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International dialing

How to call China from United States

  • Exit code 011
  • Country code +86
  • Drop the leading 0

Reviewed by Sujan ThapaliyaLast updated

Calling China from United States

Dial 011 (the United States exit code), then 86 (China’s country code), then the local number with its leading 0 removed. So +86 10 1234 5678 is dialled as 011 86 10 1234 5678. From a mobile you can dial +86 directly instead of 011.
Dialling China from United States: start with 011, the exit code for United States, then 86 for China, then the local number with its leading 0 dropped. The diagram shows those three blocks and the leading-zero rule that catches most people out.
The + shortcut on a mobile replaces the exit code entirely, which is why it works on any SIM in any country.

The dialing sequence

Exit code from United States
011
China country code
+86
Trunk prefix to remove
0
Domestic numbers start with 0; drop it from abroad.
Full sequence
011 + 86 + local number (drop the leading 0)
Time in China
CST (UTC+8, no DST)
United States is on ET (UTC−5/−4).

Step by step

Dialing China from United States

Four steps, and the third one is where almost every failed call goes wrong.

  1. 1

    Dial 011: the exit code for United States

    011 tells the United States network that the call is leaving the country. On a mobile you can press and hold 0 to type a + instead, which works from any country and any SIM; it is the more reliable option when you travel.
  2. 2

    Dial 86: the country code for China

    86 is China's country calling code. It never changes and is the same no matter where you are calling from.
  3. 3

    Drop the leading 0 from the local number

    Numbers written for domestic use in China begin with 0. That digit is a national trunk prefix and is not part of the number. Remove it: +86 10 1234 5678 is dialled as 10 1234 5678 after the country code.
  4. 4

    Check the local time before you dial

    China is on CST (UTC+8, no DST) and United States is on ET (UTC−5/−4). Work out the overlap before calling; the most common cause of an unanswered international business call is simply the hour.

Worked examples

What the number looks like at each stage

These are format patterns showing digit grouping, not working numbers.

Written in ChinaDialed from United States
Landline010 1234 5678011 86 10 1234 5678
Mobile+86 1XX XXXX XXXX011 86 138 1234 5678
From a mobile (+)n/a+86 138 1234 5678

One thing about China

All of mainland China runs on a single time zone despite spanning five geographic ones, and every Chinese mobile is 11 digits starting with 1.

Frequently asked questions

How do I call China from the United States?
Dial 011, then 86, then the local number with its leading 0 removed. For example, +86 10 1234 5678 is dialled as 011 86 10 1234 5678.
What is the country code for China?
+86. From United States you reach it by dialling 011 first, or by dialling + directly from a mobile.
Do I include the 0 when calling China?
No. The leading 0 is only used inside China. Including it from abroad is the most common reason the call fails to connect.
How do I call a China mobile from United States?
Exactly the same way as a landline: 011 + 86 + the mobile number without its leading 0. A China mobile in international format looks like +86 138 1234 5678.
What is the time difference between United States and China?
United States is on ET (UTC−5/−4) and China is on CST (UTC+8, no DST). Because several of these zones observe daylight saving on different dates, check the current offset rather than assuming a fixed gap.
Is it cheaper to call China over the internet?
Usually, yes. Carrier international rates are typically far above VoIP per-minute rates, and calling from an owned local number also means the person you are calling sees a number they can ring back.

Sources

  1. ITU-T Recommendation E.164 — The international public telecommunication numbering plan — International Telecommunication UnionThe international number format, the 15-digit maximum, and how country codes and national numbers compose.
  2. ITU-T International Numbering Resources — International Telecommunication UnionThe assignment of country calling codes and the published national numbering plans they belong to.

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