What is the country code for China?

China's country code is +86, assigned under the ITU E.164 standard. This applies to mainland China only — Hong Kong (+852) and Macau (+853) have separate codes.

How do I call a Chinese mobile number from the US?

Dial 011 (or + on a smartphone), then 86, then the full 11-digit mobile number. For example: +86 138 1234 5678. Mobile numbers in China always start with 1 and do not require an area code.

How do I call a Chinese landline from the US?

Dial 011 (or +), then 86, then the area code (without the leading 0), then the local number. For example, to call a Beijing landline: +86 10 1234 5678.

What does it cost to call China with Sayfone?

Sayfone offers calls to China at $0.08/min with transparent per-minute pricing. You can call directly from your browser with no app download required.

What time should I call China from the US?

China is 12–16 hours ahead of the US depending on your time zone and whether DST is in effect. For business calls, aim for China's business hours (9 AM–6 PM CST), which correspond to late evening through early morning US Eastern time. For personal calls, US mornings align with China's evening.

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

No. Chinese mobile numbers are 11 digits that include a carrier prefix and subscriber number. Dial all 11 digits directly after +86 without adding a separate area code.

Can I call China from my browser without downloading an app?

Yes. Sayfone offers browser-based calling to China. Enter the number and place the call directly from your web browser — no app download is needed.

Quick Answer

How to Call China from the United States

From the US, dial 011 + 86 + area code (for landlines) or mobile number. On a smartphone, dial +86 followed by the full Chinese number. Drop any leading 0 from the local area code.

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Cost tools

🇺🇸From United States

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 reaching family, coordinating with business contacts, or calling a hotel in Beijing, the dialing format is the same. Sayfone lets you call China at $0.08/min directly from your browser.

Steps at a glance

Dial 011 (US exit code) or press + on a smartphone
Dial 86 (China's country code)
Dial the area code (drop leading 0) for landlines, or the 11-digit mobile number
Press call

Sources

1
FCC – International Long Distance Calling Tip Sheet
Confirms US exit code 011 and international dialing procedure
2
ITU – E.164 Country Code +86 for China
Official ITU numbering plan document for country code +86

STEP-BY-STEP

How to Dial a Chinese Number from the US

Follow these steps to connect your call to a landline or mobile phone in mainland China.

1
Dial the US exit code
From a landline or traditional phone, dial 011. On a smartphone, press and hold 0 to enter the + symbol, which replaces 011.
```
011 or +
```
2
Dial China's country code
Enter 86, China's country code assigned under the ITU E.164 standard. This routes your call to mainland China's telephone network.
```
011 86 or +86
```
3
Dial the area code or mobile prefix
For landlines, enter the area code without the leading 0 (e.g., 10 for Beijing, 21 for Shanghai, 20 for Guangzhou). For mobile numbers, the 11-digit number already includes the mobile prefix — just dial it directly after 86.
```
011 86 10 (Beijing landline) or +86 138 (mobile prefix)
```
4
Dial the local number
Enter the remaining digits of the subscriber's number. Landline local numbers are typically 7–8 digits. Mobile numbers are 11 digits total (prefix + subscriber number), dialed as one continuous sequence after +86.
```
011 86 10 1234 5678 (Beijing landline) or +86 138 1234 5678 (mobile)
```
Place the call
Press the call button. With Sayfone, enter the full number and call directly from your browser at $0.08/min to China.

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] (10–12 digits total)

+86 10 1234 5678 (Beijing landline)
+86 21 1234 5678 (Shanghai landline)
+86 138 1234 5678 (mobile)

Major city area codes

Beijing10

Shanghai21

Guangzhou20

Shenzhen755

Chengdu28

Tianjin22

Sources

1
Wikipedia – Telephone Numbers in China
Comprehensive overview of China's numbering plan, area code structure, and mobile format
2
FCC – International Calling Tip Sheet
Confirms US exit code 011 for international calls

DIALING RULES

Key Rules for Calling China from the US

China's telephone numbering plan has specific formatting differences between mobile and landline numbers. Keep these rules in mind to avoid failed calls.

Drop the leading 0 from area codes

Chinese landline area codes are prefixed with 0 for domestic calls (e.g., 010 for Beijing). When calling internationally, omit the leading 0 and dial only the area code digits (e.g., 10 for Beijing).

Mobile numbers don't use area codes

Chinese mobile numbers are 11 digits long (format: 1XX XXXX XXXX) and do not require a separate area code. Dial all 11 digits directly after +86.

Landline number length varies by city

Major cities like Beijing (10) and Shanghai (21) use 2-digit area codes with 8-digit local numbers. Smaller cities may use 3-digit area codes with 7–8 digit local numbers. The total national number (area code + local) is typically 10–11 digits.

Hong Kong and Macau use different country codes

Hong Kong (+852) and Macau (+853) are not part of mainland China's +86 numbering plan. If calling Hong Kong or Macau, use their respective country codes instead.

Use + or 011 — not both

The US international exit code is 011 (used on landlines). On smartphones, the + symbol replaces 011 entirely. Do not dial +011 or 011+ together.

TIMING TIPS

When to Call China from the US

China Standard Time (CST) is UTC+8 and does not observe daylight saving time. The US spans multiple time zones with seasonal DST changes, so the gap shifts between 12 and 16 hours depending on your US location and time of year.

🇨🇳

Plan calls during China's business hours (9 AM–6 PM CST) or evening hours for personal calls. Because China is ahead, US mornings generally correspond to China's late evening or night.

Time & windows

US Eastern → China

+12 to +13 hours

12 hours ahead during US DST (Mar–Nov); 13 hours ahead during US standard time

US Pacific → China

+15 to +16 hours

15 hours ahead during US DST; 16 hours ahead during US standard time

China does not observe DST

UTC+8 year-round

Only the US clock shifts; China stays constant

🇺🇸Best for business calls (China 9 AM–6 PM)

US Eastern: 9 PM – 6 AM (DST) / 8 PM – 5 AM (standard)Late evening to early morning US time

🇺🇸Best for personal calls (China 7 PM–10 PM)

US Eastern: 7 AM – 10 AM (DST) / 6 AM – 9 AM (standard)US morning aligns with China evening

🇺🇸Avoid calling (China midnight–7 AM)

US Eastern: 12 PM – 7 PM (DST) / 11 AM – 6 PM (standard)Afternoon in the US is nighttime in China

Calling tips

The US afternoon is nighttime in China — avoid calling unless urgent.
If you're on the US West Coast, China business hours fall during your late afternoon/evening the previous day.
Chinese national holidays (such as Chinese New Year and National Day) may affect business availability for a week or more.
Sayfone lets you call China at $0.08/min from your browser — convenient for scheduling calls around time zone gaps.

Business etiquette

In Chinese business culture, punctuality for scheduled calls is highly valued.
Address contacts by their title and surname unless invited to use first names.
Mandarin is the primary business language; confirm whether your contact speaks English beforehand.
Avoid scheduling calls during lunch hours (approximately 12 PM–1:30 PM China time).

Sources

1
timeanddate.com – China Standard Time
Confirms CST is UTC+8 year-round with no DST

TROUBLESHOOTING

Common Issues When Calling China from the US

If your call to China isn't connecting, check these common causes before redialing.

Call not connecting — check the leading 0

If you copied a Chinese landline number that starts with 0 (e.g., 010 for Beijing), remove the leading 0 before dialing internationally. The correct international format is +86 10, not +86 010.

Wrong number of digits

Chinese mobile numbers should be exactly 11 digits after the country code. Landline numbers (area code + local) are typically 10–11 digits. If the total seems too short or too long, verify the number with your contact.

Dialing Hong Kong or Macau by mistake

Hong Kong uses +852 and Macau uses +853. These are separate from mainland China's +86. If your contact is in Hong Kong or Macau, use the correct country code.

Call connects but no audio or one-way audio

This is typically a network or device issue rather than a dialing error. Try calling again, check your internet connection if using a browser-based service, or try from a different device.

Some special numbers may not work internationally

Certain service numbers, toll-free numbers, or short codes within China may not be reachable from outside the country. If you need to reach a specific service line, check whether they have an international-accessible 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.