What is the country code for China?

China's country code is +86. Dial this after Thailand's international exit code (001) or the + symbol on your mobile phone.

What is Thailand's international dialing prefix?

Thailand's standard international exit code is 001. Some carriers support alternatives like 007, 008, or 009. On a smartphone, you can simply use the + symbol instead.

How do I call a Chinese mobile number from Thailand?

Dial 001-86 (or +86) followed by the full 11-digit mobile number. Chinese mobile numbers always start with 1. No area code is needed for mobile calls.

How do I call a landline in Beijing from Thailand?

Dial +86-10-XXXX-XXXX. The area code for Beijing is 10 (drop the domestic 0 prefix). Beijing landlines have 8-digit local numbers.

What is the time difference between Thailand and China?

China is 1 hour ahead of Thailand. Thailand is UTC+7 and China is UTC+8. Neither country observes daylight saving time, so this difference is constant year-round.

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

Sayfone offers calls to China at $0.08 per minute. You can call directly from your browser without downloading any app.

Do I need to dial an area code for Chinese mobile numbers?

No. Chinese mobile numbers are 11 digits and do not use area codes. Dial +86 followed by the full 11-digit number starting with 1.

Why can't I reach someone in China via VoIP apps?

China's internet regulations restrict access to many VoIP and messaging apps. If the person you're calling is inside mainland China, they may not have access to these services. Browser-based calling services like Sayfone use traditional phone networks and are not affected by these restrictions.

Is the country code for Hong Kong the same as China?

No. Hong Kong uses +852 and Macau uses +853. These are separate from mainland China's +86 country code. Make sure you use the correct code for your destination.

Quick Answer

How to Call China from Thailand

From Thailand, dial 001-86-[area code]-[local number] for landlines, or 001-86-[11-digit mobile number] for mobile phones. On a smartphone, use +86 instead of 001.

Call China Now with Sayfone

Cost tools

🇹🇭From Thailand

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

With over 6.7 million Chinese tourists visiting Thailand annually and a large Chinese student community, this is one of Southeast Asia's busiest international calling corridors. Sayfone makes it easy to connect at just $0.08/min.

Steps at a glance

Dial 001 (or press + on your mobile)
Dial 86 (China's country code)
Dial the area code (landlines) or skip it (mobiles)
Dial the local number

Sources

1
ITU E.164 Country Code Assignment — China +86
Authoritative source for China's +86 country code
2
Telephone numbers in China — Wikipedia
Reference for Chinese number formats and area codes
3
Thailand international dialing prefix — chahaoba.com
Source for Thailand exit code 001

DIALING GUIDE

Step-by-Step: Calling China from Thailand

Follow these steps to call any Chinese landline or mobile number from Thailand. The dialing format differs slightly depending on whether you're calling a landline (which requires an area code) or a mobile phone.

1
Dial Thailand's International Exit Code
From a Thai landline, dial 001. From a mobile phone, you can dial 001 or simply press and hold 0 to get the + symbol, which acts as a universal international prefix.
```
001 or +
```
2
Dial China's Country Code
Enter 86, which is China's country code assigned under the ITU E.164 standard. This routes your call to China's telephone network.
```
001-86 or +86
```
3
Dial the Area Code (Landlines Only)
For Chinese landlines, dial 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). Smaller cities use 3-digit area codes. For mobile numbers, skip this step entirely.
```
001-86-10 (for a Beijing landline)
```
4
Dial the Local Number
For landlines, dial the 7 or 8-digit local number. In major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, local numbers are 8 digits. For mobile phones, dial the full 11-digit number (which always starts with 1).
```
001-86-10-XXXX-XXXX (Beijing landline) or +86-1XX-XXXX-XXXX (mobile)
```

Dialing format reference

+86

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

Mobile

+86 1XX XXXX XXXX (11 digits, always starts with 1)

Landline

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

+86 10 XXXX XXXX (Beijing landline)
+86 21 XXXX XXXX (Shanghai landline)
+86 20 XXXX XXXX (Guangzhou landline)
+86 755 XXXX XXXX (Shenzhen landline)
+86 1XX XXXX XXXX (mobile)

Major city area codes

Beijing10

Shanghai21

Guangzhou20

Shenzhen755

Chengdu28

Tianjin22

Sources

1
Beijing Government — International Calling Guide
Official reference for China number formats and dialing procedures
2
Telephone numbers in China — Wikipedia
Comprehensive reference for area codes, mobile prefixes, and number lengths
3
Thailand international dialing — chahaoba.com
Thailand exit code reference

IMPORTANT RULES

Dialing Rules for Calling China from Thailand

Keep these rules in mind to ensure your call connects successfully every time.

Drop the Leading 0 from Area Codes

Chinese area codes are listed domestically with a leading 0 (e.g., 010 for Beijing). When dialing internationally, always remove this 0 and use just the area code digits (e.g., 10 for Beijing).

Mobile Numbers Don't Need Area Codes

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

Hong Kong and Macau Use Different Codes

Hong Kong (+852) and Macau (+853) are not part of China's +86 numbering plan. If you're calling these regions, use their specific country codes instead.

Thailand Has Multiple Exit Codes

Thailand's standard IDD prefix is 001. Some Thai carriers also support alternative prefixes (e.g., 007, 008, 009) which may offer different rates. Check with your Thai carrier for the best option, or simply use + on a mobile phone.

Use + on Smartphones for Simplicity

On any smartphone in Thailand, press and hold 0 (or tap + directly) to insert the + symbol. Then dial 86 followed by the number. This avoids needing to remember Thailand's specific exit code.

TIMING & TIPS

Best Times to Call China from Thailand

China is only 1 hour ahead of Thailand (UTC+8 vs UTC+7), making it one of the most convenient international calling corridors for timing. Neither country observes daylight saving time, so the 1-hour difference is constant year-round.

Time & windows

Best for Personal Calls

6:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Thailand)

7:00 PM – 10:00 PM in China — after dinner, families are typically available

Best for Business Calls

8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Thailand)

9:00 AM – 6:00 PM in China — standard business hours

Avoid Late Night

After 10:00 PM (Thailand)

After 11:00 PM in China — most people are asleep

🇹🇭Thailand morning (8 AM)

9:00 AM in ChinaStart of business day in China

🇹🇭Thailand noon (12 PM)

1:00 PM in ChinaLunch break — may be harder to reach office workers

🇹🇭Thailand evening (6 PM)

7:00 PM in ChinaIdeal window for personal and family calls

🇹🇭Thailand night (10 PM)

11:00 PM in ChinaLate — avoid unless urgent

Calling tips

The 1-hour time difference is constant year-round — neither Thailand nor China observes daylight saving time.
For students calling family in China, evening calls from Thailand (6–9 PM) align well with post-dinner time in China.
During Lunar New Year and Golden Week holidays, expect family members in China to be more available but phone networks may be busier.
If calling a business in China, avoid the lunch break window around 12–1 PM China time.
Use Sayfone via your browser — no app download needed — to place calls at $0.08/min.

Business etiquette

Chinese business culture values formal greetings. Open with a polite greeting and state your name and purpose clearly.
Address contacts by their surname with an appropriate title (e.g., Mr. Wang, Director Li).
Avoid calling Chinese businesses during public holidays such as Spring Festival (Lunar New Year), which typically lasts 7 days.
Be patient with call routing — larger Chinese companies may use automated menus primarily in Mandarin.

Sources

1
Time in Thailand — Wikipedia
Confirms Thailand uses UTC+7 with no DST
2
Time Zone Converter — Bangkok vs Beijing
Confirms 1-hour time difference between Bangkok and Beijing

TROUBLESHOOTING

Common Issues When Calling China from Thailand

If your call to China isn't connecting, check these common issues before trying again.

Forgot the Exit Code or Country Code

Make sure you dial 001 (or +) before 86. Without the international prefix and China's country code, your call will not route correctly.

Included the Leading 0 in the Area Code

If calling a Beijing landline, dial +86-10-XXXX-XXXX, not +86-010-XXXX-XXXX. The 0 is a domestic trunk prefix and must be removed for international calls.

Wrong Number Length

Chinese mobile numbers are always 11 digits (starting with 1). Landline numbers vary: major cities have 8-digit local numbers with 2-digit area codes, while smaller cities may have 7-digit local numbers with 3-digit area codes. Verify the total length before dialing.

VoIP Apps Blocked in China

Many popular VoIP and messaging apps are restricted in China due to internet regulations. If the person you're calling relies on such apps, they may not receive your call. Using a browser-based calling service like Sayfone routes your call through traditional phone networks, which are unaffected by these restrictions.

Network Congestion During Holidays

During major Chinese holidays like Spring Festival (Lunar New Year) and National Day Golden Week, phone networks can experience higher traffic. If your call doesn't connect, wait a few minutes and try again.

Sources

1
Beijing Government — International Calling FAQ
Official dialing guidance from China

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.