What is the country code for China?

China's country code is +86. Dial this after Singapore's exit code (001) or after the + symbol on your mobile phone to route your call to mainland China.

What is Singapore's exit code for international calls?

Singapore's international direct dialing (IDD) exit code is 001. On mobile phones, you can simply use the + symbol instead, which works universally.

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

Sayfone offers calls to China at 8¢ per minute. You can call directly from your browser — no app download or calling card required.

Is there a time difference between Singapore and China?

No. Singapore (SGT) and China (CST) are both UTC+8, so there is zero time difference. You can call at any time without needing to convert time zones.

How do I call a Chinese mobile phone from Singapore?

Dial +86 followed by the full 11-digit mobile number (starting with 1). For example: +86 138 1234 5678. Chinese mobile numbers do not require an area code.

How do I call a landline in Beijing or Shanghai from Singapore?

For Beijing, dial +86 10 followed by the 8-digit local number. For Shanghai, dial +86 21 followed by the 8-digit number. Remember to drop the domestic leading 0 from the area code.

Can I use Sayfone to call China without installing an app?

Yes. Sayfone works directly in your web browser. Just open Sayfone, enter the Chinese number, and call. There's nothing to download or install.

Does +86 cover Hong Kong and Macau?

No. The +86 code is for mainland China only. Hong Kong uses +852 and Macau uses +853. Make sure you use the correct code for the region you're calling.

Quick Answer

How to Call China from Singapore

To call China from Singapore, dial 001 (Singapore's exit code) + 86 (China's country code) + the local number. On a mobile phone, you can simply dial +86 followed by the number. For landlines, include the city area code (e.g. 10 for Beijing, 21 for Shanghai). For mobiles, dial the full 11-digit number after +86. With Sayfone, you can call China from your browser for just 8¢/min.

Call China Now

Cost tools

🇸🇬From Singapore

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 keeping in touch with family on the mainland or coordinating business across the $170.2B Singapore–China trade corridor, Sayfone connects your call to China for just 8¢/min — right from your browser.

Steps at a glance

Dial 001 or press + on your mobile
Enter 86 (China's country code)
Add the area code for landlines or full mobile number
Press call — you're connected

Sources

1
Telephone numbers in China — Wikipedia
Country code +86, mobile/landline format details
2
Singapore IDD exit code — countrycode.com
Singapore outbound exit code confirmation

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

How to Dial a Chinese Number from Singapore

Follow these steps to reach any landline or mobile phone in mainland China from Singapore. The format differs slightly depending on whether you're calling a landline (which requires an area code) or a mobile phone.

1
Dial Singapore's exit code
From a Singapore landline, dial 001. From a mobile phone, you can simply press and hold 0 to get the + symbol, which replaces the exit code.
```
001 or +
```
2
Enter China's country code
Immediately after the exit code (or +), dial 86 — this is China's international country code that routes your call to the Chinese telephone network.
```
+86
```
3
Add the area code (landlines) or mobile prefix
For landlines, dial the city area code without the leading 0 (e.g. 10 for Beijing, 21 for Shanghai, 20 for Guangzhou, 755 for Shenzhen). For mobile numbers, dial the full 11-digit number directly — Chinese mobiles always start with 1 and do not need an area code.
```
Landline: +86 10 XXXX XXXX | Mobile: +86 1XX XXXX XXXX
```
4
Dial the local number and connect
Enter the remaining digits of the subscriber number. Landline local numbers in major cities are 8 digits; in smaller cities they may be 7 digits. Mobile numbers are always 11 digits total (including the leading 1). Press call and you're connected.
```
+86 21 6234 5678 (Shanghai landline) or +86 138 1234 5678 (mobile)
```

Dialing format reference

+86

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

Mobile

+86 1XX XXXX XXXX (11 digits)

Landline

+86 [area code] [local number] (area code 2–4 digits, local 7–8 digits)

+86 10 8234 5678 (Beijing landline)
+86 21 6234 5678 (Shanghai landline)
+86 20 8765 4321 (Guangzhou landline)
+86 138 0012 3456 (mobile)

Major city area codes

Beijing10

Shanghai21

Guangzhou20

Shenzhen755

Chengdu28

Wuhan27

Hangzhou571

Tianjin22

Sources

1
Telephone numbers in China — Wikipedia
Mobile format 1xx-XXXX-XXXX and landline area code structure
2
China dialing guide — Beijing Government
Major city area codes and international dialing instructions
3
Singapore outbound exit code — countrycode.com
Confirms Singapore exit code is 001 from landline, + from mobile

DIALING RULES

Key Rules for Calling China from Singapore

China's numbering plan has a few nuances that can trip up international callers. Keep these rules in mind to make sure your call connects on the first try.

Drop the leading 0 from area codes

Chinese area codes are written domestically with a leading 0 (e.g. 010 for Beijing, 021 for Shanghai). When dialing internationally from Singapore, omit that 0 — dial +86 10, not +86 010.

Mobile numbers don't use area codes

Chinese mobile numbers are 11 digits starting with 1 (e.g. 138, 139, 150, 186). Dial them directly after +86 with no area code. The full sequence is +86 1XX XXXX XXXX.

Area codes vary in length (2–4 digits)

Major cities like Beijing (10) and Shanghai (21) have 2-digit area codes. Mid-sized cities like Shenzhen (755) use 3 digits. Smaller cities may use 4-digit area codes. The total number of digits after +86 (area code + local number) is typically 10–11.

Hong Kong and Macau use different codes

The country code +86 covers mainland China only. Hong Kong uses +852 and Macau uses +853 — these are separate numbering plans. Do not dial +86 for numbers in those regions.

Use + instead of 001 on mobile phones

When calling from a Singapore mobile, you can use the + prefix instead of dialing 001. Long-press the 0 key to get the + symbol. This works universally and is easier to remember.

TIMING & TIPS

Best Times and Tips for Calling China from Singapore

Singapore and China are in the same time zone (both UTC+8), so scheduling calls is effortless — the clock reads the same in both countries. Here are practical tips to get the most out of your calls.

Time & windows

Same Time Zone

UTC+8

No time difference — 9 AM in Singapore is 9 AM in China

Best for Personal Calls

7 PM – 9 PM

Evening hours when family members are typically home and available

Best for Business Calls

9 AM – 6 PM

Standard Chinese business hours align perfectly with Singapore's workday

🇸🇬Chinese business hours

9:00 AM – 6:00 PM CSTIdentical to Singapore time — no conversion needed

🇸🇬Lunch break (common in China)

12:00 PM – 1:30 PM CSTMany offices and government departments are closed during this period

🇸🇬Evening / family calls

7:00 PM – 9:30 PM CSTAfter dinner is a common time to reach family at home

🇸🇬Avoid late-night calls

After 10:00 PM CSTSame as Singapore's 10 PM — avoid unless pre-arranged

Calling tips

Since there's zero time difference, you can call China at any time that works for you in Singapore — no mental math required.
Use Sayfone from your browser to call China at 8¢/min without installing any app or buying a calling card.
Save Chinese contacts in international format (+86 …) so your phone dials correctly whether you're in Singapore or travelling elsewhere.
If calling a Chinese landline, double-check the area code — China has hundreds of them and using the wrong one will route your call to the wrong city.
VoIP calls (including Sayfone) can bypass telecom friction that sometimes affects traditional international calls to mainland China.

Business etiquette

Address contacts by their title and surname (e.g. Director Wang, Manager Li) unless invited to use first names.
Chinese business culture values punctuality — call at the agreed time.
Mandarin is the primary business language; if your contact speaks a regional dialect, they will likely switch to Mandarin for business calls.
Avoid scheduling calls during major Chinese holidays such as Chinese New Year (late Jan–Feb) and Golden Week (Oct 1–7) when many businesses are closed.

Sources

1
Singapore–Beijing time comparison — timeanddate.com
Confirms both cities are UTC+8 with zero offset

TROUBLESHOOTING

Common Issues When Calling China from Singapore

If your call to China isn't connecting, review these common issues and solutions to get through.

Call won't connect — wrong number format

The most common cause is forgetting to drop the leading 0 from the area code. Dial +86 10 (not +86 010) for Beijing. For mobiles, make sure you're dialing all 11 digits after +86.

Hearing a recorded message in Chinese

A Chinese-language recording usually means the number is incorrect or out of service. Double-check the number, confirm the area code, and ensure you haven't accidentally included extra digits.

Call quality is poor or drops

International PSTN calls to mainland China can occasionally experience routing issues. A browser-based VoIP service like Sayfone routes calls over optimised networks, which can improve clarity and reliability.

Dialing Hong Kong or Macau by mistake

If your contact is in Hong Kong (+852) or Macau (+853), do not use +86. These regions have separate country codes. Verify the correct code before dialing.

High charges from your Singapore carrier

Traditional carriers in Singapore may charge SGD 1–3 per minute for calls to China. Sayfone offers calls to China for just 8¢/min from your browser — no SIM change or app install needed.

Sources

1
China country code guide — countrycode.com
Common dialing error troubleshooting

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.