What is the country code for China?

China's international dialing code is +86. When calling from Malaysia, dial +86 followed by the area code (without the leading 0) and the local number.

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

Sayfone offers transparent per-minute rates to China starting at 8¢ per minute. Rates are displayed before you dial, so there are no surprises.

Do I need to dial a 0 before the area code when calling China internationally?

No. When calling internationally, drop the leading 0 from China's area codes. For example, Beijing's domestic code is 010, but you dial 10 when calling from abroad.

Are Malaysia and China in the same time zone?

Yes. Both Malaysia (MYT) and China (CST) are UTC+8 year-round and do not observe daylight saving time. When it is noon in Kuala Lumpur, it is also noon in Beijing.

Can I call Chinese mobile phones from Malaysia?

Yes. Chinese mobile numbers are 11 digits, starting with 1. Dial +86 followed by the 11-digit number (without any leading 0).

What should I do if my call to China keeps dropping?

Check your internet or mobile signal strength. Try calling at a different time (off-peak hours) or switch to a stronger connection. Test with a different number to rule out a problem with the recipient's line.

Quick Answer

How to Call China from Malaysia

Call China from Malaysia by dialing +86, then the area code and number. Most calls connect within seconds.

Start calling

Cost tools

🇲🇾From Malaysia

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 (without leading 0)
Dial the local number

Sources

1
ITU Recommendation E.123 (International Telephone Numbering Plan)

DIALING STEPS

Step-by-Step: Dialing China from Malaysia

Follow these simple steps to connect your call from Malaysia to any region in China.

1
Dial the international access code
From Malaysia, dial 00 or + to initiate an international call. Most modern phones recognize + as the international prefix.
```
Dial: 00 or +
```
2
Enter China's country code
Dial 86, the international dialing code for mainland China.
```
Dial: 86
```
3
Dial the area code (without the leading 0)
China uses area codes for major cities. Drop the leading 0 when dialing internationally. For example, Beijing's area code is 10, so dial 10 (not 010).
```
Beijing example: 10
```
4
Enter the local number
Dial the recipient's local phone number. Landline numbers are typically 7–8 digits; mobile numbers are 11 digits.
```
Complete number example: +86 10 1234 5678
```

Dialing format reference

+86

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

Mobile

11 digits (1 + 3-digit operator code + 8-digit subscriber number)

Landline

7–8 digits after area code

+86 10 1234 5678 (Beijing landline)
+86 20 1234 5678 (Guangzhou landline)
+86 1 3800 123456 (Mobile example)

Major city area codes

Beijing10

Shanghai21

Guangzhou20

Shenzhen755

Chengdu28

Sources

DIALING RULES

China Dialing Rules & Number Formats

Understand the structure of Chinese phone numbers and avoid common dialing mistakes.

Always drop the leading 0 from area codes when calling internationally

Domestic calls in China use a leading 0 before the area code, but international dialing omits it. For example, Beijing's domestic code is 010, but you dial 10 when calling from overseas.

Mobile numbers are 11 digits total, starting with 1

Chinese mobile numbers follow the format 1XX XXXX XXXX, where the second and third digits indicate the carrier (e.g., 13x, 14x, 15x, 16x, 17x, 18x, 19x).

Landline numbers vary by city but typically contain 7–8 digits after the area code

After dialing the country code (+86) and area code, enter the local number. Beijing and Shanghai numbers are typically 8 digits; smaller cities may be 7.

Some special numbers may have restrictions

Certain service numbers and premium lines may not be reachable via international calling. If you encounter issues, verify the number format or consult the recipient.

TIMING & TIPS

Best Times to Call China from Malaysia

Maximize call quality and respect local business hours by calling at the right time.

Time & windows

Best for Business Calls

9 AM – 5 PM MYT

Aligns with Malaysian and Chinese business hours

Best for Personal Calls

7 PM – 10 PM MYT

Evening in Malaysia, early morning in China

Avoid

11 PM – 8 AM MYT

Late night in Malaysia, middle of the night in China

🇲🇾Malaysia (MYT)

UTC+8 (year-round)No daylight saving time

🇲🇾China (CST)

UTC+8 (year-round)Same timezone as Malaysia

🇲🇾Time difference

0 hoursMalaysia and China are in the same timezone

Calling tips

Since Malaysia and China are in the same timezone, call during overlapping business hours (9 AM – 5 PM) for best availability.
Test your connection with a short call first to check quality before longer conversations.
Have the correct area code ready and confirm the recipient's number format before dialing.
Keep backup contact information in case a call drops.

Business etiquette

Call during standard business hours (9 AM – 6 PM) unless the recipient expects off-hours communication.
Introduce yourself clearly and confirm you've reached the correct person before stating your purpose.
Be respectful of local holidays; major Chinese holidays (Lunar New Year, National Day) may affect availability.
For important calls, consider scheduling in advance rather than calling without notice.

Sources

1
World Time Zone Database

TROUBLESHOOTING

Common Issues & Solutions

Resolve common calling problems when reaching China from Malaysia.

Call won't connect

Verify you've dialed +86 (not 0086) and included the correct area code without a leading 0. Check that your Malaysia phone plan includes international calling. Test with a different recipient to isolate the issue.

Poor call quality or drops

Switch to a stronger WiFi connection or move closer to your mobile signal source. Call during off-peak hours (late evening) when networks are less congested. Try calling again if the first attempt drops.

Unsure about mobile vs. landline rates

Chinese mobile numbers start with 1 (11 digits total); landlines have area codes followed by 7–8 digits. Ask the recipient which type they have, or confirm via SMS before calling.

Special numbers not connecting

Some service numbers, toll-free numbers, or premium lines may not be reachable from abroad. If a number fails, try contacting the recipient via other means or asking them to call you back.

Sources

1
Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Authority

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.