How To Call China: 11 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Call China With a Phone or Through an App PDF download Download Article Learn how to make phone calls to China quickly and easily Written by Hannah Dillon

Last Updated: October 24, 2025 Fact Checked

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  • Calling on a Phone
    • |
  • Using Apps to Call China
    • |
  • Considerations Before You Call
    • |
  • Exit Codes for Other Countries
    • |
  • Q&A
|Show more |Show less X

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Dillon. Hannah Dillon is a Technology Writer and Editor at wikiHow. She graduated with a B.A. in Journalism from North Dakota State University in 2013 and has since worked in the video game industry as well as a few newspapers. From a young age Hannah has cultivated a love for writing and technology, and hopes to use these passions in tandem to help others in the articles she writes for wikiHow. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 242,777 times. Learn more...

Making a call to China is much like any other phone call, but you'll need to know a few international calling codes to place your call correctly. This wikiHow article will teach you how to easily call China from another country using a phone or app.

Steps to Call China By Phone

  1. On your phone, enter your country’s exit code (011 for the United States).
  2. Next, enter the country code for China (86).
  3. Finally, enter the number you’re trying to call. Mobile numbers are 11 digits, while landlines include an area code plus 6-8 digit number.
  4. Dial to call on a landline, or enter the numbers and press the call button on a cell phone.
  5. You can also call China using apps like FaceTime.

Steps

Section 1 of 4:

Calling on a Phone

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  1. Step 1 Enter the exit code for your country. 1 Enter the exit code for your country. The exit code, also called the international call prefix or the dial out code, is the number that allows you to dial outside of the country you are currently in. Different countries have different exit codes. For instance, the exit code for the United States is 011, for Nigeria it’s 009, and for Saudi Arabia it’s 00.[1] Check the section below to see a list of exit codes from around the world.
    • You can find the exit codes by contacting your phone company or doing a quick internet search. Just type in the name of your country followed by "dial out code" or "exit calling code."
    • If you're on a cell phone, dial + instead of the exit code. Dialing a + will tell your phone to automatically apply the exit code for whatever country you're in. The + key is usually shared with the 0 key.
  2. Step 2 Dial 86 to connect with China. 2 Dial 86 to connect with China. This is the country code for China. The country code is typically 1-3 digits long. This code identifies the country to which you are placing a call; each nation has a different country code.[2] Advertisement
  3. Step 3 Determine whether the number is for a landline or mobile phone. 3 Determine whether the number is for a landline or mobile phone. In China, mobile phone numbers are 11 digits (not including the exit or country codes), and they always begin with 1, whereas landlines are usually 6-8 digits (without the exit or country codes).[3]
    • It is important to know whether the number is a landline or not, as you do not use area codes for Chinese mobile phones.[4]
  4. Step 4 Dial the mobile number to call a mobile phone. 4 Dial the mobile number to call a mobile phone. If you were dialing a mobile Chinese number from the United States, it would look like: 011-86-155-5555-5555. 011 is the US exit code, 86 is the Chinese country code, and 155 5555 5555 is the mobile number.
  5. Step 5 Enter the area or city code to call a landline. 5 Enter the area or city code to call a landline. The area code will narrow your call to the specific region in China that you are calling.[5]
    • Chinese area codes are 2-4 numbers long. For example, the area code for Shanghai is 21 while the area code for Ganzhou is 0787.
    • Check this page for a complete list of Chinese area codes.
  6. Step 6 Dial the phone number after the area code to call a landline. 6 Dial the phone number after the area code to call a landline. For example, if you were dialing a landline in Shanghai from the United States, you would dial: 011-86-21-55-5555. 011 is the US exit code, 86 is the Chinese country code, 21 the area code for Shanghai, and 55-5555 the landline number.
    7. Advertisement
Section 2 of 4:

Using Apps to Call China

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  1. Step 1 Make sure you are connected to Wi-Fi. 1 Make sure you are connected to Wi-Fi. If you have a Wi-Fi connected device, you can use an app to phone China. Make sure that your phone, tablet, laptop, or other device is connected to the Wi-Fi.[6]
    • If you don't have a Wi-Fi connection at home, find a hotspot at a library, cafe, or restaurant and connect there.
    • Remember that many apps, such as Facebook or WhatsApp, are banned in China. Make sure the app you choose will work in China.
  2. Step 2 Download the WeChat app. 2 Download the WeChat app. WeChat is the most popular VoIP chat app in China. It’s available for iOS and Android devices as well as Mac and Windows computers. You can download it here, or get it from the App Store (Apple devices) or Google Play Store (Android).
    • Both you and the person you’re trying to call will need the WeChat app. Search for them using their mobile number or WeChat ID, then send them a friend request. Once they accept, you can start chatting![7]
    • WeChat allows you to place free video and voice calls. You can also chat with your contacts over text.
  3. Step 3 Use FaceTime to call China if you have an iPhone or iPad. 3 Use FaceTime to call China if you have an iPhone or iPad. If you have an Apple device, FaceTime is probably included. Open the app and sign in with your Apple Account. If you are using an iPhone, you will be automatically signed in.[8]
    • In the app, enter the phone number or email address of the person you want to FaceTime. Then tap either the video or audio icon to make the call. The audio icon will be sound only.
    • To use FaceTime, the person you are calling will have to also have FaceTime. FaceTime is only available on Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, and Mac).[9]
    4. Advertisement
Section 3 of 4:

Considerations Before You Call

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  1. Step 1 Check the local time. 1 Check the local time. Even though it geographically covers 5 different time zones, all of China uses China Standard Time, or Beijing Time. This is 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+8). This means that if you called at 1:00 PM from London (GMT), it would be 9:00 PM in China. If you called at 1:00 PM from Washington, DC (EDT), it would be 1:00 AM in China. Make sure you know the local time before you make your phone call to ensure you don’t call at an inconvenient time.[10]
    • Many websites will let you check the current time in China; this is an excellent way to certify that you are calling at an appropriate hour.[11]
  2. Step 2 Consider purchasing an international phone card. 2 Consider purchasing an international phone card. You can buy these online or at many convenience or department stores. They often offer a cheaper rate than your phone provider, and since they are prepaid, you will not receive an unexpectedly high phone bill.
    3. Advertisement
Section 4 of 4:

Exit Codes for Other Countries

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  1. Exit codes vary by country. We've made a list of all the major exit codes used worldwide, but this list is not exhaustive. To make sure you have the right exit code, check Google or your favorite search engine.[12]
    • 011 is the exit code for the United States, Canada, several US territories, and some Caribbean islands.
    • 00 is the exit code for almost all of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America, as well as some Asian countries.
      • Some countries, such as South Korea, Colombia, Brazil, Israel, Finland, and Indonesia use 00 but also allow or require extra digits to specify your carrier.
    • 0011 is the exit code for Australia. No other countries are currently using 0011 as an exit code.
    • 010 is the exit code for Japan, and it's the only country that currently uses this code.
    • 001 is used by Guyana, Hong Kong, Mongolia, Thailand, and Cambodia. 002 is used by Taiwan.
    • 0 is used by Samoa and Turks and Caicos.
    • 000 is used by Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Singapore.
    • 009 is only used by Nigeria.
    • 1XX0 is used in Chile, where the "XX" changes depending on your phone carrier.
    • 19XX is the exit code for Peru, where the "XX" is replaced by a specific carrier code.
    • 810 is the exit code for a number of countries in eastern Europe: Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.
    • 99 is the exit code for North Korea.

    Note: some countries have multiple exit codes that differ based on which service provider/carrier you’re using. As an example, Brazil has five different exit codes: 0014 (Brasil Telecom), 0015 (Telefonica), 0021 (Embratel), 0023 (Intelig), and 0031 (Telmar).

Community Q&A

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  • Question What is the area code in China? Community Answer Community Answer The area code will vary based on different locations within China. I would recommend searching online for the area code for a specific city or town. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 6 Helpful 22
  • Question What is the area code for Yiwu, China? Community Answer Community Answer The area code for Yiwu, in Zhejiang province, is 0579. Most search engines will give you the area code if you type in the city's name followed by "area code." Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 10
  • Question How can I call a police officer in China? Community Answer Community Answer In China, you can call a police officer by dialing 110 or texting 12110. There are no fees for dialing these numbers if you are in mainland China. If you want to call a police officer in China from a different country, you should look up the phone number for the department you want to call, and then use the same methods for dialing as listed in the article. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 3 Helpful 9
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.howtocallabroad.com/codes.html
  2. ↑ http://countrycode.org/china
  3. ↑ https://www.howtocallabroad.com/china/
  4. ↑ https://www.howtocallabroad.com/china/
  5. ↑ http://dialcode.org/Asia/China/
  6. ↑ https://www.cnet.com/news/what-you-need-to-know-about-wifi-calling/
  7. ↑ https://help.wechat.com/cgi-bin/micromsg-bin/oshelpcenter?opcode=2&lang=en&plat=ios&id=1703037nA7fa170303ZJvq2U&Channel=WeChatOfficialWebsite
  8. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-sg/HT204380
  9. ↑ https://mashtips.com/facetime-audio-calls-ios/
More References (3)
  1. ↑ https://www.travelchinaguide.com/essential/time_difference.htm
  2. ↑ https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/china
  3. ↑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/list-of-country-calling-codes-2231578

About This Article

Hannah Dillon Written by: Hannah Dillon wikiHow Technology Writer This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Dillon. Hannah Dillon is a Technology Writer and Editor at wikiHow. She graduated with a B.A. in Journalism from North Dakota State University in 2013 and has since worked in the video game industry as well as a few newspapers. From a young age Hannah has cultivated a love for writing and technology, and hopes to use these passions in tandem to help others in the articles she writes for wikiHow. This article has been viewed 242,777 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 23 Updated: October 24, 2025 Views: 242,777 Categories: Calling Asia Article SummaryX

If you want to call China, first you have to dial your country’s exit code, which you can find by searching online. After you dial your exit code, dial 86, which is the country code for China. If you’re dialing a mobile number, enter the 11-digit phone number, which should always start with 1. If you’re dialing a landline, enter the area or city code, followed by your party’s personal phone number, which should be 6-8 digits. To learn how to use an app to call China, read on! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Hannah Dillon Written by: Hannah Dillon wikiHow Technology Writer Click a star to vote Co-authors: 23 Updated: October 24, 2025 Views: 242,777

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