You're sitting there, phone in hand, trying to reach a supplier in Shenzhen or maybe a friend who just moved to Shanghai. You see the number, but it looks like a long string of nonsensical digits. If you've ever felt that brief moment of panic before hitting "call," you aren't alone. International calling is weirdly stressful. To get through, you need the dialing code of China, which is +86.
Simple, right? Not always.
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Actually, just punching in +86 is only the first step of a journey through one of the most complex telecommunications infrastructures on the planet. China's phone system has grown at a breakneck pace. We are talking about a country that skipped landlines almost entirely in rural areas to embrace 5G faster than almost anyone else. Because of that rapid growth, the way you dial a number changes depending on whether you’re hitting a desk phone in a Beijing skyscraper or a smartphone in the hands of a street food vendor in Chengdu.
How the Dialing Code of China Actually Works
The dialing code of China is the gatekeeper. Without it, your carrier has no idea where to send your signal. It’s officially designated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as +86. If you are calling from a mobile phone, you just hold down the "0" key to get the plus sign, then type 86.
If you're on an old-school landline, you might need an International Direct Dialing (IDD) prefix. In the US or Canada, that’s 011. In the UK or Australia, it’s 00. So, it looks like 011-86 or 00-86.
Don't Fall for the Zero Trap
This is where most people mess up. Seriously. If you look at a Chinese business card, the area code often has a "0" in front of it. For example, Beijing is 010. If you are calling from inside China, you dial that zero. But if you are calling from outside using the dialing code of China, you absolutely must drop that leading zero.
To call Beijing from New York: +86 10 [Local Number].
Not +86 010. If you keep the zero, the call will fail, or a recorded voice in Mandarin will tell you the number doesn't exist. It’s a tiny detail that ruins calls every single day.
Breaking Down Regional Area Codes
China is massive. It’s subdivided into various tiers of cities, and each has its own identity—and its own code. Generally, the most important "Tier 1" cities have two-digit area codes. Most other places have three digits.
- Beijing: 10
- Shanghai: 21
- Guangzhou: 20
- Shenzhen: 755
- Chongqing: 23
Think of the area code as the second layer of the map. After the dialing code of China gets you into the country, the area code drops you into the right province. Interestingly, China’s numbering plan is managed by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). They’ve had to expand these codes multiple times because cities like Shenzhen grew from fishing villages to tech hubs with 17 million people in just a few decades.
Mobile vs. Landline: A Critical Distinction
Here is something kinda crazy. In many countries, you can't tell the difference between a mobile and a landline just by looking at the number. In China, it’s obvious.
Landlines follow the area code system mentioned above. Mobile numbers, however, do not use area codes. They are 11 digits long and almost always start with the number 1.
If you're calling a Chinese mobile from abroad, you dial +86 followed by the 11-digit mobile number. Do not add an area code. Even if the person lives in Shanghai, you don't need the "21." The mobile network is smart enough to find them anywhere in the country.
Common Mobile Prefixes
- China Mobile: Often starts with 134-139, 150-152, 182-184.
- China Unicom: Often 130-132, 155, 156, 186.
- China Telecom: Often 133, 153, 180, 181, 189.
The number 188 is considered extremely lucky in Chinese culture because "8" sounds like the word for "wealth" or "prosper." You’ll actually see people pay thousands of dollars for mobile numbers that contain several eights. It’s a real thing. If you're calling a business partner with a bunch of eights in their number, they probably paid a premium for it.
The Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan Exception
This is where the politics of telecommunications gets interesting. Even though they are part of China (under various administrative frameworks), Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan do not use the +86 dialing code of China.
- Hong Kong: +852
- Macau: +853
- Taiwan: +886
If you try to call a Hong Kong number using +86, it won't work. Each of these regions maintains its own separate international code, its own regulatory body, and its own numbering plan. It’s a vestige of history that remains very much alive in the world of telecom.
Why Your Call Might Not Go Through
Sometimes you have the right dialing code of China, the right area code, and the right number, but the call just drops. It's frustrating. Honestly, it's usually one of three things.
First, your own carrier might have international calling disabled. Many US-based plans require you to "opt-in" to international dialing even if you have a "global" plan.
Second, time zones. China is on a single time zone: China Standard Time (CST), which is UTC+8. Even though the country is wide enough to span five time zones, the whole place runs on Beijing time. If you're in Los Angeles and calling at 2:00 PM, it's 6:00 AM in China. Most people have their phones on "Do Not Disturb" then.
Third, the "Great Firewall" isn't just for the internet. While it doesn't usually block standard voice calls, VoIP services like Skype or WhatsApp can be incredibly spotty. WhatsApp is officially blocked in mainland China. If you're trying to call a Chinese contact via WhatsApp, they won't even see the phone ringing unless they have a VPN active at that exact moment.
The Rise of WeChat (Weixin)
If we're being real, most people in China don't actually use traditional phone calls anymore for personal stuff. They use WeChat.
WeChat is the everything-app. It has over a billion users. For many, their WeChat ID is more important than their phone number. If you are doing business in China, you'll likely find that after one "official" phone call using the dialing code of China, the conversation immediately moves to WeChat.
The app allows for voice and video calls over data, which bypasses the need for international dialing codes entirely. However, to sign up for WeChat, you usually need a "real" phone number for verification, which brings us back to the importance of the +86 system.
Costs and Practical Tips for 2026
Calling China isn't as expensive as it used to be, but it can still bite you if you aren't careful. Traditional carriers might charge anywhere from $1.00 to $3.00 per minute.
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- Use a VoIP Service: Apps like Rebtel or Vonage often offer much cheaper rates for calling landlines or mobiles in China compared to AT&T or Verizon.
- Check for "Global" Add-ons: Most providers have a $10/month "Global Calling" bolt-on that drops the per-minute rate to a few cents.
- Double Check the Digits: Chinese mobile numbers are 11 digits. Landlines (including area code) are usually 11 or 12 digits. If you have 10, you're missing something.
Actionable Steps for Calling China
If you need to make a call right now, follow this checklist to ensure you don't waste money or time on a failed connection.
- Confirm the Number Type: Ask your contact if the number is a mobile or a landline. This determines if you need an area code.
- Format the Number: Start with +, then 86. If it's a landline, add the area code (minus the leading 0). If it's a mobile, just add the 11 digits.
- Check the Time: Ensure it's between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM in Beijing (CST) to ensure someone answers.
- Have a Backup: If the call quality is poor, ask for their WeChat ID. It is the standard for communication within the country and often provides a clearer connection over high-speed fiber networks.
- Verify International Access: Call your service provider or check your mobile app to confirm that international dialing is actually active on your account before you dial.
By following these specific steps, you'll navigate the Chinese telecommunications maze without the usual headaches. The +86 code is your starting point, but understanding the nuances of the zero-prefix and the mobile-landline divide is what actually gets the call connected.