China Calling Code: +86
Complete guide to calling China — international dialing code, step-by-step instructions, and FAQ.
How to Call China from Abroad
📞 Step-by-Step Dialing Guide
- Dial your country's exit code (e.g. 011 from US, 00 from most countries, + from mobile)
- Dial +86 — the country calling code for China
- Dial the local phone number (area code + subscriber number)
About China Calling Code
Every country has a unique international dialing prefix; for China it is +86. The ITU assigns these codes under recommendation E.164. Dial +86 after your country's exit code, then the local subscriber number. China is in Asia.
China is known locally as 中国 — Beijing is the capital. When saving an international contact, write the number in full international format with +86 so it works from any country.
Every national network is identified by an E.164 country code. For China that code is +86, allocated by the ITU and recognised by carriers worldwide — which is why a number saved as +86 plus the local digits stays dialable no matter which country you call from.
Where the +86 Calling Code Is Used
The country code +86 is assigned to China, located in Eastern Asia, with the capital Beijing. This code is part of the international telephony numbering plan and is used for all calls made to China from outside the country.
A number displayed as +86 … is in international format: +86 replaces the domestic trunk prefix. From abroad, always drop any leading 0 of the area code and dial +86 + area code + subscriber number.
Calling codes starting with 8 are part of the ITU's regional numbering plan for the area around China, in Eastern Asia. When saving China numbers internationally, write +86 followed by the area code without its leading 0 — this format works from every country.
China Phone Number Formats
Numbers in China use the standard E.164 pattern — +86, then the area code, then the subscriber number. The same layout applies to landlines and mobile phones:
📱 Number Structure
- International format: +86 [area code] [subscriber number]
- From abroad: exit code + +86 + local number (drop the trunk prefix 0)
- Within China: dial the local number directly
The digits you see on a China business card are in national format and may begin with a trunk 0. That zero is a domestic signal only. Dial +86 first instead, then the rest of the number exactly as printed after the zero.
Time Zone in China
China runs on Asia/Shanghai, which is UTC+08:00 UTC. Schedule international calls accordingly — a convenient time for you may be very early or very late there.
Use the UTC offset (UTC+08:00) to plan calls to China. For most international callers, the practical rule is: schedule business-hour calls to Beijing during the overlap between your working day and theirs.
Daylight saving time can shift China's clock by one hour in summer. For time-critical calls, confirm the current UTC offset rather than relying on the standard value.
Best Time to Call China
Business hours in China run roughly 09:00–18:00 local time. Because China sits at UTC+08:00, the window in which it is polite to call lands at a different hour for every caller. The table below converts China's working day into your own clock — and shows the hours to avoid so you do not wake anyone up.
| If you are in | Call China between | Avoid calling between |
|---|---|---|
| London | 01:00–10:00 | 15:00–23:00 |
| New York | 20:00–05:00 | 10:00–18:00 |
| Los Angeles | 17:00–02:00 | 07:00–15:00 |
| Sao Paulo | 22:00–07:00 | 12:00–20:00 |
| Dubai | 05:00–14:00 | 19:00–03:00 |
| Mumbai | 06:30–15:30 | 20:30–04:30 |
| Singapore | 09:00–18:00 | 23:00–07:00 |
| Sydney | 11:00–20:00 | 01:00–09:00 |
Times shown are standard time and ignore daylight saving, which shifts the clock by one hour in countries that observe it — around the clock change, add or subtract an hour from every figure above.
Emergency Numbers in China
If you need urgent help while in China, dial the local emergency numbers below. Note that these numbers are only for use inside China.
| Service | Number |
|---|---|
| Police | 110 |
| Fire | 119 |
| Ambulance | 120 |
Example: Calling China Numbers in Practice
Here is how a typical call to China works, depending on where you are calling from:
🌍 From the United States or Canada
- Dial the US/Canada exit code 011
- Dial the China country code +86
- Dial the local number (area code + subscriber number, without the trunk prefix 0)
Example: 011 +86 [area code] [number]
🌍 From the United Kingdom or Europe
- Dial the international access code 00 (or use the + symbol on mobile)
- Dial the China country code +86
- Dial the local number
Example: 00 +86 [area code] [number], or +86 [area code] [number] from any mobile phone
Leading zeros in domestic area codes are not dialed internationally. Write the number as +86 + area code (no leading 0) + subscriber number.
Calling China from Major Countries
International exit codes differ by country. These are the ones most often used to reach China (+86):
| Calling From | Exit Code | Full International Dialing |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 011 | 011 86 [local number] |
| United Kingdom | 00 | 00 86 [local number] |
| United Arab Emirates | 00 | 00 86 [local number] |
| Saudi Arabia | 00 | 00 86 [local number] |
| Australia | 0011 | 0011 86 [local number] |
| Japan | 010 | 010 86 [local number] |
| India | 00 | 00 86 [local number] |
| Singapore | 001 | 001 86 [local number] |
On mobile phones, the + symbol replaces the exit code entirely — just dial +86 followed by the local number.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the calling code for China?
The international calling code for China is +86.
How do I call China from the United States?
Dial 011 (US exit code), then +86, then the local phone number.
How do I call China from the United Kingdom?
Dial 00 (UK exit code), then +86, then the local phone number.
Can I use the + symbol instead of the exit code?
Yes! On mobile phones you can dial +86 directly followed by the local number. The + symbol automatically replaces your country's exit code.
How do I call within China?
If you're already in China, simply dial the local number directly. You do not need to use the country code +86 for domestic calls.
What is the capital of China?
The capital of China is Beijing. When calling the capital from abroad, dial +86 followed by the local area code (without the leading 0) and the number.
What are the emergency numbers in China?
Police: 110, Fire: 119, Ambulance: 120. These numbers are only valid inside China.
Is China a country?
Yes — China is a sovereign state, whose capital is Beijing, and +86 is its international calling code.
China Mobile Phone Prefixes & Domestic Dialing
Mobile phone numbers in China typically use the following prefixes:
- 13x
- 14x
- 15x
- 16x
- 17x
- 18x
- 19x (all 11-digit mobile numbers)
China City / Area Codes
Major cities in China and their local area codes (dial these after the country code +86 when calling from abroad):
| City | Area Code(s) |
|---|---|
| Beijing | 010 |
| Shanghai | 021 |
| Guangzhou | 020 |
| Shenzhen | 0755 |
| Chengdu | 028 |
| Wuhan | 027 |
| Hangzhou | 0571 |
| Nanjing | 025 |
| Tianjin | 022 |
| Chongqing | 023 |
Note: Drop any leading "0" when dialing from abroad. Example: Beijing 010 becomes +86 10 + local number.
From the United States, a call to Beijing is dialed as 011 +86 10 [local number].
Other Countries in Asia
Nearby countries and their calling codes:
Calling China from Kazakhstan or Malaysia works the same way: dial your local exit code first, then +86, then the local number. Within Asia, many callers simply use the + symbol on mobile to avoid exit-code differences.