How To Call China From USA: Updated For 2025
Quick Reference Summary
To call China from the USA:
011 + 86 + Area Code + Local Number
Examples:
- For Beijing landline: 011 + 86 + 10 + XXXX XXXX
- For Shanghai mobile: 011 + 86 + 131 + XXXX XXXX
When it’s 12 PM (noon) in New York, it’s 1 AM in Beijing (13 hours ahead).
Complete Dialing Protocol
Calling China from the United States requires understanding the structure of Chinese phone numbers, which differ between landlines and mobile phones.
Chinese Phone Number Structure
Landlines in China typically consist of a city/area code (2-4 digits) followed by a local number (7-8 digits). The total length of a landline number including the area code is generally 10-11 digits.
Mobile numbers in China always start with a three-digit mobile prefix (such as 130, 131, 132, etc.) followed by 8 digits. All mobile numbers in China are 11 digits long.
Step-by-Step Dialing Instructions
- Dial the USA exit code: 011
- Dial the China country code: 86
- For landlines: Dial the area code (without any leading zeros) followed by the local number
- For mobile phones: Dial the mobile prefix (like 130, 131) followed by the 8-digit number
When calling Chinese mobile phones, there’s no separate area code. The three-digit prefix at the beginning of the number indicates the original service provider, though with number portability, this may no longer reflect the current carrier.
Regional Analysis: Area Codes in China
Major Cities and Their Area Codes
| Region/City | Area Code |
|---|---|
| Beijing | 10 |
| Shanghai | 21 |
| Guangzhou | 20 |
| Shenzhen | 755 |
| Tianjin | 22 |
| Chongqing | 23 |
| Wuhan | 27 |
| Chengdu | 28 |
| Xian | 29 |
| Hangzhou | 571 |
| Nanjing | 25 |
| Suzhou | 512 |
| Dalian | 411 |
| Qingdao | 532 |
| Harbin | 451 |
| Jinan | 531 |
| Changsha | 731 |
| Xiamen | 592 |
| Fuzhou | 591 |
| Dongguan | 769 |
| Kunming | 871 |
| Foshan | 757 |
| Zhengzhou | 371 |
| Haikou | 898 |
| Sanya | 899 |
| Urumqi | 991 |
| Lhasa | 891 |
Special Administrative Regions
| Region | Area Code |
|---|---|
| Hong Kong | 852 |
| Macau | 853 |
Note: When calling Hong Kong or Macau, use their distinct country codes (852 for Hong Kong, 853 for Macau) instead of China’s 86.
Mobile Phone Prefixes
Chinese mobile numbers begin with these common prefixes:
- China Mobile: 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 150, 151, 152, 157, 158, 159, 188
- China Unicom: 130, 131, 132, 155, 156, 185, 186
- China Telecom: 133, 153, 177, 180, 189
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Our prepaid system is straightforward to use:
- Dial the local access number provided with your card
- Enter your 10-digit PIN number when prompted
- Dial the Chinese number following the format above (86 + area code + local number)
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