Quick Answer
From South Korea, dial 001 (or 002) + 86 + the Chinese phone number. On a mobile phone, use +86 followed by the number. For landlines, include the city area code (e.g., 10 for Beijing, 21 for Shanghai). For Chinese mobile numbers, dial the full 11-digit number after +86. Sayfone offers calls to China at $0.08/min.
$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 with business partners in Shanghai, staying in touch with family in Qingdao, or a Chinese student in Seoul calling home, Sayfone connects you to China at just $0.08/min.
Steps at a glance
Sources
Country code and mobile format verification
South Korea exit code (001/002)
DIALING GUIDE
Follow these steps to reach any landline or mobile number in China from your South Korean phone. The process is the same whether you're calling from a Korean mobile, landline, or a browser-based calling service like Sayfone.
From a South Korean landline, dial 001 or 002 to access the international line. On a mobile phone, you can simply press and hold 0 to get the + symbol, which replaces the exit code.
001 or 002 (landline) / + (mobile)
Immediately after the exit code or + symbol, dial 86 โ China's international country code. This routes your call to the Chinese telephone network.
001-86 or +86
For Chinese landlines, include the city area code without the leading 0. Major codes include: Beijing (10), Shanghai (21), Guangzhou (20), Shenzhen (755), and Chengdu (28). Area codes are 2โ4 digits long.
001-86-21-XXXX-XXXX (Shanghai landline)
For landlines, enter the 7- or 8-digit local subscriber number after the area code. For Chinese mobile numbers, dial the full 11-digit number directly after +86 โ no area code is needed since mobile numbers start with prefixes like 13x, 15x, 17x, or 18x.
+86-138-XXXX-XXXX (mobile) or +86-10-XXXX-XXXX (Beijing landline)
Your call is now routed from South Korea to China. With only a 1-hour time difference, you'll find it easy to reach contacts during business hours or evenings.
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] [local number] (area code 2โ4 digits + 7โ8 digit number)
Major city area codes
Sources
Mobile and landline number formats
China area codes and dialing instructions
Exit code 001/002 for South Korea
IMPORTANT RULES
Before you dial, keep these rules in mind to avoid failed calls or wrong connections. Chinese phone numbers follow specific formatting conventions that differ between landlines and mobile phones.
Chinese landline area codes start with 0 for domestic calls (e.g., 010 for Beijing, 021 for Shanghai). When dialing internationally from South Korea, always remove this leading 0 and dial just the area code digits (10, 21, etc.) after +86.
Chinese mobile phone numbers are 11 digits long and always start with 1 (e.g., 13x, 15x, 17x, 18x, 19x). Dial the full 11 digits directly after +86. Do not add any area code before a mobile number.
Hong Kong (+852) and Macau (+853) are not part of mainland China's +86 numbering plan. If you're calling Hong Kong or Macau from South Korea, use their respective country codes instead of +86.
South Korea has multiple international access codes: 001 (KT), 002 (LG U+), and others depending on your carrier. From a mobile phone, the universal + symbol works with any carrier and is the simplest option.
Major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou use 8-digit local numbers, while smaller cities may use 7-digit numbers. The area code plus local number should total 10โ12 digits (after the country code).
TIMING & TIPS
South Korea (KST, UTC+9) is just 1 hour ahead of China (CST, UTC+8), making this one of the easiest international corridors for scheduling calls. Here's how to time your calls and get the most out of every conversation.
Personal Calls
7:00 PM โ 10:00 PM KST
6:00 PM โ 9:00 PM in China โ evenings when family is home
Business Calls
10:00 AM โ 6:00 PM KST
9:00 AM โ 5:00 PM in China โ standard business hours
Weekend Catch-ups
10:00 AM โ 12:00 PM KST
9:00 AM โ 11:00 AM in China โ relaxed Saturday morning
Sources
Time zone offset verification
TROUBLESHOOTING
If your call to China isn't connecting, here are the most common problems and how to fix them.
The most common reason is a formatting error. Make sure you've removed the leading 0 from the area code (dial 10 for Beijing, not 010). For mobile numbers, dial all 11 digits after +86 with no area code prefix.
If you're calling over a traditional phone line, try again after a few minutes โ network congestion can cause temporary issues. For more consistent quality, use a browser-based calling service like Sayfone which routes calls over optimized connections.
If your contact is in Hong Kong, use +852 instead of +86. For Macau, use +853. Mainland China's +86 code does not cover these special administrative regions.
If 001 doesn't work from your Korean phone, try 002 or another carrier prefix. The simplest solution is to use the + symbol on your mobile โ it automatically selects the correct international access path for your carrier.
Some internet-based calling services may experience connectivity issues in China due to network restrictions. Sayfone routes calls through the traditional phone network to the recipient's number, ensuring reliable delivery even if VoIP apps are restricted on the Chinese side.
Sources
Number format troubleshooting
Savings
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
Set duration and country. See Sayfone vs. an illustrative retail rate for the same call.
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Your call
Your call will cost
$0.96
$0.080 per minute
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220
min / month
~$3.92/min
~$2.96/min
~$1.76/min
~$0.40/min
$0.080/min
Annual saving vs. AT&T
Based on 220 min/month
Before you go
Open the full South Korea to China guide, check rates, or browse other how-to guides from South Korea.
South Korea to China calling guide
Per-minute rates, savings calculator, and what to expect on this route.
What it costs to call China
See Sayfoneโs per-minute rate for China and how it compares before you dial.
Route guides from South Korea
Other how-to guides from South Korea
FAQ
Answers to the most common questions about dialing China from South Korea, including codes, rates, and timing.
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