How to call China from the US→
Dial 011, then 86, then the number without its first 0. Mobiles are 11 digits starting with 1 and are dialed in full. A Beijing landline written 010 xxxx xxxx becomes 011 86 10 xxxx xxxx.
- 1
Dial 011
The exit code for calls out of the United States. On a mobile, type + instead: hold the 0 key.
- 2
Dial 86
The country code for China.
- 3
Dial the number
Drop the 0 at the start of the number.
Examples: what you see, what you dial
| Number | Written in China | Landline in the United States | Any mobile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile | 13x xxxx xxxx | 011 86 13x xxxx xxxx | +86 13x xxxx xxxx |
| Beijing landline | 010 xxxx xxxx | 011 86 10 xxxx xxxx | +86 10 xxxx xxxx |
An x stands for any digit. Numbers shown in full are from ranges reserved for fiction, so they reach no one.
Mobiles: all 11 digits, starting with 1
Chinese mobile numbers have 11 digits and start with 1, like 138 or 159. There is no 0 to drop, so you dial +86 and all 11 digits.
Landlines: drop the 0 of the city code
City codes are written with a 0: 010 Beijing, 021 Shanghai, 020 Guangzhou, 0755 Shenzhen. From abroad, drop that 0. Shanghai 021 xxxx xxxx becomes +86 21 xxxx xxxx.
One time zone for the whole country
All of China runs on Beijing time, 8 hours ahead of UTC, with no clock changes. That is 12 hours ahead of New York in summer and 13 hours in winter, so a call at 8 PM in New York reaches China the next morning.
Right now
New York: Wed 7:43 AM
Beijing: Wed 7:43 PM
Beijing is 12 hours ahead of New York today. 9:00 AM in New York is 9:00 PM in Beijing.
What it costs
Your phone plan decides the price of a direct call, so check it before a long one. Many plans charge international calls per minute. Prepaid calls to China with SimVala start at $0.0028/min, to mobiles and landlines, paid in crypto.
See the rates for calls to ChinaBuild the exact digits
Paste a number as it was written in China. The builder shows what to dial from a mobile and from a landline in the United States.
Dial builder
What exactly should I dial?
From any mobile
+86 …
Type + by holding the 0 key. Works from any country.
From a landline in the United States
011 86 …
011 is the exit code from the United States.
Example numbers are from ranges reserved for fiction. Codes follow the ITU dialling procedures list.
More calling guides
Keep reading
Calling China from the US, answered
How do I call a Chinese mobile from the US?+
011 86 and the 11-digit number starting with 1. Nothing to drop.
What is the country code for China?+
86.
Do I dial the 0 in 010 for Beijing?+
No. From abroad Beijing is +86 10, then the number.
What time is it in China now compared to the US?+
12 hours ahead of New York in summer, 13 in winter. China has one time zone and does not change its clocks.
Call China for less
Prepaid minutes to mobiles and landlines, from $0.0028/min. Pay in crypto, no card, no email, no ID.