Drop the leading 0 from area codes
When Chinese contacts give you a landline number, it often starts with 0 (e.g. 010 for Beijing). When dialing internationally, remove this leading 0. Dial +86 10 XXXX XXXX, not +86 010 XXXX XXXX.
Quick Answer
How to Call China from Australia
To call China from Australia, dial 0011 (or +) then 86 (China's country code) followed by the area code and local number for landlines, or the full 11-digit mobile number. With Sayfone, calls to China cost just $0.08/min from your browser — no app install required.
🇦🇺From Australia
To China🇨🇳
$0.08
Per minute
+86
Country code
HD
Call quality
Landline rate
$0.08/min
Mobile rate
$0.08/min
Same per-minute Sayfone rate for landline and mobile.
Average call quality
Whether you're coordinating business with Shanghai, checking in with family in Guangzhou, or staying in touch as a student, the dialing process is straightforward once you know the format.
Steps at a glance
- Dial Australia's exit code: 0011 (landline) or + (mobile)
- Dial China's country code: 86
- Dial the area code (landlines) or mobile number (starting with 1)
- Dial the local subscriber number
Sources
- 1Vodafone Australia – How to call an international number
Exit code and dialing format for Australian callers
- 2Wikipedia – Telephone numbers in China
China numbering plan, mobile and landline formats
DIALING GUIDE
Step-by-Step: Calling China from Australia
Follow these steps to dial any Chinese landline or mobile number from an Australian phone. The process differs slightly between landlines and mobiles, so we cover both.
Dial Australia's exit code
From an Australian landline, dial 0011. From an Australian mobile, you can use the + symbol instead (press and hold 0 on most handsets).
0011 or +
Dial China's country code
Enter 86, which is China's international country code. This routes your call to mainland China's telephone network.
0011 86 …
Dial the area code (landlines only)
For Chinese landlines, enter the city area code without the leading 0. Major area codes include Beijing (10), Shanghai (21), Guangzhou (20), and Shenzhen (755). The area code is 2–4 digits.
0011 86 21 XXXX XXXX (Shanghai landline)
Dial the mobile prefix and number (mobiles only)
Chinese mobile numbers are 11 digits long and always start with 1 (common prefixes include 13x, 15x, 17x, 18x, 19x). No area code is needed — just dial all 11 digits after the country code.
0011 86 138 XXXX XXXX (mobile)
Dial the subscriber number
Complete the remaining digits of the phone number. Landline subscriber numbers are typically 7–8 digits. For mobiles, the 11 digits entered in the previous step already include the subscriber number.
0011 86 10 XXXX XXXX (Beijing landline, full string)
Dialing format reference
+86
Use these patterns when entering a full international number to +86.
Mobile
+86 1XX XXXX XXXX (11 digits, no area code)
Landline
+86 [area code] [subscriber number] (area code 2–4 digits + 7–8 digit number)
- +86 10 XXXX XXXX (Beijing landline)
- +86 21 XXXX XXXX (Shanghai landline)
- +86 755 XXXX XXXX (Shenzhen landline)
- +86 138 XXXX XXXX (mobile)
Major city area codes
Beijing10
Shanghai21
Guangzhou20
Shenzhen755
Chengdu28
Wuhan27
Chongqing23
Tianjin22
Sources
- 1Vodafone Australia – International Calls
Australia exit code 0011 and + dialing instructions
- 2Wikipedia – Telephone numbers in China
China mobile format, area codes, numbering plan
- 3IDD.com.au – International Dialling Codes
Confirms Australia IDD code is 0011 for voice calls
- 4Beijing Municipal Government – International Calls FAQ
Official China-side dialing guidance
IMPORTANT DETAILS
Dialing Rules and Formatting Tips for China
Chinese phone numbers follow specific formatting conventions. Understanding these rules helps you avoid common mistakes and ensures your call connects on the first attempt.
Mobile numbers need no area code
Chinese mobile numbers are 11 digits and begin with 1. Dial them directly after the country code: +86 1XX XXXX XXXX. Do not add an area code before a mobile number.
Hong Kong and Macau use different codes
Hong Kong uses country code +852 and Macau uses +853. These are not part of the mainland +86 numbering plan. If your contact is in Hong Kong or Macau, use the appropriate code instead.
Two-digit vs. three-digit area codes
Major cities like Beijing (10), Shanghai (21), and Guangzhou (20) use two-digit area codes with 8-digit local numbers. Smaller cities use three-digit area codes (e.g. Shenzhen 755) with 7–8 digit local numbers.
Don't mix + and 0011
Use either 0011 (from an Australian landline) or + (from a mobile) as the exit code — not both together. Combining them will cause the call to fail.
TIMING & TIPS
Best Times to Call China from Australia
China operates on a single time zone — China Standard Time (CST, UTC+8) — making scheduling straightforward. Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST, UTC+10) is 2 hours ahead of CST, narrowing to 3 hours during Australian daylight saving time (AEDT).
🇨🇳
Perth (AWST, UTC+8) shares the exact same time as China year-round, making it the simplest corridor for Western Australian callers.
Time & windows
Morning overlap (business hours)
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM AEST
7:00 AM – 9:00 AM CST — early business hours in China
Afternoon sweet spot
11:00 AM – 5:00 PM AEST
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM CST — core business hours in China
Evening family calls
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM AEST
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM CST — after-work hours in China
🇦🇺China Standard Time (CST)
UTC+8 year-roundChina does not observe daylight saving time.
🇦🇺AEST (Sydney, Melbourne)
UTC+10 (standard) / UTC+11 (AEDT, Oct–Apr)2 hours ahead of CST in standard time; 3 hours during AEDT.
🇦🇺AWST (Perth)
UTC+8 year-roundSame time as China — no conversion needed.
🇦🇺ACST (Adelaide)
UTC+9:30 / UTC+10:30 (ACDT)1.5 hours ahead of CST; 2.5 hours during daylight saving.
Calling tips
- Weekday mornings in Australia (9–11 AM AEST) coincide with early business hours in China — ideal for professional calls.
- For personal calls, Australian evenings (7–10 PM AEST) reach Chinese contacts at a comfortable 5–8 PM local time.
- Avoid calling during Chinese public holidays such as Chinese New Year (late Jan/early Feb) and National Day week (early Oct) when businesses close.
- Use Sayfone from your browser to call China at $0.08/min — no special calling card or app needed.
Business etiquette
- Business calls in China are typically conducted during standard office hours: 9 AM – 6 PM CST, Monday to Friday.
- Greet Chinese contacts formally, especially on first calls. Use their family name with a title (e.g. Mr. Wang, Director Li).
- Chinese business culture values relationship-building. Short preliminary small talk before business discussion is appreciated.
- If scheduling a follow-up, confirm the time in both CST and your Australian time zone to avoid confusion.
Sources
- 1timeanddate.com – Sydney to Beijing Time Converter
Verified AEST/CST offset
- 2Savvy Time – CST to AEST Converter
Best meeting times between corridors
TROUBLESHOOTING
Common Issues When Calling China from Australia
International calls to China can occasionally encounter problems. Here are the most common issues and how to resolve them.
Call doesn't connect or rings without answer
Double-check the number format. For landlines, ensure you dropped the leading 0 from the area code. For mobiles, verify it's 11 digits starting with 1. Also confirm you used the correct exit code (0011 or +) and country code (86).
VoIP calls to China may be unreliable
China's internet infrastructure includes restrictions that can affect VoIP services. Some internet-based calling apps experience dropped connections or blocked access within China. Sayfone routes calls over the traditional telephone network for reliable connectivity.
Reaching Hong Kong or Macau numbers
If your call to what you think is a China number fails, check if the contact is actually in Hong Kong (+852) or Macau (+853). These regions use different country codes and are not part of the +86 numbering plan.
Unexpected high charges from your carrier
Australian mobile and landline carriers often charge premium rates for calls to China. Check your plan's international rate schedule. Sayfone offers calls to China at $0.08/min with no connection fees, directly from your browser.
Poor audio quality or delays
If you experience poor call quality, ensure you have a stable internet connection (for browser-based calls) or good mobile signal (for carrier calls). Sayfone uses optimised routing for China to minimise latency.
Sources
- 1Wise – China Country Code Calling Guide
Common dialing errors when calling China
Savings
See what you could save
Adjust the tools below to compare Sayfone with typical retail pricing for calls to China. Start with one call, then layer on monthly volume to see the bigger picture.
How to use these tools
- Sayfone uses your live rate for calls to China — the same basis as the rest of this page.
- First, estimate savings on a single call length. Then, model a full month of minutes versus typical retail benchmarks.
- Retail competitor rows are illustrative — not a quote from any carrier.
One call — instant savings
Set duration and country. See Sayfone vs. an illustrative retail rate for the same call.
I'm calling…
▾
12 minutes
1 min10 min20 min30 min40 min50 min1 hr
Enable enterprise discount
Save additional 40% (enterprise)
Your call
Your call will cost
$0.96
$0.080 per minute
Sayfone$0.96$0.080 / min
Competitors$2.40$0.20 / min
Your savings$1.44$0.12 / min
That's 60% less than competitors
Every month — stack it up
Set monthly minutes and call type. Bars compare Sayfone to common retail benchmarks for the same volume.
Drag slider to adjust
220
min / month
AT&T / Verizon$862
~$3.92/min
T-Mobile$651
~$2.96/min
Calling cards$387
~$1.76/min
Google Voice$88
~$0.40/min
Sayfone$18
$0.080/min
Annual saving vs. AT&T
Based on 220 min/month
$10,138
Before you go
Still planning your call to China?
Open the full Australia to China guide, check rates, or browse other how-to guides from Australia.
Dialing guideRates
Australia to China calling guide
Per-minute rates, savings calculator, and what to expect on this route.
What it costs to call China
See Sayfone’s per-minute rate for China and how it compares before you dial.
Route guides from Australia
- Australia to IndiaRates and tips for calling India.
- Australia to IndonesiaRates and tips for calling Indonesia.
- Australia to NepalRates and tips for calling Nepal.
- Australia to New ZealandRates and tips for calling New Zealand.
- Australia to PhilippinesRates and tips for calling Philippines.
- Australia to South KoreaRates and tips for calling South Korea.
Other how-to guides from Australia
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions: Calling China from Australia
Answers to the most common questions about dialing, costs, and connectivity when calling China from Australia.
Have a question not covered here? Our support team is ready to help.
Contact SupportEXPLORE MORE
Discover Popular Calling Destinations
Find calling guides and rates for other popular international destinations from Australia.
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