What is a country calling code?

A country calling code is the numeric prefix you dial before a national phone number to route a call to a specific country. For example, +1 reaches the United States and Canada, +44 reaches the United Kingdom, and +91 reaches India. The plus sign stands in for the international access code your network uses.

How do I dial an international number correctly?

Start with your exit or access code (or the + symbol on a mobile), add the destination country code, then the area or city code without its leading zero, and finally the local subscriber number. So a London line looks like +44 20 7946 0000.

What does the plus (+) sign mean in a phone number?

The + is a universal placeholder for the international dialing prefix. Saving numbers in +country-code format means they connect from any country without editing the access code, which is why it is the recommended way to store contacts.

Why do the United States and Canada share the country code +1?

Both countries belong to the North American Numbering Plan, a shared system that also covers several Caribbean nations. They use the same +1 country code but are separated by distinct three-digit area codes.

Do I need to remove the leading zero from a phone number when calling internationally?

Usually yes. Many countries print a trunk prefix, often a 0, for domestic calls. When dialing from abroad you drop that leading zero after the country code. For example, a UK mobile written as 07700 900000 becomes +44 7700 900000.

How does China's Great Firewall affect communication tools I'd typically use alongside letsdial?

Many Western communication platforms — including WhatsApp, Telegram, Gmail, and most Google services — are blocked in mainland China by the Great Firewall. This means Chinese contacts cannot receive WhatsApp pre-call messages or use many standard international scheduling tools. WeChat is the only reliable messaging channel, and letsdial's calling infrastructure operates on standard telephony protocols that function in China.

What are China's main area codes and how do I format Chinese numbers in letsdial?

Chinese numbers drop the leading '0' when dialing internationally. Beijing's area code is 10 (domestic 010), Shanghai is 21 (domestic 021), and Shenzhen is 755 (domestic 0755). Mobile numbers start with 13x, 14x, 15x, 17x, or 18x domestically (11 digits including leading 1), and in international format become +86 13x/15x/18x XXXXXXXX. Enter these in letsdial's +86 format without the trunk zero.

Does China observe daylight saving time, and how does CST affect scheduling letsdial calls?

China uses a single time zone — China Standard Time (CST, UTC+8) — for the entire country, with no daylight saving adjustments. This makes scheduling predictable, though it means sunrise in western Xinjiang may be at 10 AM local time. For US or European teams, the 8-hour or 7-hour offset from CET means live call windows are limited — early morning or late evening calls on one side are required.

What should I know about calling Chinese mobile numbers versus landlines through letsdial?

Chinese mobile numbers are 11 digits starting with 1 (e.g., 138 XXXX XXXX), while landlines include the area code plus a 7- or 8-digit subscriber number. In international format for letsdial, mobile numbers become +86 13x XXXX XXXX and landlines become +86 10 XXXX XXXX (for Beijing). Mobile penetration is extremely high in China, and most business contacts prefer their mobile numbers over desk phones.

Can letsdial provide a Chinese virtual number, and are there regulatory considerations?

Chinese virtual numbers for foreign businesses involve regulatory complexity — China has strict telecommunications licensing requirements, and acquiring a legitimate local Chinese number typically requires a domestic business entity or a licensed local partner. letsdial can advise on compliant options for your market entry, and in the meantime, international calls from a letsdial number with a recognizable foreign country code (using WeChat scheduling first) remain effective.

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China

+86

Country code

International prefix

China's country code +86 connects the world's second-largest economy and manufacturing powerhouse. China's digital ecosystem (WeChat, Alibaba, Baidu) is entirely unique, and businesses entering China need local numbers and platforms to communicate with over a billion consumers.

Best hours:9 AM – 6 PM CST

Language:Mandarin Chinese

Capital:Beijing

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🇨🇳

China

CN · Asia-Pacific

+86

dial code

Capital

Beijing

Currency

CNY (¥)

Language

Mandarin Chinese

Population

1.41 billion

Best calling window

9 AM – 6 PM CST

12 AM

12 PM

11 PM

China Standard Time (CST) · UTC+8

Country

China

2 Digit ISO

Country Calling Code

+86

ISO Alpha-3

CNC

Loading map…

Beijing

Capital

Live

Beijing

--:--:-- --

Time Zone

China Standard Time (CST)

Quick Facts

CurrencyCNY (¥)

LanguageMandarin Chinese

Population1.41 billion

GMT OffsetUTC+8

Best Hours9 AM – 6 PM CST

Step by step

How to call China from abroad

International dialing is a four-step process.
Use + on mobile to skip the exit code entirely.

Step 01

Exit code

Dial from US/Canada (or use +)

Step 02

+86

Country code

China international prefix

Step 03

Area / city code

Local routing prefix

Step 04

1234 5678

Local number

Subscriber number

dialing-example.txt

International format

00—86—10—1234 5678

Shorthand (works from any device): +86 10 1234 5678

Calling Guide

Best time to call China · China Standard Time (CST)

View guide

Why letsdial

Benefits of calling China
with letsdial

Start free trial

Get a local +86 number

A Beijing +86 10 or Shanghai +86 21 caller ID is a prerequisite for business credibility in China — unknown international numbers are almost universally ignored.

China and 50+ countries, one plan

Call China and 50+ global markets from one letsdial subscription — no per-city charges for Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou.

Full call analytics

Track every China call in CST (UTC+8) — monitor answer rates, peak windows, and team performance in one real-time dashboard.

Works on any device

Mobile app, desktop, or IP phone — your +86 number lets your team present as locally based in China from wherever they work.

Unified Communications

One platform. Every call, message and team — connected.

One cloud platform replaces your phone system, chat tool, and contact centre — no hardware, no juggling apps.
Reach China and 50+ countries from one dashboard.

50+

Countries covered

99.9%

Uptime SLA

2 min

Setup time

Hardware needed

Voice & Video Calls

Crystal-clear HD calls to China and 50+ countries from one number.

Team Messaging

Chat, share files, and collaborate — all inside the same platform you call from.

Real-Time Analytics

Live dashboards for call volumes, answer rates, and agent performance.

Global Number Coverage

Local +86 numbers plus 50+ country codes — managed from one dashboard.

Format reference

China& neighbouring countries

Chinese numbers under +86 use 2–4 digit city codes — Beijing (10), Shanghai (21), Guangzhou (20) — followed by 7–8 digit local numbers. Always drop the leading 0. Mobile numbers (1xx) are 11 digits total.

CountryLocal formatInternational format

Chinacurrent1234 5678+86 10 1234 5678

Japan1234 5678+81 3 1234 5678

South Korea1234 5678+82 2 1234 5678

Singapore6789 1234+65 6789 1234

India1234 5678+91 11 1234 5678

Australia9123 4567+61 2 9123 4567

Good to know

Tips for calling China

4 things to check before you dial internationally

Chinese mobiles are 11 digits starting with 1

All Chinese mobile numbers begin with 1 and are 11 digits (e.g. 138 0000 0000). From abroad: +86 + 11-digit number. Landlines use city codes: 010 Beijing, 021 Shanghai — drop the leading 0 and add +86.

WeChat is the only viable business channel in China

WeChat (Weixin) is the mandatory platform for business communication in mainland China — not email, not LinkedIn. Establish a WeChat connection before calling and expect business to flow primarily through WeChat.

Show a local +86 caller ID

Cold calls from international numbers are almost universally ignored in China. A letsdial +86 10 (Beijing) or +86 21 (Shanghai) caller ID is a prerequisite for being answered in the Chinese market.

China runs on a single time zone (CST, UTC+8)

All of mainland China uses China Standard Time regardless of geography. Business hours are 9 AM–6 PM with a 12–2 PM lunch break. From London (GMT), China is 8 hours ahead; from New York (ET), 13 hours in winter.

Market data

China communication insights

75%

Internet penetration

73% of China's population uses the internet, representing over 1 billion users in absolute terms.

92%

Mobile users

99% of Chinese residents use mobile phones, with 4G and 5G among the most widely deployed globally.

72%

Smartphone owners

72% of Chinese adults own smartphones; WeChat (Weixin) is the primary business communication platform.

85%

Digital businesses

85% of Chinese businesses have adopted digital platforms for internal and customer-facing communication.

Global directory

List of Country Codes

50+ countries listed with their international dial prefix and ISO code.

Filter by letter or search to find any country code instantly.

China calling FAQs

Frequently asked about China

WeChat is not just a messaging app in China — it functions as a comprehensive business platform for communication, document sharing, payment, and relationship management. Almost all Chinese business communication happens on WeChat, and contacting someone outside of it (especially via email) is often ineffective. Use WeChat to establish contact and schedule calls, then use letsdial for the actual voice connection.

Get a local China number

Get a local China number in minutes.

Build trust with China customers using a local +86 virtual phone number — from the same letsdial dashboard your whole team already uses.

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Looking up US area codes? Browse all US area codes →

China

China

How to call China from abroad

Benefits of calling Chinawith letsdial

Get a local +86 number

China and 50+ countries, one plan

Full call analytics

Works on any device

One platform. Every call, message and team — connected.

China& neighbouring countries

Tips for calling China

Chinese mobiles are 11 digits starting with 1

WeChat is the only viable business channel in China

Show a local +86 caller ID

China runs on a single time zone (CST, UTC+8)

China communication insights

List of Country Codes

Frequently asked about China

Get a local China number in minutes.

Benefits of calling China
with letsdial