Last reviewed: 2025-01-07 · Reading time: 5 minutes
How do you dial China from United States?
- Country code
+86- Mobile numbers
-
Example:
+86 138 1234 5678Mobile numbers are 11 digits starting with 1. Common prefixes: 13x, 14x, 15x, 16x, 17x, 18x, 19x. No leading 0 to drop.
- Landline numbers
-
Example:
+86 10 1234 5678Area code + local number. Beijing is 10, Shanghai is 21, Guangzhou is 20. Drop the leading 0 from the area code.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Adding a 0 before the area code—dial +86 10, not +86 010
- Expecting 10-digit mobiles—Chinese mobiles are 11 digits
- Forgetting the massive time difference (essentially tomorrow there)
When is the best time to call China?
Timezone: CST (UTC+8)—China Standard Time, same across all of China
Morning call
7:00 AM - 9:00 AM CST (3:00 PM - 5:00 PM PST / 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM EST (previous day) your time)
Your afternoon/evening catches their morning. Reach family before their workday.
Evening call
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM CST (3:00 AM - 6:00 AM PST / 6:00 AM - 9:00 AM EST your time)
Your early morning catches their evening. Works if you're an early riser.
What should you know about calling China?
China has three major carriers: China Mobile (largest), China Unicom,
and China Telecom. Mobile coverage is excellent in cities and good
along major routes. Rural western regions may have limited coverage.
Most Chinese use mobile as their primary number.
Call quality to Chinese cities is generally good. International calls
route through approved gateways. VoIP quality can vary. If experiencing
issues, traditional phone calls may be more reliable than internet-based
calling apps.
Cultural tips
Avoid calling during meal times—lunch (12-1 PM) and dinner (6-8 PM) are
important family times. The Chinese appreciate politeness and indirect
communication. For business, establishing relationship (guanxi) matters.
Elderly relatives may prefer phone calls over apps.
Holidays to know
Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) is the biggest holiday—a week or more
off, massive travel. Expect difficulty reaching people during this period
(January/February). National Day (Oct 1-7) is another major holiday week.
Mid-Autumn Festival (September/October) and Qingming (April) are family
times.
Alternatives to phone calls
WeChat is the dominant app in China—far more than just messaging. Most
Chinese prefer WeChat voice or video calls. WhatsApp and other Western
apps are blocked in China without VPN. If your contact is in China,
WeChat is essential for staying in touch.
Frequently asked questions
What's the time difference between the US and China?
China (UTC+8) is significantly ahead of US time zones:
- Pacific Time: 16 hours ahead (15 during PDT)
- Mountain Time: 15 hours ahead (14 during MDT)
- Central Time: 14 hours ahead (13 during CDT)
- Eastern Time: 13 hours ahead (12 during EDT)
China doesn't observe daylight saving. When it's 7 PM Friday in
New York, it's 8 AM Saturday in Beijing.
What are the area codes for major Chinese cities?
Major cities:
Beijing: 10 · Shanghai: 21 · Guangzhou: 20 · Shenzhen: 755 · Chengdu: 28 · Hangzhou: 571 · Wuhan: 27 · Xi'an: 29 · Nanjing: 25 · Tianjin: 22 · Chongqing: 23 · Suzhou: 512 · Dongguan: 769 · Qingdao: 532 · Dalian: 411 · Xiamen: 592 · Fuzhou: 591 · Kunming: 871 · Harbin: 451 · Zhengzhou: 371
Why are Chinese mobile numbers 11 digits?
China's massive population (1.4 billion) requires more number capacity.
The 11-digit format allows for billions of unique mobile numbers.
All mobile numbers start with 1, followed by 10 more digits. This is
longer than most countries but straightforward once you know.
Can I use WhatsApp to call China?
WhatsApp is blocked in mainland China. Your contact would need a VPN
to use it, which many don't have. WeChat is the standard—download it
and connect with your contacts there. For regular phone calls, dial
normally with +86. Traditional calls work reliably.
What about calling Hong Kong or Macau?
Hong Kong and Macau have different country codes:
- Hong Kong: +852 (8 digits, no area code)
- Macau: +853 (8 digits, no area code)
These are separate from mainland China (+86). WhatsApp and other
Western apps work normally in Hong Kong and Macau.