How to Call China From the USA and Fix Failed Calls
To call mainland China from a US cell phone, dial +86 followed by the Chinese number. From most US landlines, dial 011 86 followed by the number. For a Chinese landline, keep the city code and drop its leading zero. For a Chinese mobile, keep all 11 digits and skip the city code.
If the number looks right and the call still fails, pay attention to what happens before it rings. A recording from your carrier, a busy tone and a business menu that won't accept an extension point to different problems.
Dial China from a cell phone or a US landline
On an iPhone or Android phone, open the Phone app and hold 0 on the keypad to enter +. Type 86, followed by the Chinese number. You can save a contact in this format and use it again from another country. If your browser dialer already has China selected, check whether it adds +86 to the number you enter.
On a US landline, start with 011 86. If you're calling from an office or hotel phone, ask whether you need to dial an outside-line digit first and whether that line permits international calls. See SayFone's China dialing and area code guide for a city-by-city reference.
| Number you have | Dial on a US mobile | Dial on a US landline |
|---|---|---|
| Beijing landline written as 010 8531 4000 | +86 10 8531 4000 | 011 86 10 8531 4000 |
| Shanghai landline written as 021 XXXX XXXX | +86 21 XXXX XXXX | 011 86 21 XXXX XXXX |
| Mainland mobile written as 138 XXXX XXXX | +86 138 XXXX XXXX | 011 86 138 XXXX XXXX |
The first row is the public number the US State Department lists for the US Embassy in Beijing. Use the embassy or consulate's published contact details if you need its services. If you are trying to reach the Chinese Embassy in Washington, start with its US consular contact page and use the US number listed for your enquiry.
Check the number before you call again
If a contact sent you +86 (0)21 followed by a Shanghai number, enter +86 21 and the remaining digits. The zero belongs to China's domestic dialing format. If you already copied +86 from the listing, enter the code once. Guangdong's official dialing guide explains when to use the domestic zero.
For a mobile number, keep the initial 1. An 11-digit number starting with 1 generally goes directly after +86. If a hotel gives you a room extension, dial the hotel's main number, then enter the extension when the greeting prompts you. See how to dial an extension on iPhone if the switchboard needs a pause.
Ask for a full international number if the listing shows only a short service code or a local customer-service number. Some of those numbers are meant for callers within China. A hotel, airline or supplier may list a separate number for international callers. Hong Kong uses +852 and Macao uses +853. Follow the country code on the contact's official listing.
Work out why the call failed
You hear a recording before the first ring. Check the prefix and ask your carrier whether your line allows international dialing to China. If you have UScellular, see how to check your UScellular or T-Mobile China rate before trying again. A valid number can still be blocked by your account settings.
The call rings, then goes to voicemail. Send a message first if you can. Tell the person when you're calling and that an unfamiliar number may appear. If you're calling a business, look up its hours in China Standard Time. A call at 8 p.m. in New York during US standard time reaches Beijing at 9 a.m. the next day. During US daylight saving time, call at 9 p.m. New York time to reach the same hour in Beijing.
You reach the main line but can't get through the menu. Ask the office for a direct number or have reception transfer you. If you hear a prompt before you can enter digits, wait for it to finish. Some browser dialers handle extensions differently from your phone's keypad.
An app call connects on your side only. Check whether the person in China can use the same app where they are. For example, read what works for WhatsApp in China before relying on it for a scheduled call. When you have a working Chinese phone number, a call routed to that number lets the recipient answer on their usual phone.
Pick a way to call and check the cost
Your US carrier may already include calls to China. Check the number type and any allowance on your plan before you dial. A call placed through your carrier's Wi-Fi Calling feature can still carry the international rate. If you already pay for a plan with included China minutes, check how many minutes you have left.
If you need to call a landline or mobile without adding a carrier plan, open SayFone's US-to-China calling page in your browser. Check the price shown, sign in, and add calling credit. The page lists calls from 8¢ per minute. At that rate, a ten-minute conversation uses $0.80 in credit. The person in China answers on their normal phone. See the China call rates before dialing.
Visiting China yourself? A China travel eSIM can supply mobile data during your visit. If your plan is data-only, use a separate calling service over that data when you need to reach a phone number.
