What is the country code for China?

China's country code is +86 (or 00 86 from Italy). After entering the country code, add the area code and local number.

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

Calls to China are charged at 8¢ per minute, transparent and straightforward. Transparent pricing or surprise charges.

Do I need an area code to call a mobile number in China?

No. Chinese mobile numbers (11 digits, starting with 1) do not require an area code. Dial +86 followed directly by the mobile number.

What is the best time of day to call China from Italy?

Late morning in Italy (9–11 AM) aligns with mid-to-late afternoon in China, making it ideal for business calls. Avoid late evenings in Italy, as it will be past midnight in China.

Can I call toll-free numbers in China from Italy?

Most toll-free numbers in China cannot be dialed from international lines. If a call fails, try contacting the recipient through an alternative method or ask for a regular landline number.

Do I need a special app or account to call China with Sayfone?

No app required. Sayfone calls are made directly from your browser. Simply enter the number, review the rate, and place the call—browser-based calling or subscription.

How is China's time zone different from Italy's?

China is 7–8 hours ahead of Italy, depending on daylight saving time. In winter, China is 7 hours ahead; in summer (when Italy observes daylight saving), the difference narrows to 6 hours.

Quick Start

How to Call China from Italy

From Italy, dial +86, the area code (e.g., 10 for Beijing), and the local number. Calls to China are billed at 8¢/min with no surprises.

Start calling

Cost tools

🇮🇹From Italy

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

Steps at a glance

Dial +86 (China's country code)
Enter the area code and local number
Press call and review the rate before connecting

DIALING STEPS

Step-by-Step Dialing Instructions

Follow these steps to place a call from Italy to China. The process is the same for landlines and mobile numbers.

Step 1: Start with the Exit Code
From Italy, dial 00 to exit the Italian phone system. This is Italy's international dialing prefix.
Step 2: Enter China's Country Code
After 00, dial 86, which is China's international country code.
3
Step 3: Add the Area Code
Enter the area code for the city you're calling in China. For example, Beijing uses 10, Shanghai uses 21, and Guangzhou uses 20. Omit any leading 0 if present.
```
Beijing area code: 10
```
4
Step 4: Dial the Local Number
Complete the call by entering the local phone number. Most Chinese landlines are 8 digits; mobile numbers are 11 digits starting with 1.
```
Full example for Beijing: 00 86 10 xxxxxxxx
```

Dialing format reference

+86

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

Mobile

+86 1XX XXXX XXXX (11 digits total)

Landline

+86 [area code] XXXX XXXX (typical 8-digit local number)

+86 10 6512 3456 (Beijing landline)
+86 21 5383 8000 (Shanghai landline)
+86 138 1234 5678 (mobile number)

Major city area codes

Beijing10

Shanghai21

Guangzhou20

Chengdu28

Hangzhou571

Sources

1
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Country Code Reference

IMPORTANT RULES

Key Dialing Rules for China

These rules apply when calling any number in China from Italy. Understanding them ensures your call connects correctly.

Always use 00 (not +) to start international calls from Italy

Italy's exit code is 00. When calling China from an Italian phone, start with 00, not the + symbol (which is equivalent but may not work on all devices).

Drop the leading 0 from area codes

China's domestic dialing uses a leading 0 before area codes. When calling internationally, omit this 0. For example, Beijing's domestic code is 010, but internationally you use 10.

Mobile numbers do not require an area code

Mobile numbers in China (starting with 1) are dialed without an area code. Just use the 11-digit mobile number after the country code.

Landlines typically include area codes in the local number

When calling a Chinese landline, always include the area code, even if the person lists only a local number. The full format is +86 [area code] [local number].

SMART CALLING TIPS

Best Times to Call China from Italy

China and Italy have a significant time difference. Plan your calls to reach contacts during business hours or convenient times.

🇨🇳

Italy is typically 7–8 hours behind China, depending on daylight saving time. Winter (October to March): Italy is UTC+1, China is UTC+8, making China 7 hours ahead. Summer (late March to late October): Italy observes CEST (UTC+2), so the gap closes to 6 hours. Use this to plan calls during overlapping working hours.

Time & windows

Morning in Italy

8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Afternoon to evening in China; good for business calls

Midday in Italy

12:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Late evening to night in China; best for reaching families

Evening in Italy

5:00 PM – 11:00 PM

Late night in China; not ideal for professional calls

🇮🇹Italy (Winter, UTC+1)

9:00 AMEquals 5:00 PM in China

🇮🇹Italy (Winter, UTC+1)

6:00 PMEquals 2:00 AM next day in China

🇮🇹Italy (Summer, UTC+2)

9:00 AMEquals 3:00 PM in China

🇮🇹Italy (Summer, UTC+2)

6:00 PMEquals 12:00 AM (midnight) in China

Calling tips

Early mornings in Italy (8–10 AM) align well with late afternoons in China, ideal for business calls.
Avoid calling after 8 PM Italian time, as it will be after midnight in China.
Weekends: Plan ahead; Chinese businesses often operate Monday–Friday, same as Italy.
Check for Chinese public holidays (Lunar New Year, Golden Week) when offices may be closed.

Business etiquette

Use formal greetings; address people by their surname and title unless invited otherwise.
Brief small talk about the other person's well-being is appreciated before business discussions.
Confirm meeting times in writing, as time-zone confusion is common across such distances.
Be concise and direct; Chinese business culture values efficiency on calls.

Sources

1
IANA Time Zone Database

TROUBLESHOOTING

Common Issues and Restrictions

Most calls from Italy to China connect reliably. However, a few limitations exist related to network regulations and special numbers.

Toll-free and premium numbers may not work

Some special numbers, including toll-free (800) and premium-rate services in China, cannot be dialed from international lines. If the call fails, verify the number format or contact the recipient via another method.

Connection delays are rare but possible

Calls typically connect within seconds. If you experience delays or dropped calls, try redial after a few moments. Persistent issues may indicate network congestion or temporary routing problems; wait and retry.

Quality varies by network and time

Call quality depends on both networks and traffic conditions. Peak hours (evening in China) may see slight delays or compression. Generally, landline calls are clearer than mobile.

Some VoIP services may block or restrict calls to China

A small number of carriers and services impose restrictions on international calls to China for compliance reasons. If calls fail, check with your service provider.

Sources

1
China Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) - Network Regulations

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.