China Country Code (+86): How to Dial, Area Codes & Mobile Prefixes
China's country code is +86. Dial from US: 011 + 86 + number. Full list of 22 city area codes, mobile carrier prefixes (China Mobile, Unicom, Telecom), and troubleshooting tips.
China Country Code (+86)
Complete guide to calling mainland China - the world's most populous country with 1.4 billion people and WeChat dominance
🇨🇳Quick Facts
📞How to Dial China
Universal Format
Works from any country. For mobile numbers, dial +86 followed by the 11-digit number starting with 1.
WeChat: China's Super App
1.2+ billion monthly active users
Important: WhatsApp, Google Voice, Skype, and most Western apps are blocked in China. WeChat is the primary communication method - even businesses use it for customer service.
Shanghai: Economic Hub
Area code: 21 | Financial center of China
🏙️Major City Area Codes
| City | Area Code | Region | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing | 10 | Capital | +86-10-XXXX-XXXX |
| Shanghai | 21 | East Coast | +86-21-XXXX-XXXX |
| Guangzhou | 20 | South | +86-20-XXXX-XXXX |
| Shenzhen | 755 | South | +86-755-XXXX-XXXX |
| Chengdu | 28 | Southwest | +86-28-XXXX-XXXX |
| Hangzhou | 571 | East | +86-571-XXXX-XXXX |
| Wuhan | 27 | Central | +86-27-XXXX-XXXX |
| Xian | 29 | Northwest | +86-29-XXXX-XXXX |
| Chongqing | 23 | Southwest | +86-23-XXXX-XXXX |
| Tianjin | 22 | North | +86-22-XXXX-XXXX |
| Nanjing | 25 | East | +86-25-XXXX-XXXX |
| Shenyang | 24 | Northeast | +86-24-XXXX-XXXX |
| Dalian | 411 | Northeast | +86-411-XXXX-XXXX |
| Qingdao | 532 | East | +86-532-XXXX-XXXX |
| Suzhou | 512 | East | +86-512-XXXX-XXXX |
| Zhengzhou | 371 | Central | +86-371-XXXX-XXXX |
| Changsha | 731 | Central | +86-731-XXXX-XXXX |
| Kunming | 871 | Southwest | +86-871-XXXX-XXXX |
| Harbin | 451 | Northeast | +86-451-XXXX-XXXX |
| Xiamen | 592 | Southeast | +86-592-XXXX-XXXX |
| Fuzhou | 591 | Southeast | +86-591-XXXX-XXXX |
| Jinan | 531 | East | +86-531-XXXX-XXXX |
Note: Chinese landline area codes are 2-3 digits. Drop any leading 0 when dialing from abroad. See our complete China area codes guide for all 346+ codes organized by region.
📱Mobile Carriers
China has three state-owned mobile carriers. Mobile numbers are 11 digits and always start with 1. The first three digits indicate the carrier (see our full mobile prefix lookup guide):
China Mobile
China Unicom
China Telecom
📱 Mobile Format: All Chinese mobile numbers are 11 digits: 1XX-XXXX-XXXX. When calling from abroad: +86-1XX-XXXX-XXXX (no area code needed for mobile).
🔍Chinese Mobile Prefix Lookup: Carrier by Number
Chinese mobile numbers always start with +86 1XX. The first three digits after +86 identify the mobile carrier. If you received a call from a number starting with 86 186, 86 138, or 86 180, use this table to identify the carrier:
| Prefix (+86 ...) | Carrier | Example Number |
|---|---|---|
| 130 | China Unicom | +86 130 XXXX XXXX |
| 131 | China Unicom | +86 131 XXXX XXXX |
| 132 | China Unicom | +86 132 XXXX XXXX |
| 133 | China Telecom | +86 133 XXXX XXXX |
| 134 | China Mobile | +86 134 XXXX XXXX |
| 135 | China Mobile | +86 135 XXXX XXXX |
| 136 | China Mobile | +86 136 XXXX XXXX |
| 137 | China Mobile | +86 137 XXXX XXXX |
| 138 | China Mobile | +86 138 XXXX XXXX |
| 139 | China Mobile | +86 139 XXXX XXXX |
| 150 | China Mobile | +86 150 XXXX XXXX |
| 153 | China Telecom | +86 153 XXXX XXXX |
| 155 | China Unicom | +86 155 XXXX XXXX |
| 156 | China Unicom | +86 156 XXXX XXXX |
| 173 | China Telecom | +86 173 XXXX XXXX |
| 180 | China Telecom | +86 180 XXXX XXXX |
| 181 | China Telecom | +86 181 XXXX XXXX |
| 182 | China Mobile | +86 182 XXXX XXXX |
| 185 | China Unicom | +86 185 XXXX XXXX |
| 186 | China Unicom | +86 186 XXXX XXXX |
| 187 | China Mobile | +86 187 XXXX XXXX |
| 188 | China Mobile | +86 188 XXXX XXXX |
| 189 | China Telecom | +86 189 XXXX XXXX |
| 198 | China Mobile | +86 198 XXXX XXXX |
| 199 | China Telecom | +86 199 XXXX XXXX |
Note: China has had mobile number portability since November 2019, so a number's prefix may no longer match its current carrier. The prefix only indicates the original carrier assignment.
🏙️Area Code 755: Shenzhen
Shenzhen — China's Tech Capital
Home to Huawei, Tencent, BYD, and DJI
Shenzhen is a major city in Guangdong Province, bordering Hong Kong. It's China's technology and manufacturing hub with a population of 17+ million. If you see a number starting with 86755 or +86 755, it's a Shenzhen landline. Read our full Shenzhen area code 755 guide.
Understanding "0086" and "00861" Phone Numbers
If you see a number starting with 0086 or 00861, it's a Chinese number using the international dialing format common in Europe and Asia:
From the USA, replace "00" with "011": 011-86-... From mobile phones, use "+" instead: +86-...
🔒Internet Restrictions in China
❌ Blocked Services
- • Google (Voice, Meet, etc.)
- • Skype (limited)
- • Facebook Messenger
- • Telegram
- • Most Western VoIP apps
✅ Working Alternatives
- • WeChat - Best option
- • Traditional phone calls
- • BubblyPhone (VoIP to phone)
- • QQ (Tencent)
- • DingTalk (business)
- • VPN + blocked apps (unreliable)
💰Cost to Call China
| Service | Rate per Minute | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| BubblyPhone | $0.01-0.02/min | Best rates, reliable connection |
| AT&T | $3.00-5.00/min | Standard international |
| Verizon | $2.50-4.00/min | Without plan |
| T-Mobile | $0.25/min or included | Magenta MAX included |
| Free | App-to-app only, most popular |
💡 Pro Tip: For calling landlines or people without WeChat, BubblyPhone offers rates up to 99% cheaper than traditional carriers. Perfect for reaching elderly relatives or businesses.
🕐Time Zone
China uses a single time zone (CST, UTC+8) across the entire country, despite spanning 5 geographical time zones. China does not observe daylight saving time.
- • 7-9 AM EST = 8-10 PM in China (evening)
- • 8-10 PM EST = 9-11 AM next day in China (morning)
⚠️ Different Country Codes
These regions have separate telephone systems and country codes. Do not use +86 for Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan.
🔧Troubleshooting: Why Is My Call to China Not Going Through?
1. Missing Country Code (+86)
Always dial +86 before the number. Without it, your call will fail or reach a wrong number domestically.
2. Including the Leading 0 in the Area Code
Inside China, area codes start with 0 (e.g., 010 for Beijing). When calling from abroad, drop the leading 0 — dial +86 10, not +86 010.
3. Using a VoIP App Blocked by the Great Firewall
WhatsApp, Google Voice, Skype, and most Western VoIP apps are blocked in China. Use WeChat for app calls, or BubblyPhone which connects directly to phone networks (not blocked).
4. Wrong Number of Digits
Chinese mobile numbers are always 11 digits (starting with 1). Landlines are 7-8 digits plus a 2-3 digit area code. If your total digit count is wrong, the call will fail.
5. Confusing Hong Kong (+852) / Taiwan (+886) with Mainland China (+86)
These regions have completely separate phone systems. Using +86 for a Hong Kong or Taiwan number will not work — use +852 or +886 respectively.
6. Carrier Spam Filtering
Some Chinese carriers aggressively filter international calls as spam. If calls connect but are immediately dropped, try calling from a different number or use BubblyPhone for better routing.
Start Calling China Today
Get crystal-clear calls to China at just $0.01-0.02/min. No app downloads required in China - your call goes directly to their phone.