China Country Code (+86): Complete Guide to Calling China
Complete guide to China country code +86. Learn how to dial China from abroad, understand Beijing, Shanghai area codes, mobile operators (China Mobile, Unicom, Telecom), WeChat dominance, and save money on calls.
Quick Facts: China Country Code
| Country Code | +86 |
| International Prefix | 00 (from China) |
| Number Format | +86 XXX XXXX XXXX (mobile) |
| Time Zone | CST (UTC+8) |
| Major Carriers | China Mobile, Unicom, Telecom |
How to Dial China
The China country code is +86. This applies to mainland China only. Hong Kong (+852), Macau (+853), and Taiwan (+886) use different codes.
From the USA
Format: 011 + 86 + Area Code + Number
Example (Beijing): 011-86-10-XXXX-XXXX
From UK/Europe
Format: 00 + 86 + Area Code + Number
Example (Shanghai): 00-86-21-XXXX-XXXX
Mobile Numbers
Format: +86 + 11-digit number (starts with 1)
Example: +86-138-XXXX-XXXX
China Area Codes
| City | Area Code |
|---|---|
| Beijing | 10 |
| Shanghai | 21 |
| Guangzhou | 20 |
| Shenzhen | 755 |
| Chengdu | 28 |
| Hangzhou | 571 |
Mobile Carriers in China
China has three state-owned mobile carriers:
- China Mobile (~57%): Largest carrier, prefixes 134-139, 147, 150-152, 157-159, 178, 182-184, 187-188, 198
- China Unicom (~29%): Second largest, prefixes 130-132, 145, 155-156, 166, 175-176, 185-186
- China Telecom (~14%): Third carrier, prefixes 133, 149, 153, 173, 177, 180-181, 189, 199
📱 Chinese Mobile Format: All mobile numbers are 11 digits starting with 1. Format: 1XX-XXXX-XXXX
WeChat: The Essential App
96% of Chinese smartphone users use WeChat (1.2+ billion users). WhatsApp, Skype, Google Voice, and most Western apps are blocked in China. WeChat is the primary way to communicate with people in China - even businesses use it.
Cost to Call China
| Service | Rate |
|---|---|
| BubblyPhone | $0.01-0.02/min |
| Carrier (AT&T/Verizon) | $3.00-5.00/min |
| T-Mobile | $0.25/min or included |
| Free (app-to-app) |
Time Zone
China uses a single time zone (CST, UTC+8) across the entire country. No daylight saving time.
- 8 PM EST = 9 AM next day in China
- 7 AM EST = 8 PM same day in China
Pro Tips for Calling China
- Use WeChat: Most popular app in China - free calls over internet
- VPN Required: Western apps are blocked; WeChat works natively
- Mobile = 11 digits: Chinese mobile numbers always start with 1
- Different codes: Hong Kong (+852), Macau (+853), Taiwan (+886) are NOT +86
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