What is the country code for China?

China's country code is +86. When calling from Canada, dial 011-86 from a landline or +86 from a mobile phone before the Chinese number. Note that Hong Kong (+852) and Macau (+853) use different codes.

How much does it cost to call China from Canada with Sayfone?

Sayfone offers calls to China starting at 8¢ per minute. You can call directly from your browser without downloading any app or buying a special plan.

What is the time difference between Canada and China?

China (UTC+8) is 12 hours ahead of Eastern Canada during daylight saving time and 13 hours ahead during standard time. For Western Canada (Pacific time), China is 15 hours ahead during daylight saving and 16 hours ahead during standard time. China does not observe daylight saving time.

How do I call a Chinese mobile number from Canada?

Dial 011 (or +) then 86, followed by the full 11-digit mobile number. Chinese mobile numbers always start with 1. For example: 011-86-138-XXXX-XXXX. No area code is needed for mobile numbers.

Do I need to dial an area code for Chinese landlines?

Yes. Chinese landline numbers require an area code. Major cities like Beijing (10), Shanghai (21), and Guangzhou (20) use 2-digit codes, while smaller cities use 3-digit codes. Drop the leading 0 that's used for domestic calls within China.

What is the best time to call China from Toronto?

For morning calls in China, try calling between 7:00–9:00 PM Eastern Time, which is 7:00–9:00 AM the next day in China. For evening calls in China, call between 6:00–8:00 AM Eastern Time, which reaches China at 6:00–8:00 PM.

Can I call China from Canada using my browser?

Yes. Sayfone lets you call Chinese numbers directly from your web browser using your internet connection. No app download or special hardware is needed — just visit Sayfone, enter the number, and call.

Why is my call to China not going through?

Common reasons include: forgetting the exit code (011 or +), not dropping the leading 0 from the area code, dialing the wrong number of digits, or having international calling disabled on your Canadian phone plan. Verify your dialing sequence and check with your carrier if needed.

Quick Answer

How to Call China from Canada

From Canada, dial 011 + 86 + the area code and local number for landlines, or 011 + 86 + the 11-digit mobile number. On a mobile phone, you can use +86 instead of 011-86. Sayfone calls to China start at just 8¢/min.

Call China Now

Cost tools

🇨🇦From Canada

To China🇨🇳

$0.08

Per minute

+86

Country code

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 calling family in Beijing, business contacts in Shanghai, or friends in Guangzhou, getting the dialing sequence right ensures your call connects on the first try.

Steps at a glance

Dial 011 (Canada's exit code) or use + on a mobile phone
Dial 86 (China's country code)
For landlines: dial the area code (drop the leading 0) + local number
For mobiles: dial the full 11-digit number starting with 1

Sources

1
Telephone numbers in China – Wikipedia
Country code and number format reference
2
Telephone numbers in Canada – Wikipedia
Canada exit code and NANP reference

STEP-BY-STEP

How to Dial a Chinese Number from Canada

Follow these steps to place a call from any Canadian phone to a landline or mobile number in China.

1
Dial Canada's Exit Code
From a Canadian landline, dial 011. From a Canadian mobile phone, you can press and hold 0 to get the + symbol, which replaces 011.
```
011 or +
```
2
Dial China's Country Code
Enter 86, which is the international country code for mainland China. Note: Hong Kong (+852) and Macau (+853) use different codes.
```
011 86 or +86
```
3
Dial the Area Code (Landlines Only)
For Chinese landlines, enter the area code without the leading 0. Major cities use 2-digit area codes (e.g., Beijing is 10, Shanghai is 21, Guangzhou is 20), while smaller cities use 3-digit codes.
```
011 86 10 XXXX XXXX (Beijing landline)
```
4
Dial the Local or Mobile Number
For landlines, dial the 7- or 8-digit local subscriber number after the area code. For mobile phones, dial the full 11-digit number starting with 1 — no area code is needed for mobiles.
```
011 86 138 XXXX XXXX (mobile) or 011 86 21 XXXX XXXX (Shanghai landline)
```
Press Call
Double-check your number sequence and press the call button. The complete format is: 011 + 86 + [area code] + [local number] for landlines, or 011 + 86 + [11-digit mobile number] for mobiles.

Dialing format reference

+86

Use these patterns when entering a full international number to +86.

Mobile

+86 1XX-XXXX-XXXX

Landline

+86 [area code] XXXX-XXXX

+86 10 8XXX XXXX (Beijing landline)
+86 21 6XXX XXXX (Shanghai landline)
+86 20 8XXX XXXX (Guangzhou landline)
+86 138 XXXX XXXX (mobile)

Major city area codes

Beijing10

Shanghai21

Guangzhou20

Shenzhen755

Chengdu28

Tianjin22

Hangzhou571

Xi'an29

Sources

1
Beijing Municipal Government – International Dialing Guide
Official dialing instructions for calling China
2
Telephone numbers in China – Wikipedia
Mobile and landline format reference
3
Telephone numbers in Canada – Wikipedia
Canada exit code and international dialing prefix

IMPORTANT RULES

Dialing Rules for Calling China from Canada

Keep these rules in mind to avoid common mistakes when calling Chinese numbers from Canada.

Drop the Leading 0 from Area Codes

Chinese area codes start with 0 for domestic use (e.g., 010 for Beijing). When calling internationally from Canada, omit the leading 0 and dial just the area code digits (e.g., 10 for Beijing).

Mobile Numbers Don't Need an Area Code

Chinese mobile numbers are 11 digits long and always start with 1. Dial the full 11-digit number directly after the country code +86 — no area code is needed.

Hong Kong and Macau Use Different Country Codes

Hong Kong uses country code +852 and Macau uses +853. These are separate from mainland China's +86. Make sure you use the correct code for your destination.

Don't Combine 011 with the + Symbol

Use either 011 (from a landline) or + (from a mobile) before the country code, but not both. Combining them will cause the call to fail.

Area Code Length Varies by City

Major cities like Beijing (10), Shanghai (21), and Guangzhou (20) use 2-digit area codes, while smaller cities use 3-digit codes (e.g., Shenzhen 755, Hangzhou 571). The total landline number length (area code + local number) is typically 10–12 digits.

TIMING TIPS

Best Times to Call China from Canada

China is 12–15 hours ahead of Canada depending on your time zone. Planning your call around these windows helps you reach people at reasonable hours.

🇨🇳

China uses a single time zone (UTC+8) with no daylight saving time. Canada spans six time zones, so the offset varies from 12 hours (Eastern, during daylight saving) to 15.5 hours (Newfoundland, during standard time).

Time & windows

Best for Eastern Canada

7:00–9:00 PM ET

Reaches China at 7:00–9:00 AM next day (during EDT)

Best for Western Canada

4:00–6:00 PM PT

Reaches China at 7:00–9:00 AM next day (during PDT)

Evening Calls to China

6:00–8:00 AM ET

Reaches China at 6:00–8:00 PM same day (during EDT)

🇨🇦Toronto → Beijing (EDT)

12 hours ahead13 hours ahead during Eastern Standard Time (Nov–Mar)

🇨🇦Vancouver → Beijing (PDT)

15 hours ahead16 hours ahead during Pacific Standard Time (Nov–Mar)

🇨🇦Winnipeg → Beijing (CDT)

13 hours ahead14 hours ahead during Central Standard Time (Nov–Mar)

Calling tips

China does not observe daylight saving time, so the time difference shifts when Canada changes clocks in March and November.
For personal calls, evenings in China (6–9 PM CST) correspond to early mornings in Eastern Canada — a good window for after-dinner family chats.
Avoid calling during China's lunch break (12:00–1:30 PM CST) for business calls, as many offices close briefly.
WeChat is widely used in China for messaging and voice calls — consider scheduling your phone call via a WeChat message first.

Business etiquette

Chinese business hours are typically 9:00 AM–6:00 PM CST, Monday through Friday.
When calling a business contact, a brief greeting and stating your name and purpose early is appreciated.
Major Chinese holidays like Chinese New Year (late Jan/Feb) and Golden Week (Oct 1–7) may affect business availability.
If calling a government office or large enterprise, expect an automated menu — pressing 9 may route to English assistance in major cities.

Sources

1
China and Canada Time Zones – daylight-savings.com
Time zone difference reference

TROUBLESHOOTING

Common Issues When Calling China from Canada

If your call isn't connecting, check these common problems and their solutions.

Call Won't Connect

Double-check that you dialed 011 (or +) before 86. A missing exit code is the most common reason international calls fail from Canada. Also verify that you dropped the leading 0 from the Chinese area code.

Wrong Number or Fast Busy Signal

Ensure you're using the correct number of digits. Chinese mobile numbers are always 11 digits (starting with 1). Landline numbers vary in total length but the area code plus local number should total 10–12 digits.

International Calling Not Enabled

Some Canadian phone plans block international calls by default. Contact your carrier to confirm international dialing is enabled, or use a browser-based calling service like Sayfone which works over your internet connection.

Calling Hong Kong or Macau by Mistake

If your contact is in Hong Kong, dial +852 instead of +86. For Macau, use +853. These regions have separate numbering systems from mainland China.

Poor Call Quality

If you experience choppy audio or dropped calls, try calling over a stable Wi-Fi connection using a browser-based service. This can significantly improve call quality for long-distance calls to China.

Sources

1
Wise – How to Call China Guide
Common dialing errors

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.