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

  1. Dial the USA exit code: 011
  2. Dial the China country code: 86
  3. For landlines: Dial the area code (without any leading zeros) followed by the local number
  4. 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 service offers competitive rates for calls to both Chinese landlines and mobile phones. With complete coverage across all Chinese provinces and special administrative regions, you can stay connected without worrying about excessive charges on your regular phone bill.

Our prepaid system is straightforward to use:

  1. Dial the local access number provided with your card
  2. Enter your 10-digit PIN number when prompted
  3. Dial the Chinese number following the format above (86 + area code + local number)

The service works from anywhere in the United States and can be used from both landlines and mobile phones to call any number in China. Your unused credit rolls over as long as your account remains active, ensuring you never lose your investment.

Besides the United States, customers can also use our phone cards from Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, United Kingdom, and Australia – perfect for frequent travelers who need to maintain connections with contacts in China.

With no hidden fees, no connection charges, and no reactivation fees, our prepaid international calling service provides a transparent and cost-effective solution for all your calls to China.

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