How to Call China from the US: Complete 2026 Guide

Published: August 12, 2026 · 7 min read

Calling China (+86) from the United States is straightforward once you understand the three pieces of the dialing puzzle: the US exit code, China's country code, and the 11-digit Chinese number. This guide walks through each step with real examples, including mobile numbers, city codes, and time zone math.

The Three-Step Formula

Every international call from the US to China follows the same pattern:

Dial 011 — the US/Canada exit code that tells the network you are leaving the NANP zone
Dial 86 — China's country calling code (written as +86 in international format)
Dial the Chinese number — including the city code (for landlines) or the full 11-digit mobile number

📱 Mobile shortcut: On any smartphone, replace 011 with the + symbol. Hold the 0 key (iOS) or press and hold + (Android), then type 86 and the number. The phone handles the exit code automatically.

Calling Chinese Mobile Numbers

Chinese mobile numbers are always 11 digits and start with 1 (e.g. 138, 159, 186...). When calling from the US: 011 86 138 XXXX XXXX. Unlike many countries, China does not use a trunk prefix (0) on mobile numbers, so nothing needs to be dropped.

Calling Chinese Landlines (City Codes)

Landline calls need the city code. Chinese city codes start with 0 domestically, but the leading 0 is dropped when dialing from abroad:

City	Domestic Code	Dial from the US
Beijing	010	011 86 10 XXXX XXXX
Shanghai	021	011 86 21 XXXX XXXX
Guangzhou	020	011 86 20 XXXX XXXX
Shenzhen	0755	011 86 755 XXXX XXXX
Chengdu	028	011 86 28 XXXX XXXX
Hangzhou	0571	011 86 571 XXXX XXXX

Time Difference: Scheduling Your Call

China uses a single time zone, UTC+8, across the entire country — no daylight saving time. That means:

China is 13 hours ahead of US Eastern Time (EST)
China is 15 hours ahead of US Pacific Time (PST)
9:00 AM in Beijing = 8:00 PM the previous day in New York

The practical window for calling a business in China from the US East Coast is roughly 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM EST (9:00–11:00 AM in Beijing).

Cheaper Alternatives

Direct carrier rates for US→China calls typically run $0.50–$2.00 per minute without an international plan. Cheaper options include WeChat voice calls (free, and the standard way Chinese contacts communicate), Skype, Google Voice (from about $0.01/min), and international calling cards. Compare your options on our calling tools page.

Emergency Numbers in China

If you are in China and need help: Police 110, Fire 119, Ambulance 120. These numbers work nationwide.

Sources: ITU-T E.164, NANPA. Always verify the final number with your carrier before dialing.