How to Call China With UScellular and Check the Cost
To call China with UScellular while you're in the US, open the Phone app and dial +86 followed by the Chinese number. Keep all 11 digits of a mainland mobile number. For a landline, include the city code without its domestic zero. Check the price on your account first, especially if your UScellular line has moved to T-Mobile.
For an occasional call, there's a simpler way to avoid an international add-on. Call China from the US with SayFone over Wi-Fi or mobile data in your browser. SayFone lists calls from 8¢ per minute, below the standard and discounted China rates in UScellular's published legacy sheet. Check the live rate for the number you're dialing and whether your carrier plan already includes the call.
What to enter on a UScellular phone
Hold 0 on the keypad until the + appears. Enter 86, then the number. For a Chinese mobile written as 138 XXXX XXXX, dial +86 138 XXXX XXXX. For a Shanghai landline listed as 021 XXXX XXXX, dial +86 21 XXXX XXXX. If the number you were given already starts with +86, save it in that format and dial it as written.
As a real example, the State Department lists +86 10 8531 4000 for the US Embassy in Beijing. 10 is Beijing's city code. If you're trying to contact the Chinese Embassy in Washington, check the embassy's US consular contact information for the appropriate US number. For more formats and steps when a call fails, see how to call China from the USA.
How much does UScellular charge to call China?
UScellular's international dialing rate sheet, archived in August 2025, listed $3.15 per minute to China at its standard rate and $0.13 per minute with the $3.99 monthly International Dialing Plan. Those prices are from the carrier's older schedule. Your own line's current terms determine the bill.
| Calling option | Published rate | Ten minutes |
|---|---|---|
| UScellular legacy standard rate | $3.15 per minute | $31.50 |
| UScellular legacy International Dialing Plan | $0.13 per minute plus $3.99 monthly | $1.30 in usage, or $5.29 if you add the plan that month |
| SayFone pay-as-you-go | From $0.08 per minute | From $0.80 in calling credit |
These examples use ten billed minutes and exclude any applicable taxes or fees. Buying SayFone credit adds to your balance. The amount deducted for the call is based on your usage. If your UScellular add-on is already on the bill, compare the usage charges. If your plan includes calls to China, use the minutes you already pay for.
If your UScellular line moved to T-Mobile
T-Mobile acquired UScellular's wireless operations in August 2025. Open the account or bill that currently manages your line. If you're now on T-Mobile, use its international calling rate lookup and select China. T-Mobile advertises Stateside International Talk at $15 per month and lists China for both mobile and landline calls with that feature. Check whether your line already includes China calls before adding anything.
When you speak to support, say where you're calling from, the destination country and whether the number is a mobile or landline. For example, ask, “I'm in Iowa and want to call a mainland China mobile number. What will ten minutes cost on my current line?” Ask whether international dialing is enabled and whether the quoted rate requires an add-on. The carrier's travel and roaming prices apply when you take your US phone abroad.
Call China from your browser if you only need a few minutes
Open SayFone's China calling page for US callers and check the per-minute price. Sign in, add calling credit, then dial the full +86 number in the web dialer. Allow microphone access when your browser prompts you. The person in China can answer on their regular mobile or landline. They can pick up without creating a SayFone account.
This works over your existing internet connection. You can use Wi-Fi, UScellular or T-Mobile data, or a separate data plan. The phone call goes through SayFone and uses SayFone credit. When you tap the usual Phone app's call button, the call can still go through your carrier. For that route, see how international Wi-Fi Calling is billed.
If you make calls to China regularly, compare the bill for a typical month. Start with your expected minutes, multiply by the current rate, and add the monthly fee for any new add-on. Check SayFone's China rates and monthly calling credit plans as well. Keep the live number type and the total cost in view when you compare.
If the call stops before it rings
Check for a duplicate country code or a zero before the landline city code. If a carrier recording plays before any ring, ask support if your account can place an international call. If a Chinese business gave you a short or domestic service number, ask for an international number or the local front desk's full number. For app availability and other ways to reach someone, read the SayFone guide to calling China.
