What is China's country code?
The country code for China is +86.
Country codes are assigned by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
How do I dial China?
- International format (recommended)
-
+86 [local number]Example:
+86 131 2345 6789 - From a mobile phone
-
Press and hold 0 or tap + to get the plus sign, then dial
+86followed by the local number. - From a landline
-
Dial your country's international access code, then
86, then the local number.Common access codes: US/Canada: 011, UK: 00, Australia: 0011
Do I need to drop the leading zero?
Yes. When calling China from abroad, drop the leading 0 from the local number.
For example, if the local number is 0XX XXX XXXX, dial +86 XX XXX XXXX.
What time zone is China?
China spans 2 time zones:
- Asia/Shanghai
- Asia/Urumqi
Fair time to call
09:03 PM local time · Late evening
OK for personal calls. Not ideal for business.
Tips for calling China
Based on patterns from DialHard users and support data:
- Mainland China numbers may have significant latency due to routing. Be patient.
- Many Chinese use WeChat for calls - voice calls to mobile often go unanswered.
Calling China
Direct calling to China isn't available yet. View available destinations.
Frequently asked questions
Is +86 a mobile or landline code?
+86 is the country code for all of China—both mobile and landline numbers use this code. The digits after the country code may indicate the number type, but this varies by country.
Why won't my call to China connect?
Common issues:
- Wrong format: Make sure you're using +86 (not 0086 or 86)
- Extra digits: Remove any trunk prefix (usually 0) from the start of the local number
- Missing digits: Ensure you have the complete local number after the country code
How do I save a China number in my contacts?
Always save international numbers in E.164 format: +86 followed by the local number (without the leading 0 if applicable). This format works worldwide.