What's the best way to save money on calls to China?

Use Sayfone for transparent per-minute pricing at 8¢/min. Browser-based calling means you avoid hidden connection fees and pay only for the duration of your call. Compare this to carrier rates, which can range from 15¢ to 50¢/min for international calls.

Do I need to add anything before the country code?

Yes. From the UK, dial 011 (or + on mobile) before the country code 86. For example: 011 86 10 1234 5678 calls a Beijing landline, and 011 86 138 1234 5678 calls a mobile number.

Why is there a difference between the area code I see online and the one I should dial?

Chinese area codes are printed with a leading 0 for domestic calls (e.g., 010 for Beijing). When dialing internationally, drop the leading 0 and dial only 10. This is standard for international dialing to China.

Can I call Chinese toll-free or premium numbers from the UK?

Some special numbers (like 400 service numbers or premium lines) may not be reachable from the UK. Dial the main switchboard or contact the company via email if you cannot reach a special number. Most standard landlines and mobile numbers work without issue.

What time is it in China right now?

China operates on China Standard Time (CST, UTC+8) year-round and does not observe daylight saving. In winter, the UK is 8 hours behind; in summer (BST), it's 7 hours behind. Use an online time converter for the exact current time.

Is it cheaper to use an app or browser-based calling?

Sayfone's browser-based calling is transparent and simple: pay 8¢/min with no hidden connection fees. Apps can be convenient, but compare their rates carefully. Browser-based calling requires no app download and works on any device with internet.

Quick Answer

How to Call China from the UK

Calling China from the United Kingdom is straightforward: dial the international prefix, China's country code, the area code, and the local number. Most calls connect reliably with clear audio quality.

Start calling

Cost tools

🇬🇧From United Kingdom

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 011 (or + on mobile)
Enter 86 (China's country code)
Add the city code (e.g., 10 for Beijing, 21 for Shanghai)
Dial the local number

Sources

1
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) - Country Code Assignment
Country calling codes for China

DIALING INSTRUCTIONS

Step-by-Step: Calling China from the UK

Follow these steps to place a call to a landline or mobile number in China.

1
Dial the international prefix
From the UK, dial 011 to begin an international call. On mobile phones, you can also use the + symbol.
```
011 or +
```
2
Enter China's country code
After the prefix, dial 86, which is China's international country code.
```
011 86
```
3
Add the area code (city code)
Dial the area code for the city you're calling. Major cities are 2 digits; some areas are 3 or 4 digits.
```
011 86 10 (for Beijing), 011 86 21 (for Shanghai)
```
4
Dial the local number
Complete the call with the local phone number. Landlines typically have 7–8 digits; mobile numbers are 11 digits starting with 1.
```
011 86 10 5555 1234
```

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 (varies by city)

+86 10 5555 1234 (Beijing landline)
+86 21 6789 5432 (Shanghai landline)
+86 138 1234 5678 (Mobile)

Major city area codes

Beijing10

Shanghai21

Guangzhou20

Shenzhen755

Chengdu28

Sources

1
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) - China
Dialing format and country code verification

IMPORTANT RULES

Dialing Rules for Calling China

These rules ensure your call connects reliably and you avoid common mistakes.

Drop the leading 0 from area codes

When calling from abroad, always omit the leading 0 from Chinese area codes. For example, if a Beijing number is listed as 010 5555 1234 domestically, dial 011 86 10 5555 1234 internationally (not 010).

Mobile numbers use 11 digits

Chinese mobile numbers have exactly 11 digits and start with 1 (e.g., 138, 139, 150, 186). Dial the full 11-digit mobile number after the country code; no area code is needed.

Use + or 011 consistently

On mobile phones, the + symbol is equivalent to the international prefix. On landlines, use 011. Both work; pick one and stick to it.

Landline numbers vary by city

Landline length and area code size differ across cities. Beijing and Shanghai use 2-digit codes; other cities may use 3 or 4 digits. Verify the format with your contact.

CALLING TIPS

Best Times to Call China from the UK

China operates on China Standard Time (CST, UTC+8). The UK spans Greenwich Mean Time (GMT, UTC+0) in winter and British Summer Time (BST, UTC+1) in summer. Plan your call to reach someone during reasonable business or personal hours.

🇨🇳

China does not observe daylight saving time, so the time difference shifts seasonally. Use this guide to find the best window for your call.

Time & windows

Winter (GMT)

China is 8 hours ahead

E.g., 9 AM UK = 5 PM China

Summer (BST)

China is 7 hours ahead

E.g., 9 AM UK = 4 PM China

🇬🇧Best for business calls

9 AM–5 PM China time (1 AM–9 AM UK winter; 2 AM–10 AM UK summer)Reaches office hours in major Chinese cities.

🇬🇧Best for personal calls

7 PM–10 PM China time (11 AM–2 PM UK winter; 12 PM–3 PM UK summer)Evening in China; afternoon in the UK.

🇬🇧Avoid early morning China

Before 7 AM China timeToo early for most calls unless pre-arranged.

Calling tips

Check Chinese holidays and weekends. Many businesses close during Chinese New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival, and National Day.
Mobile numbers are always reachable, but landlines are typically available only during business hours.
If calling a company, try mid-morning China time (8–11 AM) for the best connection with staff.
Allow extra time for the call to connect; international calls may take 2–5 seconds to establish.

Business etiquette

Introduce yourself clearly at the start; give your name, company, and purpose in simple English or Mandarin if possible.
Speak clearly and slowly; international calls can have slight delays and echo.
Confirm important details (dates, numbers, names) in writing after the call, especially for business transactions.
Avoid calling very early or late unless the contact has agreed to it in advance.

Sources

1
World Time Zone Database
Time zone offsets and DST information

POTENTIAL ISSUES

Troubleshooting Calls to China

Common issues when calling China from the UK and how to resolve them.

Call won't connect or drops immediately

Verify you've dialed the full sequence: +86 [area code] [local number] or +86 1[mobile number]. Check that you've removed any leading 0 from the area code. If using a landline, confirm the recipient's number format with them directly. Temporary network congestion can also cause dropped calls; try again after a few minutes.

Reaches a wrong number or busy signal

Double-check the area code and local number format. Some areas have recently changed numbering plans; confirm the number is current with the contact. If dialing a mobile, ensure it's exactly 11 digits starting with 1. Busy signals usually indicate a real line; wait a few minutes and try again.

High latency or echo on the line

International calls can have slight delays (1–2 seconds) and echo; this is normal. Speak clearly and pause to let the other person respond. If audio is very poor, try hanging up and calling again on a different network (mobile vs. landline, or a different ISP). Connection quality may vary by time of day.

Unsure about the correct number format

Ask your contact to provide their number in international format (starting with +86). This removes ambiguity about leading zeros and area codes. For businesses, their website or official directory usually lists the international-format number.

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.