundEtcdCompact(c *C) {
 		return s.getWorker(true) != nil
 	}), IsTrue)
 	cfg2 = s.getWorker(true).cfg
-	c.Assert(*cfg2, DeepEquals, sourceCfg)
+	c.Assert(cfg2, DeepEquals, sourceCfg)
 	cancel2()
 	wg.Wait()
 }
@@ -633,9 +633,8 @@ func checkRelayStatus(cli pb.WorkerClient, expect pb.Stage) bool {
 	return status.SourceStatus.RelayStatus.Stage == expect
 }
 
-func loadSourceConfigWithoutPassword(c *C) config.SourceConfig {
-	var sourceCfg config.SourceConfig
-	err := sourceCfg.LoadFromFile(sourceSampleFile)
+func loadSourceConfigWithoutPassword(c *C) *config.SourceConfig {
+	sourceCfg, err := config.LoadFromFile(sourceSampleFile)
 	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 	sourceCfg.From.Password = "" // no password set
 	return sourceCfg
diff --git a/dm/worker/subtask.toml b/dm/worker/subtask.toml
index f6b7e6c802..b46f8f0aa4 100644
--- a/dm/worker/subtask.toml
+++ b/dm/worker/subtask.toml
@@ -53,10 +53,6 @@ meta-file = "./syncer.subTaskA.meta"
 worker-count = 16
 batch = 1000
 
-
-# target database timezone, all timestamp event in binlog will translate to format time based on this timezone, default use local timezone
-# timezone = "Asia/Shanghai"
-
 # filter
 
 # block allow list provides a library to filter replicate on schema/table by given rules
diff --git a/dm/worker/task_checker_test.go b/dm/worker/task_checker_test.go
index 466536e4e7..ac3db40e38 100644
--- a/dm/worker/task_checker_test.go
+++ b/dm/worker/task_checker_test.go
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ func (s *testTaskCheckerSuite) TestCheck(c *check.C) {
 	cfg := loadSourceConfigWithoutPassword(c)
 	cfg.RelayDir = dir
 	cfg.MetaDir = dir
-	w, err := NewWorker(&cfg, nil, "")
+	w, err := NewWorker(cfg, nil, "")
 	c.Assert(err, check.IsNil)
 	w.closed.Store(false)
 
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ func (s *testTaskCheckerSuite) TestCheckTaskIndependent(c *check.C) {
 	cfg := loadSourceConfigWithoutPassword(c)
 	cfg.RelayDir = dir
 	cfg.MetaDir = dir
-	w, err := NewWorker(&cfg, nil, "")
+	w, err := NewWorker(cfg, nil, "")
 	c.Assert(err, check.IsNil)
 	w.closed.Store(false)
 
diff --git a/dm/worker/worker_test.go b/dm/worker/worker_test.go
index 878bba480c..0dc7aa9fdb 100644
--- a/dm/worker/worker_test.go
+++ b/dm/worker/worker_test.go
@@ -71,12 +71,12 @@ func (t *testServer) testWorker(c *C) {
 	defer func() {
 		NewRelayHolder = NewRealRelayHolder
 	}()
-	w, err := NewWorker(&cfg, etcdCli, "")
+	w, err := NewWorker(cfg, etcdCli, "")
 	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 	c.Assert(w.EnableRelay(), ErrorMatches, "init error")
 
 	NewRelayHolder = NewDummyRelayHolder
-	w, err = NewWorker(&cfg, etcdCli, "")
+	w, err = NewWorker(cfg, etcdCli, "")
 	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 	c.Assert(w.StatusJSON(""), HasLen, emptyWorkerStatusInfoJSONLength)
 
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ func (t *testServer2) TestTaskAutoResume(c *C) {
 		if s.closed.Load() {
 			return false
 		}
-		w, err2 := s.getOrStartWorker(&sourceConfig, true)
+		w, err2 := s.getOrStartWorker(sourceConfig, true)
 		c.Assert(err2, IsNil)
 		// we set sourceConfig.EnableRelay = true above
 		c.Assert(w.EnableRelay(), IsNil)
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ func (t *testWorkerFunctionalities) TestWorkerFunctionalities(c *C) {
 	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 
 	// start worker
-	w, err := NewWorker(&sourceCfg, etcdCli, "")
+	w, err := NewWorker(sourceCfg, etcdCli, "")
 	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 	defer w.Close()
 	go func() {
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ func (t *testWorkerFunctionalities) TestWorkerFunctionalities(c *C) {
 }
 
 func (t *testWorkerFunctionalities) testEnableRelay(c *C, w *Worker, etcdCli *clientv3.Client,
-	sourceCfg config.SourceConfig, cfg *Config) {
+	sourceCfg *config.SourceConfig, cfg *Config) {
 	c.Assert(w.EnableRelay(), IsNil)
 
 	c.Assert(w.relayEnabled.Load(), IsTrue)
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@ func (t *testWorkerFunctionalities) testDisableRelay(c *C, w *Worker) {
 }
 
 func (t *testWorkerFunctionalities) testEnableHandleSubtasks(c *C, w *Worker, etcdCli *clientv3.Client,
-	subtaskCfg config.SubTaskConfig, sourceCfg config.SourceConfig) {
+	subtaskCfg config.SubTaskConfig, sourceCfg *config.SourceConfig) {
 	c.Assert(w.EnableHandleSubtasks(), IsNil)
 	c.Assert(w.subTaskEnabled.Load(), IsTrue)
 
@@ -469,7 +469,7 @@ func (t *testWorkerEtcdCompact) TestWatchSubtaskStageEtcdCompact(c *C) {
 	sourceCfg.EnableRelay = false
 
 	// step 1: start worker
-	w, err := NewWorker(&sourceCfg, etcdCli, "")
+	w, err := NewWorker(sourceCfg, etcdCli, "")
 	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 	defer cancel()
@@ -585,7 +585,7 @@ func (t *testWorkerEtcdCompact) TestWatchRelayStageEtcdCompact(c *C) {
 	sourceCfg.MetaDir = c.MkDir()
 
 	// step 1: start worker
-	w, err := NewWorker(&sourceCfg, etcdCli, "")
+	w, err := NewWorker(sourceCfg, etcdCli, "")
 	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 	defer cancel()
diff --git a/dumpling/dumpling.go b/dumpling/dumpling.go
index b19a0f9b8d..975945f1eb 100644
--- a/dumpling/dumpling.go
+++ b/dumpling/dumpling.go
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ func (m *Dumpling) Init(ctx context.Context) error {
 	var err error
 	m.dumpConfig, err = m.constructArgs()
 	m.detectSQLMode(ctx)
+	m.dumpConfig.SessionParams["time_zone"] = "+00:00"
 	m.logger.Info("create dumpling", zap.Stringer("config", m.dumpConfig))
 	return err
 }
@@ -219,6 +220,10 @@ func (m *Dumpling) constructArgs() (*export.Config, error) {
 	dumpConfig.TableFilter = tableFilter
 	dumpConfig.CompleteInsert = true // always keep column name in `INSERT INTO` statements.
 	dumpConfig.Logger = m.logger.Logger
+	// force using UTC timezone
+	dumpConfig.SessionParams = map[string]interface{}{
+		"time_zone": "+00:00",
+	}
 
 	if cfg.Threads > 0 {
 		dumpConfig.Threads = cfg.Threads
diff --git a/loader/loader.go b/loader/loader.go
index b9809a0fba..1d951a204c 100644
--- a/loader/loader.go
+++ b/loader/loader.go
@@ -495,6 +495,7 @@ func (l *Loader) Init(ctx context.Context) (err error) {
 	if lcfg.To.Session == nil {
 		lcfg.To.Session = make(map[string]string)
 	}
+	lcfg.To.Session["time_zone"] = "+00:00"
 
 	hasSQLMode := false
 	for k := range l.cfg.To.Session {
diff --git a/pkg/ha/bound.go b/pkg/ha/bound.go
index 1d7eb67516..1aff76700b 100644
--- a/pkg/ha/bound.go
+++ b/pkg/ha/bound.go
@@ -185,11 +185,11 @@ func GetLastSourceBounds(cli *clientv3.Client) (map[string]SourceBound, int64, e
 // if source bound is empty, will return an empty sourceBound and an empty source config
 // if source bound is not empty but sourceConfig is empty, will return an error
 // if the source bound is different for over retryNum times, will return an error.
-func GetSourceBoundConfig(cli *clientv3.Client, worker string) (SourceBound, config.SourceConfig, int64, error) {
+func GetSourceBoundConfig(cli *clientv3.Client, worker string) (SourceBound, *config.SourceConfig, int64, error) {
 	var (
 		bound    SourceBound
 		newBound SourceBound
-		cfg      config.SourceConfig
+		cfg      *config.SourceConfig
 		ok       bool
 		retryNum = defaultGetSourceBoundConfigRetry
 	)
diff --git a/pkg/ha/bound_test.go b/pkg/ha/bound_test.go
index fa95f6c0b7..5a40b81e4d 100644
--- a/pkg/ha/bound_test.go
+++ b/pkg/ha/bound_test.go
@@ -125,20 +125,19 @@ func (t *testForEtcd) TestGetSourceBoundConfigEtcd(c *C) {
 	defer clearTestInfoOperation(c)
 
 	var (
-		worker   = "dm-worker-1"
-		source   = "mysql-replica-1"
-		bound    = NewSourceBound(source, worker)
-		cfg      config.SourceConfig
-		emptyCfg config.SourceConfig
+		worker = "dm-worker-1"
+		source = "mysql-replica-1"
+		bound  = NewSourceBound(source, worker)
 	)
-	c.Assert(cfg.LoadFromFile(sourceSampleFile), IsNil)
+	cfg, err := config.LoadFromFile(sourceSampleFile)
+	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 	cfg.SourceID = source
 	// no source bound and config
 	bound1, cfg1, rev1, err := GetSourceBoundConfig(etcdTestCli, worker)
 	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 	c.Assert(rev1, Greater, int64(0))
 	c.Assert(bound1.IsEmpty(), IsTrue)
-	c.Assert(cfg1, DeepEquals, emptyCfg)
+	c.Assert(cfg1, IsNil)
 
 	rev2, err := PutSourceBound(etcdTestCli, bound)
 	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
diff --git a/pkg/ha/ops_test.go b/pkg/ha/ops_test.go
index 3ad51caaff..80f129ae54 100644
--- a/pkg/ha/ops_test.go
+++ b/pkg/ha/ops_test.go
@@ -34,11 +34,11 @@ func (t *testForEtcd) TestOpsEtcd(c *C) {
 		bound         = NewSourceBound(source, worker)
 
 		emptyStage  Stage
-		sourceCfg   config.SourceConfig
 		subtaskCfg1 config.SubTaskConfig
 	)
 
-	c.Assert(sourceCfg.LoadFromFile(sourceSampleFile), IsNil)
+	sourceCfg, err := config.LoadFromFile(sourceSampleFile)
+	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 	sourceCfg.SourceID = source
 	c.Assert(subtaskCfg1.DecodeFile(subTaskSampleFile, true), IsNil)
 	subtaskCfg1.SourceID = source
diff --git a/pkg/ha/relay.go b/pkg/ha/relay.go
index b75268aa3a..9b041573a6 100644
--- a/pkg/ha/relay.go
+++ b/pkg/ha/relay.go
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ func GetRelayConfig(cli *clientv3.Client, worker string) (*config.SourceConfig,
 			return nil, 0, terror.ErrConfigMissingForBound.Generate(source)
 		}
 
-		return &cfg, rev2, nil
+		return cfg, rev2, nil
 	}
 	return nil, 0, terror.ErrWorkerRelayConfigChanging.Generate(worker, source, newSource)
 }
diff --git a/pkg/ha/relay_test.go b/pkg/ha/relay_test.go
index 08d62aca46..bd357cde2b 100644
--- a/pkg/ha/relay_test.go
+++ b/pkg/ha/relay_test.go
@@ -25,9 +25,9 @@ func (t *testForEtcd) TestGetRelayConfigEtcd(c *C) {
 	var (
 		worker = "dm-worker-1"
 		source = "mysql-replica-1"
-		cfg    config.SourceConfig
 	)
-	c.Assert(cfg.LoadFromFile(sourceSampleFile), IsNil)
+	cfg, err := config.LoadFromFile(sourceSampleFile)
+	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 	cfg.SourceID = source
 	// no relay source and config
 	cfg1, rev1, err := GetRelayConfig(etcdTestCli, worker)
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ func (t *testForEtcd) TestGetRelayConfigEtcd(c *C) {
 	cfg2, rev4, err := GetRelayConfig(etcdTestCli, worker)
 	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 	c.Assert(rev4, Equals, rev3)
-	c.Assert(*cfg2, DeepEquals, cfg)
+	c.Assert(cfg2, DeepEquals, cfg)
 
 	rev5, err := DeleteRelayConfig(etcdTestCli, worker)
 	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
diff --git a/pkg/ha/source.go b/pkg/ha/source.go
index de0d7c661f..bb9cc49684 100644
--- a/pkg/ha/source.go
+++ b/pkg/ha/source.go
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import (
 
 // PutSourceCfg puts the config of the upstream source into etcd.
 // k/v: sourceID -> source config.
-func PutSourceCfg(cli *clientv3.Client, cfg config.SourceConfig) (int64, error) {
+func PutSourceCfg(cli *clientv3.Client, cfg *config.SourceConfig) (int64, error) {
 	value, err := cfg.Toml()
 	if err != nil {
 		return 0, err
@@ -42,12 +42,12 @@ func PutSourceCfg(cli *clientv3.Client, cfg config.SourceConfig) (int64, error)
 // if the source config for the sourceID not exist, return with `err == nil`.
 // if the source name is "", it will return all source configs as a map{sourceID: config}.
 // if the source name is given, it will return a map{sourceID: config} whose length is 1.
-func GetSourceCfg(cli *clientv3.Client, source string, rev int64) (map[string]config.SourceConfig, int64, error) {
+func GetSourceCfg(cli *clientv3.Client, source string, rev int64) (map[string]*config.SourceConfig, int64, error) {
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(cli.Ctx(), etcdutil.DefaultRequestTimeout)
 	defer cancel()
 
 	var (
-		scm  = make(map[string]config.SourceConfig)
+		scm  = make(map[string]*config.SourceConfig)
 		resp *clientv3.GetResponse
 		err  error
 	)
@@ -77,8 +77,8 @@ func deleteSourceCfgOp(source string) clientv3.Op {
 	return clientv3.OpDelete(common.UpstreamConfigKeyAdapter.Encode(source))
 }
 
-func sourceCfgFromResp(source string, resp *clientv3.GetResponse) (map[string]config.SourceConfig, error) {
-	scm := make(map[string]config.SourceConfig)
+func sourceCfgFromResp(source string, resp *clientv3.GetResponse) (map[string]*config.SourceConfig, error) {
+	scm := make(map[string]*config.SourceConfig)
 	if resp.Count == 0 {
 		return scm, nil
 	} else if source != "" && resp.Count > 1 {
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ func sourceCfgFromResp(source string, resp *clientv3.GetResponse) (map[string]co
 		if err != nil {
 			return scm, terror.ErrConfigEtcdParse.Delegate(err, kv.Key)
 		}
-		scm[cfg.SourceID] = cfg
+		scm[cfg.SourceID] = &cfg
 	}
 	return scm, nil
 }
diff --git a/pkg/ha/source_test.go b/pkg/ha/source_test.go
index af7568c1e3..42cc9944bf 100644
--- a/pkg/ha/source_test.go
+++ b/pkg/ha/source_test.go
@@ -52,11 +52,10 @@ var _ = Suite(&testForEtcd{})
 func (t *testForEtcd) TestSourceEtcd(c *C) {
 	defer clearTestInfoOperation(c)
 
-	var cfg config.SourceConfig
-
-	c.Assert(cfg.LoadFromFile(sourceSampleFile), IsNil)
+	cfg, err := config.LoadFromFile(sourceSampleFile)
+	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 	source := cfg.SourceID
-	cfgExtra := cfg
+	cfgExtra := *cfg
 	cfgExtra.SourceID = "mysql-replica-2"
 
 	// no source config exist.
@@ -81,7 +80,7 @@ func (t *testForEtcd) TestSourceEtcd(c *C) {
 	c.Assert(cfg2, DeepEquals, cfg)
 
 	// put another source config.
-	rev2, err = PutSourceCfg(etcdTestCli, cfgExtra)
+	rev2, err = PutSourceCfg(etcdTestCli, &cfgExtra)
 	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 
 	// get all two config.
@@ -90,7 +89,7 @@ func (t *testForEtcd) TestSourceEtcd(c *C) {
 	c.Assert(rev3, Equals, rev2)
 	c.Assert(cfgM, HasLen, 2)
 	c.Assert(cfgM[source], DeepEquals, cfg)
-	c.Assert(cfgM[cfgExtra.SourceID], DeepEquals, cfgExtra)
+	c.Assert(cfgM[cfgExtra.SourceID], DeepEquals, &cfgExtra)
 
 	// delete the config.
 	deleteOp := deleteSourceCfgOp(source)
diff --git a/pkg/utils/common.go b/pkg/utils/common.go
index 922fc40005..65ef2711f7 100644
--- a/pkg/utils/common.go
+++ b/pkg/utils/common.go
@@ -20,15 +20,15 @@ import (
 	"regexp"
 	"strings"
 
-	"github.com/pingcap/dm/pkg/log"
-	"github.com/pingcap/dm/pkg/terror"
-
 	"github.com/pingcap/failpoint"
 	tmysql "github.com/pingcap/parser/mysql"
 	"github.com/pingcap/tidb-tools/pkg/dbutil"
 	"github.com/pingcap/tidb-tools/pkg/filter"
 	router "github.com/pingcap/tidb-tools/pkg/table-router"
 	"go.uber.org/zap"
+
+	"github.com/pingcap/dm/pkg/log"
+	"github.com/pingcap/dm/pkg/terror"
 )
 
 // TrimCtrlChars returns a slice of the string s with all leading
diff --git a/syncer/db_test.go b/syncer/db_test.go
index 104ede3b45..93af69963a 100644
--- a/syncer/db_test.go
+++ b/syncer/db_test.go
@@ -82,11 +82,7 @@ func (s *testDBSuite) resetBinlogSyncer(c *C) {
 		UseDecimal:     true,
 		VerifyChecksum: true,
 	}
-	if s.cfg.Timezone != "" {
-		timezone, err2 := time.LoadLocation(s.cfg.Timezone)
-		c.Assert(err2, IsNil)
-		cfg.TimestampStringLocation = timezone
-	}
+	cfg.TimestampStringLocation = time.UTC
 
 	if s.syncer != nil {
 		s.syncer.Close()
@@ -236,7 +232,6 @@ func (s *testDBSuite) TestTimezone(c *C) {
 	}
 
 	for _, testCase := range testCases {
-		s.cfg.Timezone = testCase.timezone
 		syncer := NewSyncer(s.cfg, nil)
 		c.Assert(syncer.genRouter(), IsNil)
 		s.resetBinlogSyncer(c)
@@ -260,9 +255,6 @@ func (s *testDBSuite) TestTimezone(c *C) {
 		err = txn.Commit()
 		c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 
-		location, err := time.LoadLocation(testCase.timezone)
-		c.Assert(err, IsNil)
-
 		idx := 0
 		for {
 			if idx >= len(testCase.sqls) {
@@ -285,7 +277,7 @@ func (s *testDBSuite) TestTimezone(c *C) {
 				c.Assert(ts.Valid, IsTrue)
 
 				raw := ev.Rows[0][1].(string)
-				data, err := time.ParseInLocation("2006-01-02 15:04:05", raw, location)
+				data, err := time.ParseInLocation("2006-01-02 15:04:05", raw, time.UTC)
 				c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 				c.Assert(data.Unix(), DeepEquals, ts.Int64)
 				idx++
diff --git a/syncer/syncer.go b/syncer/syncer.go
index 1e2168baa0..5d226ece23 100644
--- a/syncer/syncer.go
+++ b/syncer/syncer.go
@@ -2714,7 +2714,6 @@ func (s *Syncer) Update(cfg *config.SubTaskConfig) error {
 	s.cfg.RouteRules = cfg.RouteRules
 	s.cfg.FilterRules = cfg.FilterRules
 	s.cfg.ColumnMappingRules = cfg.ColumnMappingRules
-	s.cfg.Timezone = cfg.Timezone
 
 	// update timezone
 	s.setTimezone()
@@ -2767,17 +2766,8 @@ func (s *Syncer) UpdateFromConfig(cfg *config.SubTaskConfig) error {
 }
 
 func (s *Syncer) setTimezone() {
-	var loc *time.Location
-
-	if s.cfg.Timezone != "" {
-		loc, _ = time.LoadLocation(s.cfg.Timezone)
-	}
-	if loc == nil {
-		loc = time.Now().Location()
-		s.tctx.L().Warn("use system default time location")
-	}
-	s.tctx.L().Info("use timezone", log.WrapStringerField("location", loc))
-	s.timezone = loc
+	s.tctx.L().Info("use timezone", log.WrapStringerField("location", time.UTC))
+	s.timezone = time.UTC
 }
 
 func (s *Syncer) setSyncCfg() error {
diff --git a/tests/all_mode/conf/dm-task.yaml b/tests/all_mode/conf/dm-task.yaml
index c1de2ff48b..3d303f76a5 100644
--- a/tests/all_mode/conf/dm-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/all_mode/conf/dm-task.yaml
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 # enable-heartbeat: true
 heartbeat-update-interval: 1
 heartbeat-report-interval: 1
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/all_mode/data/db1.increment.sql b/tests/all_mode/data/db1.increment.sql
index a172eb5aa9..4509ea3a3a 100644
--- a/tests/all_mode/data/db1.increment.sql
+++ b/tests/all_mode/data/db1.increment.sql
@@ -6,10 +6,10 @@ update t1 set name = 'Catelyn Stark' where name = 'catelyn';
 -- test multi column index with generated column
 alter table t1 add column info json;
 alter table t1 add column gen_id int as (info->'$.id');
-alter table t1 add index multi_col(`id`, `gen_id`);
+alter table t1 add index multi_col(`id`, `gen_id`, ts);
 insert into t1 (id, name, info) values (4, 'gentest', '{"id": 123}');
 insert into t1 (id, name, info) values (5, 'gentest', '{"id": 124}');
-update t1 set info = '{"id": 120}' where id = 1;
+update t1 set info = '{"id": 120}', ts = '2021-05-11 12:02:05' where id = 1;
 update t1 set info = '{"id": 121}' where id = 2;
 update t1 set info = '{"id": 122}' where id = 3;
 
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ alter table t1 add unique key gen_idx(`gen_id`);
 update t1 set name = 'gentestxx' where gen_id = 123;
 
 insert into t1 (id, name, info) values (7, 'gentest', '{"id": 126}');
-update t1 set name = 'gentestxxxxxx' where gen_id = 124;
+update t1 set name = 'gentestxxxxxx', dt = '2021-05-11 12:03:05', ts = '2021-05-11 12:03:05' where gen_id = 124;
 -- delete with unique key
 delete from t1 where gen_id > 124;
 
@@ -43,3 +43,6 @@ alter table t1 add column big2 bigint unsigned;
 insert into t1 (id, name, info, lat, big1, big2) values (11, 'gentest', '{"id":130}', '123.123', -9223372036854775808, 0);
 insert into t1 (id, name, info, lat, big1, big2) values (12, 'gentest', '{"id":131}', '123.123', 9223372036854775807, 18446744073709551615);
 
+-- test with different session time_zone
+SET @@session.time_zone = '+07:00';
+insert into t1 (id, name, info) values (13, 'tztest', '{"id": 132}');
diff --git a/tests/all_mode/data/db1.increment0.sql b/tests/all_mode/data/db1.increment0.sql
index 99e094c474..fa406496ae 100644
--- a/tests/all_mode/data/db1.increment0.sql
+++ b/tests/all_mode/data/db1.increment0.sql
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
+SET @@SESSION.TIME_ZONE = "+03:00";
 use all_mode;
-insert into t1 (id, name) values (100, 'Eddard Stark');
+insert into t1 (id, name, ts) values (100, 'Eddard Stark', '2021-05-11 12:01:05');
diff --git a/tests/all_mode/data/db1.prepare.sql b/tests/all_mode/data/db1.prepare.sql
index 631062d40e..eef8893e84 100644
--- a/tests/all_mode/data/db1.prepare.sql
+++ b/tests/all_mode/data/db1.prepare.sql
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
 drop database if exists `all_mode`;
 create database `all_mode`;
 use `all_mode`;
-create table t1 (id int NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT, name varchar(20), PRIMARY KEY (id));
+create table t1 (
+    id int NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
+    name varchar(20),
+    dt datetime,
+    ts timestamp DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP ON UPDATE CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
+    PRIMARY KEY (id));
 -- test ANSI_QUOTES works with quote in string
-insert into t1 (id, name) values (1, 'ar"ya'), (2, 'catelyn');
+insert into t1 (id, name, dt, ts) values (1, 'ar"ya', now(), now()), (2, 'catelyn', '2021-05-11 10:01:05', '2021-05-11 10:01:05');
 
 -- test sql_mode=NO_AUTO_VALUE_ON_ZERO
 insert into t1 (id, name) values (0, 'lalala');
diff --git a/tests/all_mode/data/db2.increment.sql b/tests/all_mode/data/db2.increment.sql
index 524f4cacd3..bce1755e76 100644
--- a/tests/all_mode/data/db2.increment.sql
+++ b/tests/all_mode/data/db2.increment.sql
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 use all_mode;
 delete from t2 where name = 'Sansa';
 
-
 -- test sql_mode=NO_AUTO_VALUE_ON_ZERO
 insert into t2 (id, name) values (0,'haha')
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/all_mode/data/db2.prepare.sql b/tests/all_mode/data/db2.prepare.sql
index c7688c5a7c..fc8900ae73 100644
--- a/tests/all_mode/data/db2.prepare.sql
+++ b/tests/all_mode/data/db2.prepare.sql
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
 drop database if exists `all_mode`;
 create database `all_mode`;
 use `all_mode`;
-create table t2 (id int auto_increment, name varchar(20), primary key (`id`));
-insert into t2 (name) values ('Arya'), ('Bran'), ('Sansa');
+create table t2 (
+    id int NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
+    name varchar(20),
+    ts timestamp,
+    PRIMARY KEY (id));;
+insert into t2 (name, ts) values ('Arya', now()), ('Bran', '2021-05-11 10:01:05'), ('Sansa', NULL);
 
 -- test block-allow-list
 drop database if exists `ignore_db`;
diff --git a/tests/all_mode/run.sh b/tests/all_mode/run.sh
index cc153a8289..990b0b7857 100755
--- a/tests/all_mode/run.sh
+++ b/tests/all_mode/run.sh
@@ -171,7 +171,8 @@ function test_stop_task_before_checkpoint() {
 
 function run() {
 	run_sql_both_source "SET @@GLOBAL.SQL_MODE='ANSI_QUOTES,NO_AUTO_VALUE_ON_ZERO'"
-
+	run_sql_source1 "SET @@global.time_zone = '+01:00';"
+	run_sql_source2 "SET @@global.time_zone = '+02:00';"
 	test_session_config
 
 	test_query_timeout
@@ -338,6 +339,7 @@ function run() {
 	export GO_FAILPOINTS=''
 
 	run_sql_both_source "SET @@GLOBAL.SQL_MODE='ONLY_FULL_GROUP_BY,STRICT_TRANS_TABLES,NO_ZERO_IN_DATE,NO_ZERO_DATE,ERROR_FOR_DIVISION_BY_ZERO,NO_ENGINE_SUBSTITUTION'"
+	run_sql_both_source "SET @@global.time_zone = 'SYSTEM';"
 }
 
 cleanup_data all_mode
diff --git a/tests/compatibility/conf/dm-task.yaml b/tests/compatibility/conf/dm-task.yaml
index 17b0a9809c..5abe754c52 100644
--- a/tests/compatibility/conf/dm-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/compatibility/conf/dm-task.yaml
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 # enable-heartbeat: true
 heartbeat-update-interval: 1
 heartbeat-report-interval: 1
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/dm_syncer/conf/dm-syncer-1.toml b/tests/dm_syncer/conf/dm-syncer-1.toml
index 4826a33c03..2707f65d0d 100644
--- a/tests/dm_syncer/conf/dm-syncer-1.toml
+++ b/tests/dm_syncer/conf/dm-syncer-1.toml
@@ -52,10 +52,6 @@ binlog-pos = binlog-pos-placeholder-1
 worker-count = 16
 batch = 1000
 
-
-# target database timezone, all timestamp event in binlog will translate to format time based on this timezone, default use local timezone
-# timezone = "Asia/Shanghai"
-
 # filter
 
 # block allow list provides a library to filter replicate on schema/table by given rules
diff --git a/tests/dm_syncer/conf/dm-syncer-2.toml b/tests/dm_syncer/conf/dm-syncer-2.toml
index b3ab30e2d7..825746bab6 100644
--- a/tests/dm_syncer/conf/dm-syncer-2.toml
+++ b/tests/dm_syncer/conf/dm-syncer-2.toml
@@ -12,10 +12,6 @@ flavor = "mysql"
 worker-count = 16
 batch = 1000
 
-
-# target database timezone, all timestamp event in binlog will translate to format time based on this timezone, default use local timezone
-# timezone = "Asia/Shanghai"
-
 # filter
 
 # block allow list provides a library to filter replicate on schema/table by given rules
diff --git a/tests/dm_syncer/conf/dm-task.yaml b/tests/dm_syncer/conf/dm-task.yaml
index 53bb403668..1a8d9e122a 100644
--- a/tests/dm_syncer/conf/dm-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/dm_syncer/conf/dm-task.yaml
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 # enable-heartbeat: true
 heartbeat-update-interval: 1
 heartbeat-report-interval: 1
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 clean-dump-file: false
 
 target-database:
diff --git a/tests/dmctl_basic/conf/dm-task.yaml b/tests/dmctl_basic/conf/dm-task.yaml
index fe29e72e69..a048ca36b3 100644
--- a/tests/dmctl_basic/conf/dm-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/dmctl_basic/conf/dm-task.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: true
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 enable-heartbeat: false
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/dmctl_basic/conf/dm-task3.yaml b/tests/dmctl_basic/conf/dm-task3.yaml
index 13a759e3f4..a36d82e80c 100644
--- a/tests/dmctl_basic/conf/dm-task3.yaml
+++ b/tests/dmctl_basic/conf/dm-task3.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: true
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 enable-heartbeat: false
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/dmctl_basic/conf/get_source1.yaml b/tests/dmctl_basic/conf/get_source1.yaml
index 6e921fcf73..c73cc1ebb2 100644
--- a/tests/dmctl_basic/conf/get_source1.yaml
+++ b/tests/dmctl_basic/conf/get_source1.yaml
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ from:
   user: root
   password: '******'
   max-allowed-packet: null
-  session: {}
+  session:
+    time_zone: "+00:00"
   security: null
 purge:
   interval: 3600
diff --git a/tests/dmctl_basic/conf/get_source2.yaml b/tests/dmctl_basic/conf/get_source2.yaml
index 2948f2f878..114d04acc6 100644
--- a/tests/dmctl_basic/conf/get_source2.yaml
+++ b/tests/dmctl_basic/conf/get_source2.yaml
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ from:
   user: root
   password: '******'
   max-allowed-packet: null
-  session: {}
+  session:
+    time_zone: "+00:00"
   security: null
 purge:
   interval: 3600
diff --git a/tests/dmctl_basic/conf/get_task.yaml b/tests/dmctl_basic/conf/get_task.yaml
index 2c2c812fc0..8ce3b7dae3 100644
--- a/tests/dmctl_basic/conf/get_task.yaml
+++ b/tests/dmctl_basic/conf/get_task.yaml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ meta-schema: dm_meta
 enable-heartbeat: false
 heartbeat-update-interval: 1
 heartbeat-report-interval: 10
-timezone: Asia/Shanghai
+timezone: ""
 case-sensitive: false
 target-database:
   host: 127.0.0.1
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ target-database:
   max-allowed-packet: null
   session:
     tidb_txn_mode: optimistic
+    time_zone: "+00:00"
   security: null
 mysql-instances:
 - source-id: mysql-replica-01
diff --git a/tests/dmctl_command/conf/dm-task.yaml b/tests/dmctl_command/conf/dm-task.yaml
index 4c5473c5f5..21b6540b32 100644
--- a/tests/dmctl_command/conf/dm-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/dmctl_command/conf/dm-task.yaml
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 # enable-heartbeat: true
 heartbeat-update-interval: 1
 heartbeat-report-interval: 1
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 remove-meta: true
 
 target-database:
diff --git a/tests/drop_column_with_index/conf/dm-task.yaml b/tests/drop_column_with_index/conf/dm-task.yaml
index e29507a35e..54ae455a51 100644
--- a/tests/drop_column_with_index/conf/dm-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/drop_column_with_index/conf/dm-task.yaml
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 # enable-heartbeat: true
 heartbeat-update-interval: 1
 heartbeat-report-interval: 1
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/full_mode/conf/dm-task.yaml b/tests/full_mode/conf/dm-task.yaml
index 84c3c528f5..75c21d4f8b 100644
--- a/tests/full_mode/conf/dm-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/full_mode/conf/dm-task.yaml
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 # enable-heartbeat: true
 heartbeat-update-interval: 1
 heartbeat-report-interval: 1
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/full_mode/data/db1.prepare.sql b/tests/full_mode/data/db1.prepare.sql
index 77592b929f..98ea937311 100644
--- a/tests/full_mode/data/db1.prepare.sql
+++ b/tests/full_mode/data/db1.prepare.sql
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
 drop database if exists `full_mode`;
 create database `full_mode`;
 use `full_mode`;
-create table t1 (id int, name varchar(20), primary key(`id`));
-insert into t1 (id, name) values (1, 'arya'), (2, 'catelyn');
+create table t1 (
+    id int,
+    name varchar(20),
+    ts timestamp DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP ON UPDATE CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
+    primary key(`id`));
+insert into t1 (id, name, ts) values (1, 'arya', now()), (2, 'catelyn', '2021-05-11 10:01:03');
 insert into t1 (id, name) values (3, 'Eddard
 Stark');
 update t1 set name = 'Arya S\\\\tark' where id = 1;
diff --git a/tests/full_mode/data/db2.prepare.sql b/tests/full_mode/data/db2.prepare.sql
index 0eb75594ac..1f66dfc0fd 100644
--- a/tests/full_mode/data/db2.prepare.sql
+++ b/tests/full_mode/data/db2.prepare.sql
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 drop database if exists `full_mode`;
 create database `full_mode`;
 use `full_mode`;
-create table t2 (id int auto_increment, name varchar(20), primary key (`id`));
-insert into t2 (name) values ('Arya'), ('Bran'), ('Sansa');
+create table t2 (id int auto_increment, name varchar(20), dt datetime, ts timestamp, primary key (`id`));
+insert into t2 (name, dt, ts) values
+    ('Arya', now(), now()),
+    ('Bran', '2021-05-11 10:09:03', '2021-05-11 10:09:03'),
+    ('Sansa', NULL, NULL);
diff --git a/tests/full_mode/run.sh b/tests/full_mode/run.sh
index 27e3ba4b43..16346f3128 100755
--- a/tests/full_mode/run.sh
+++ b/tests/full_mode/run.sh
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ function fail_acquire_global_lock() {
 		"\"result\": true" 1
 
 	cp $cur/conf/dm-task.yaml $WORK_DIR/dm-task.yaml
-	sed -i '/timezone/i\ignore-checking-items: ["dump_privilege"]' $WORK_DIR/dm-task.yaml
+	sed -i '/heartbeat-report-interval/i\ignore-checking-items: ["dump_privilege"]' $WORK_DIR/dm-task.yaml
 	run_dm_ctl $WORK_DIR "127.0.0.1:$MASTER_PORT" \
 		"start-task $WORK_DIR/dm-task.yaml --remove-meta"
 
@@ -147,6 +147,8 @@ function run() {
 	empty_data
 
 	run_sql_both_source "SET @@GLOBAL.SQL_MODE='NO_BACKSLASH_ESCAPES'"
+	run_sql_source1 "SET @@global.time_zone = '+01:00';"
+	run_sql_source2 "SET @@global.time_zone = '+02:00';"
 
 	run_sql_file $cur/data/db1.prepare.sql $MYSQL_HOST1 $MYSQL_PORT1 $MYSQL_PASSWORD1
 	check_contains 'Query OK, 2 rows affected'
@@ -193,6 +195,7 @@ function run() {
 	check_metric_not_contains $WORKER1_PORT 'dm_worker_task_state{source_id="mysql-replica-01",task="test"}' 3
 	check_metric_not_contains $WORKER2_PORT 'dm_worker_task_state{source_id="mysql-replica-02",task="test"}' 3
 	run_sql_both_source "SET @@GLOBAL.SQL_MODE='ONLY_FULL_GROUP_BY,STRICT_TRANS_TABLES,NO_ZERO_IN_DATE,NO_ZERO_DATE,ERROR_FOR_DIVISION_BY_ZERO,NO_ENGINE_SUBSTITUTION'"
+	run_sql_both_source "SET @@GLOBAL.TIME_ZONE='SYSTEM';"
 }
 
 cleanup_data full_mode
diff --git a/tests/ha/conf/dm-task.yaml b/tests/ha/conf/dm-task.yaml
index e818fbf085..2610bdc6fa 100644
--- a/tests/ha/conf/dm-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/ha/conf/dm-task.yaml
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 # enable-heartbeat: true
 heartbeat-update-interval: 1
 heartbeat-report-interval: 1
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/ha_cases/conf/dm-task.yaml b/tests/ha_cases/conf/dm-task.yaml
index e818fbf085..2610bdc6fa 100644
--- a/tests/ha_cases/conf/dm-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/ha_cases/conf/dm-task.yaml
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 # enable-heartbeat: true
 heartbeat-update-interval: 1
 heartbeat-report-interval: 1
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/ha_cases/conf/dm-task2.yaml b/tests/ha_cases/conf/dm-task2.yaml
index dc233a8af1..ea23a367ff 100644
--- a/tests/ha_cases/conf/dm-task2.yaml
+++ b/tests/ha_cases/conf/dm-task2.yaml
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 # enable-heartbeat: true
 heartbeat-update-interval: 1
 heartbeat-report-interval: 1
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/ha_cases/conf/standalone-task.yaml b/tests/ha_cases/conf/standalone-task.yaml
index a201efcb43..be9c235e84 100644
--- a/tests/ha_cases/conf/standalone-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/ha_cases/conf/standalone-task.yaml
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 # enable-heartbeat: true
 heartbeat-update-interval: 1
 heartbeat-report-interval: 1
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/ha_cases/conf/standalone-task2.yaml b/tests/ha_cases/conf/standalone-task2.yaml
index 4de5d77670..d51f51df00 100644
--- a/tests/ha_cases/conf/standalone-task2.yaml
+++ b/tests/ha_cases/conf/standalone-task2.yaml
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 # enable-heartbeat: true
 heartbeat-update-interval: 1
 heartbeat-report-interval: 1
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/ha_cases2/conf/dm-task.yaml b/tests/ha_cases2/conf/dm-task.yaml
index e818fbf085..2610bdc6fa 100644
--- a/tests/ha_cases2/conf/dm-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/ha_cases2/conf/dm-task.yaml
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 # enable-heartbeat: true
 heartbeat-update-interval: 1
 heartbeat-report-interval: 1
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/ha_cases2/conf/dm-task2.yaml b/tests/ha_cases2/conf/dm-task2.yaml
index dc233a8af1..ea23a367ff 100644
--- a/tests/ha_cases2/conf/dm-task2.yaml
+++ b/tests/ha_cases2/conf/dm-task2.yaml
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 # enable-heartbeat: true
 heartbeat-update-interval: 1
 heartbeat-report-interval: 1
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/ha_cases2/conf/standalone-task.yaml b/tests/ha_cases2/conf/standalone-task.yaml
index a201efcb43..be9c235e84 100644
--- a/tests/ha_cases2/conf/standalone-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/ha_cases2/conf/standalone-task.yaml
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 # enable-heartbeat: true
 heartbeat-update-interval: 1
 heartbeat-report-interval: 1
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/ha_cases2/conf/standalone-task2.yaml b/tests/ha_cases2/conf/standalone-task2.yaml
index 4de5d77670..d51f51df00 100644
--- a/tests/ha_cases2/conf/standalone-task2.yaml
+++ b/tests/ha_cases2/conf/standalone-task2.yaml
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 # enable-heartbeat: true
 heartbeat-update-interval: 1
 heartbeat-report-interval: 1
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/ha_master/conf/dm-task.yaml b/tests/ha_master/conf/dm-task.yaml
index 16093491f9..e4f597edfa 100644
--- a/tests/ha_master/conf/dm-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/ha_master/conf/dm-task.yaml
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 # enable-heartbeat: true
 heartbeat-update-interval: 1
 heartbeat-report-interval: 1
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "localhost"
diff --git a/tests/handle_error/conf/double-source-no-sharding.yaml b/tests/handle_error/conf/double-source-no-sharding.yaml
index d2116075a0..c483994ec3 100644
--- a/tests/handle_error/conf/double-source-no-sharding.yaml
+++ b/tests/handle_error/conf/double-source-no-sharding.yaml
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ name: test
 task-mode: all
 is-sharding: false
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/handle_error/conf/double-source-optimistic.yaml b/tests/handle_error/conf/double-source-optimistic.yaml
index d1b6dda25e..f92e748d31 100644
--- a/tests/handle_error/conf/double-source-optimistic.yaml
+++ b/tests/handle_error/conf/double-source-optimistic.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: true
 shard-mode: "optimistic"
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/handle_error/conf/double-source-pessimistic.yaml b/tests/handle_error/conf/double-source-pessimistic.yaml
index 739ac8581c..85875049de 100644
--- a/tests/handle_error/conf/double-source-pessimistic.yaml
+++ b/tests/handle_error/conf/double-source-pessimistic.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: true
 shard-mode: "pessimistic"
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/handle_error/conf/single-source-no-sharding.yaml b/tests/handle_error/conf/single-source-no-sharding.yaml
index cf75a92fe5..e3c6c18da9 100644
--- a/tests/handle_error/conf/single-source-no-sharding.yaml
+++ b/tests/handle_error/conf/single-source-no-sharding.yaml
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ name: test
 task-mode: all
 is-sharding: false
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/http_apis/conf/dm-task.yaml b/tests/http_apis/conf/dm-task.yaml
index dfc6f8e108..4ffcab07cb 100644
--- a/tests/http_apis/conf/dm-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/http_apis/conf/dm-task.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: false
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 # enable-heartbeat: true
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/import_goroutine_leak/conf/dm-task.yaml b/tests/import_goroutine_leak/conf/dm-task.yaml
index 232e2b27ab..210bca31e2 100644
--- a/tests/import_goroutine_leak/conf/dm-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/import_goroutine_leak/conf/dm-task.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: full
 is-sharding: false
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 # enable-heartbeat: true
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/import_v10x/conf/task.yaml b/tests/import_v10x/conf/task.yaml
index fddd0483cb..0524883740 100644
--- a/tests/import_v10x/conf/task.yaml
+++ b/tests/import_v10x/conf/task.yaml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ meta-schema: dm_meta
 enable-heartbeat: false
 heartbeat-update-interval: 1
 heartbeat-report-interval: 1
-timezone: Asia/Shanghai
+timezone: ""
 case-sensitive: false
 target-database:
   host: 127.0.0.1
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ target-database:
     tidb_disable_txn_auto_retry: "off"
     tidb_retry_limit: "10"
     tidb_skip_utf8_check: "1"
+    time_zone: "+00:00"
   security: null
 mysql-instances:
 - source-id: mysql-replica-01
diff --git a/tests/incremental_mode/conf/dm-task.yaml b/tests/incremental_mode/conf/dm-task.yaml
index d21aeb8000..a9464ea524 100644
--- a/tests/incremental_mode/conf/dm-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/incremental_mode/conf/dm-task.yaml
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 # enable-heartbeat: true
 heartbeat-update-interval: 1
 heartbeat-report-interval: 1
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 clean-dump-file: false
 
 target-database:
diff --git a/tests/initial_unit/conf/dm-task.yaml b/tests/initial_unit/conf/dm-task.yaml
index f54d4e918a..5166d1f672 100644
--- a/tests/initial_unit/conf/dm-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/initial_unit/conf/dm-task.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: false
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 # enable-heartbeat: true
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/load_interrupt/conf/dm-task.yaml b/tests/load_interrupt/conf/dm-task.yaml
index 0c91d590ea..d09b9d0434 100644
--- a/tests/load_interrupt/conf/dm-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/load_interrupt/conf/dm-task.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: full
 is-sharding: false
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 # enable-heartbeat: true
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/many_tables/conf/dm-task.yaml b/tests/many_tables/conf/dm-task.yaml
index 7e6fb62aa3..6637f03585 100644
--- a/tests/many_tables/conf/dm-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/many_tables/conf/dm-task.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: false
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 # enable-heartbeat: true
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/new_relay/conf/dm-task.yaml b/tests/new_relay/conf/dm-task.yaml
index 3abc7a87f8..b083e8f2d2 100644
--- a/tests/new_relay/conf/dm-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/new_relay/conf/dm-task.yaml
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 # enable-heartbeat: true
 heartbeat-update-interval: 1
 heartbeat-report-interval: 1
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 clean-dump-file: false
 
 target-database:
diff --git a/tests/online_ddl/conf/dm-task.yaml b/tests/online_ddl/conf/dm-task.yaml
index 57decfc1cb..05be92be76 100644
--- a/tests/online_ddl/conf/dm-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/online_ddl/conf/dm-task.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: true
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 enable-heartbeat: false
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 online-ddl-scheme: online-ddl-scheme-placeholder
 
 target-database:
diff --git a/tests/only_dml/conf/dm-task.yaml b/tests/only_dml/conf/dm-task.yaml
index 14a890a045..ecf826dfb0 100644
--- a/tests/only_dml/conf/dm-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/only_dml/conf/dm-task.yaml
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 enable-heartbeat: true
 heartbeat-update-interval: 1
 heartbeat-report-interval: 1
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/print_status/conf/dm-task.yaml b/tests/print_status/conf/dm-task.yaml
index d7c9e4077f..d5a483479f 100644
--- a/tests/print_status/conf/dm-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/print_status/conf/dm-task.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: false
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 enable-heartbeat: false
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/relay_interrupt/conf/dm-task.yaml b/tests/relay_interrupt/conf/dm-task.yaml
index 25286d2653..b71ab8dace 100644
--- a/tests/relay_interrupt/conf/dm-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/relay_interrupt/conf/dm-task.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: false
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 # enable-heartbeat: true
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/retry_cancel/conf/dm-task.yaml b/tests/retry_cancel/conf/dm-task.yaml
index 1f8f3cc5c9..92d93803cf 100644
--- a/tests/retry_cancel/conf/dm-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/retry_cancel/conf/dm-task.yaml
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 name: test
 task-mode: all
 # enable-heartbeat: true
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/safe_mode/conf/dm-task.yaml b/tests/safe_mode/conf/dm-task.yaml
index 84d3de1161..a77684ff97 100644
--- a/tests/safe_mode/conf/dm-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/safe_mode/conf/dm-task.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: true
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 enable-heartbeat: false
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 ignore-checking-items: ["auto_increment_ID"]
 
 target-database:
diff --git a/tests/safe_mode/run.sh b/tests/safe_mode/run.sh
index 9de35a6ac7..16d1d49186 100755
--- a/tests/safe_mode/run.sh
+++ b/tests/safe_mode/run.sh
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ function consistency_none() {
 	dmctl_operate_source create $WORK_DIR/source2.yaml $SOURCE_ID2
 
 	cp $cur/conf/dm-task.yaml $WORK_DIR/dm-task.yaml
-	sed -i "/timezone/i\clean-dump-file: false" $WORK_DIR/dm-task.yaml
+	sed -i "/enable-heartbeat/i\clean-dump-file: false" $WORK_DIR/dm-task.yaml
 	sed -i "s/extra-args: \"\"/extra-args: \"--consistency none\"/g" $WORK_DIR/dm-task.yaml
 	dmctl_start_task "$WORK_DIR/dm-task.yaml" "--remove-meta"
 	check_sync_diff $WORK_DIR $cur/conf/diff_config.toml
diff --git a/tests/sequence_safe_mode/conf/dm-task.yaml b/tests/sequence_safe_mode/conf/dm-task.yaml
index 1ee51c3d72..7074d98535 100644
--- a/tests/sequence_safe_mode/conf/dm-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/sequence_safe_mode/conf/dm-task.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: true
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 enable-heartbeat: false
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/sequence_sharding/conf/dm-task.yaml b/tests/sequence_sharding/conf/dm-task.yaml
index 3203afcf6e..4dd936aac5 100644
--- a/tests/sequence_sharding/conf/dm-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/sequence_sharding/conf/dm-task.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: true
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 # enable-heartbeat: true
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/sequence_sharding_optimistic/conf/dm-task.yaml b/tests/sequence_sharding_optimistic/conf/dm-task.yaml
index 44f4a9b815..3a8afdfe5d 100644
--- a/tests/sequence_sharding_optimistic/conf/dm-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/sequence_sharding_optimistic/conf/dm-task.yaml
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ is-sharding: true
 shard-mode: "optimistic"
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 # enable-heartbeat: true
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/sequence_sharding_removemeta/conf/dm-task.yaml b/tests/sequence_sharding_removemeta/conf/dm-task.yaml
index b9d0f13617..1f5395c2c2 100644
--- a/tests/sequence_sharding_removemeta/conf/dm-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/sequence_sharding_removemeta/conf/dm-task.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: true
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 # enable-heartbeat: true
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/shardddl1/conf/double-source-optimistic.yaml b/tests/shardddl1/conf/double-source-optimistic.yaml
index ffee908e20..4ea5f0aa25 100644
--- a/tests/shardddl1/conf/double-source-optimistic.yaml
+++ b/tests/shardddl1/conf/double-source-optimistic.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: true
 shard-mode: "optimistic"
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/shardddl1/conf/double-source-pessimistic.yaml b/tests/shardddl1/conf/double-source-pessimistic.yaml
index fa62c11612..07f8c0c121 100644
--- a/tests/shardddl1/conf/double-source-pessimistic.yaml
+++ b/tests/shardddl1/conf/double-source-pessimistic.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: true
 shard-mode: "pessimistic"
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/shardddl1/conf/single-source-no-routes.yaml b/tests/shardddl1/conf/single-source-no-routes.yaml
index 9fbb7c596f..ea36ff2058 100644
--- a/tests/shardddl1/conf/single-source-no-routes.yaml
+++ b/tests/shardddl1/conf/single-source-no-routes.yaml
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ name: test
 task-mode: all
 is-sharding: false
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/shardddl1/conf/single-source-no-sharding.yaml b/tests/shardddl1/conf/single-source-no-sharding.yaml
index b65cdb73fb..90987e1399 100644
--- a/tests/shardddl1/conf/single-source-no-sharding.yaml
+++ b/tests/shardddl1/conf/single-source-no-sharding.yaml
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ name: test
 task-mode: all
 is-sharding: false
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/shardddl1/conf/single-source-optimistic.yaml b/tests/shardddl1/conf/single-source-optimistic.yaml
index 2ddd12e9ca..bf8501bbf0 100644
--- a/tests/shardddl1/conf/single-source-optimistic.yaml
+++ b/tests/shardddl1/conf/single-source-optimistic.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: true
 shard-mode: "optimistic"
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/shardddl1/conf/single-source-pessimistic.yaml b/tests/shardddl1/conf/single-source-pessimistic.yaml
index 0e966f76d5..1884130992 100644
--- a/tests/shardddl1/conf/single-source-pessimistic.yaml
+++ b/tests/shardddl1/conf/single-source-pessimistic.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: true
 shard-mode: "pessimistic"
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/shardddl2/conf/double-source-optimistic.yaml b/tests/shardddl2/conf/double-source-optimistic.yaml
index ffee908e20..4ea5f0aa25 100644
--- a/tests/shardddl2/conf/double-source-optimistic.yaml
+++ b/tests/shardddl2/conf/double-source-optimistic.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: true
 shard-mode: "optimistic"
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/shardddl2/conf/double-source-pessimistic.yaml b/tests/shardddl2/conf/double-source-pessimistic.yaml
index fa62c11612..07f8c0c121 100644
--- a/tests/shardddl2/conf/double-source-pessimistic.yaml
+++ b/tests/shardddl2/conf/double-source-pessimistic.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: true
 shard-mode: "pessimistic"
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/shardddl3/conf/double-source-optimistic.yaml b/tests/shardddl3/conf/double-source-optimistic.yaml
index 871b1fc378..c87c6448c3 100644
--- a/tests/shardddl3/conf/double-source-optimistic.yaml
+++ b/tests/shardddl3/conf/double-source-optimistic.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: true
 shard-mode: "optimistic"
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 ignore-checking-items: ["auto_increment_ID"]
 
 target-database:
diff --git a/tests/shardddl3/conf/double-source-pessimistic.yaml b/tests/shardddl3/conf/double-source-pessimistic.yaml
index 9821f1d649..db256a06ed 100644
--- a/tests/shardddl3/conf/double-source-pessimistic.yaml
+++ b/tests/shardddl3/conf/double-source-pessimistic.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: true
 shard-mode: "pessimistic"
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 ignore-checking-items: ["auto_increment_ID"]
 
 target-database:
diff --git a/tests/shardddl3/conf/single-source-optimistic-2.yaml b/tests/shardddl3/conf/single-source-optimistic-2.yaml
index 831ed9bdad..2439cce00a 100644
--- a/tests/shardddl3/conf/single-source-optimistic-2.yaml
+++ b/tests/shardddl3/conf/single-source-optimistic-2.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: true
 shard-mode: "optimistic"
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/shardddl3/conf/single-source-optimistic.yaml b/tests/shardddl3/conf/single-source-optimistic.yaml
index 2ddd12e9ca..bf8501bbf0 100644
--- a/tests/shardddl3/conf/single-source-optimistic.yaml
+++ b/tests/shardddl3/conf/single-source-optimistic.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: true
 shard-mode: "optimistic"
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/shardddl3/conf/single-source-pessimistic-2.yaml b/tests/shardddl3/conf/single-source-pessimistic-2.yaml
index 7801725515..c468c59ca1 100644
--- a/tests/shardddl3/conf/single-source-pessimistic-2.yaml
+++ b/tests/shardddl3/conf/single-source-pessimistic-2.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: true
 shard-mode: "pessimistic"
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/shardddl3/conf/single-source-pessimistic.yaml b/tests/shardddl3/conf/single-source-pessimistic.yaml
index 0e966f76d5..1884130992 100644
--- a/tests/shardddl3/conf/single-source-pessimistic.yaml
+++ b/tests/shardddl3/conf/single-source-pessimistic.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: true
 shard-mode: "pessimistic"
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/shardddl4/conf/double-source-optimistic.yaml b/tests/shardddl4/conf/double-source-optimistic.yaml
index 871b1fc378..c87c6448c3 100644
--- a/tests/shardddl4/conf/double-source-optimistic.yaml
+++ b/tests/shardddl4/conf/double-source-optimistic.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: true
 shard-mode: "optimistic"
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 ignore-checking-items: ["auto_increment_ID"]
 
 target-database:
diff --git a/tests/shardddl4/conf/double-source-pessimistic.yaml b/tests/shardddl4/conf/double-source-pessimistic.yaml
index 9821f1d649..db256a06ed 100644
--- a/tests/shardddl4/conf/double-source-pessimistic.yaml
+++ b/tests/shardddl4/conf/double-source-pessimistic.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: true
 shard-mode: "pessimistic"
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 ignore-checking-items: ["auto_increment_ID"]
 
 target-database:
diff --git a/tests/shardddl4/conf/single-source-optimistic-2.yaml b/tests/shardddl4/conf/single-source-optimistic-2.yaml
index 831ed9bdad..2439cce00a 100644
--- a/tests/shardddl4/conf/single-source-optimistic-2.yaml
+++ b/tests/shardddl4/conf/single-source-optimistic-2.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: true
 shard-mode: "optimistic"
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/shardddl4/conf/single-source-optimistic.yaml b/tests/shardddl4/conf/single-source-optimistic.yaml
index 2ddd12e9ca..bf8501bbf0 100644
--- a/tests/shardddl4/conf/single-source-optimistic.yaml
+++ b/tests/shardddl4/conf/single-source-optimistic.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: true
 shard-mode: "optimistic"
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/shardddl4/conf/single-source-pessimistic-2.yaml b/tests/shardddl4/conf/single-source-pessimistic-2.yaml
index 7801725515..c468c59ca1 100644
--- a/tests/shardddl4/conf/single-source-pessimistic-2.yaml
+++ b/tests/shardddl4/conf/single-source-pessimistic-2.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: true
 shard-mode: "pessimistic"
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/shardddl4/conf/single-source-pessimistic.yaml b/tests/shardddl4/conf/single-source-pessimistic.yaml
index 0e966f76d5..1884130992 100644
--- a/tests/shardddl4/conf/single-source-pessimistic.yaml
+++ b/tests/shardddl4/conf/single-source-pessimistic.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: true
 shard-mode: "pessimistic"
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/sharding/conf/dm-task.yaml b/tests/sharding/conf/dm-task.yaml
index 7e72a97cf3..fa225c0785 100644
--- a/tests/sharding/conf/dm-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/sharding/conf/dm-task.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: true
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 # enable-heartbeat: true
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/sharding2/conf/dm-task.yaml b/tests/sharding2/conf/dm-task.yaml
index 60b8b87b68..11a406fb9c 100644
--- a/tests/sharding2/conf/dm-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/sharding2/conf/dm-task.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: true
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 # enable-heartbeat: true
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/start_task/conf/dm-task.yaml b/tests/start_task/conf/dm-task.yaml
index be785ce8e9..1114b35704 100644
--- a/tests/start_task/conf/dm-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/start_task/conf/dm-task.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: false
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 # enable-heartbeat: true
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"
diff --git a/tests/tls/conf/dm-task.yaml b/tests/tls/conf/dm-task.yaml
index 89ffbf6b1c..990666658d 100644
--- a/tests/tls/conf/dm-task.yaml
+++ b/tests/tls/conf/dm-task.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ task-mode: all
 is-sharding: false
 meta-schema: "dm_meta"
 # enable-heartbeat: true
-timezone: "Asia/Shanghai"
 
 target-database:
   host: "127.0.0.1"