How to Call China from the US

With the world’s second-largest consumer market, China is an appealing place for many companies to do business. Whether you’re looking to expand into the Chinese market or contacting your manufacturer, you need to learn how to call China from the US. Luckily, dialing China from the US is simple.

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What is the Phone Number to China?

When figuring out how to call China from the US, you’ll first need the phone number of the person you are contacting. Landlines will be between 6 to 8 digits, while cell phone numbers will be 11 digits long. 

In order to call China from the US, you’ll need to know whether you’re calling a landline or a cell phone, as this will affect whether or not you need to know the area code. The country code to call China is 86. Area codes will be 2 to 4 digits long. 

How to Call a China Number from the US

In order to call China from the US, you’ll need to follow a few simple steps. 

1. Dial 011. Dialing 011 signals to your phone carrier that you are placing a phone call outside of the US. 
2. Dial 86. China uses the 86 country code. Dialing 86 tells your carrier the call will be going to China. 
3. Dial the area code. Chinese phone numbers use between 2 and 4 digits for their area code. The area code will depend on the region you are calling. 
4. Dial the phone number. Chinese landlines are usually 6 to 8 digits long. A Chinese cell phone number will be 11 digits. 

For example, if you are calling a phone number in Nanjing, it might look like this:

1. Dial 011, the US exit code.
2. Dial 86, the Chinese country code. 
3. Dial 25, the area code for Nanjing.
4. Dial 55-5555, the phone number. 

The entire number dialed would be 011-86-25-55-5555.

China Area Codes

The area code you dial will depend on the region you’re calling. Here is a list of area codes for China’s major cities:

City	Area Code	City	Area Code
Anshan	412	Qingdao	532
Beijing	10	Shanghai	21
Changchun	431	Shenyang	24
Chengdu	28	Suizhou	722
Chongqing	23	Tai’an	538
Dalian	411	Tianjin	22
Guangzhou	20	Weifang	536
Hangzhou	571	Wuhan	27
Harbin	451	Wuxi	510
Huaibei	561	Xi’an	29
Huai’an	517	Xiangfan	710
Jilin	432	Yangzhou	514
Jinan	531	Yantai	535
Nanjing	25	Zaozhuang	532
Ningbo	574	Zibo	533

Country Code for China

China uses the 86 country code. When placing a phone call to China, you’ll need to be aware of the time difference. China uses one time zone, China Standard Time, or CST. CST is eight hours ahead of UTC. China does not follow daylight savings time, so CST stays the same all year long. Eastern Standard Time is 13 hours behind CST, while Eastern Daylight Time is 12 hours behind CST. If you’re planning to make a phone call to China, the best time to call to reach someone during business hours is between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. EST.  

How to Call China from a Cell Phone

When making a call to China from a US cell phone, the first thing you’ll want to do is make sure your phone can make international calls. Different carriers have different rates, so you’ll want to check your phone carrier’s rates for calling China. If you are able to place international calls with your cell phone, all you need to do is follow the steps above for dialing a Chinese phone number.

1. Dial 011, the exit code.
2. Dial 86, the country code for China.
3. Dial the 2 to 4 digit area code.
4. Dial the 6 to 8 digit landline phone number. 

How to Call a Chinese Cell Phone

When dialing a Chinese cell phone, the steps are very similar to dialing a landline. The one difference is that you won’t need to dial the area code. Dialing a Chinese cell phone might look like this: 

1. Dial 011, the exit code.
2. Dial 86, the Chinese country code.
3. Dial the phone number, 555-5555-5555.

The full phone number would be 011-86-555-5555-5555. 

How to Make a Business Call to China

When making a business call to China, it’s important to learn about business call etiquette. Here are some important tips for following Chinese business call etiquette: 

• Be on time for your scheduled phone call. 
• Use formal honorific titles unless the person tells you to use a more casual form of address. 
• Be respectful to everyone you speak with. Respect is a major part of the Chinese etiquette system. Avoid saying anything that might seem to undermine their reputation or trying to prove them wrong. 
• Small talk is an important part of Chinese business etiquette and a way to break the ice. Make sure to keep your answers positive and succinct. 
• Let the other person end the phone call. 
• Try not to schedule calls during Chinese New Year (typically in January or February) or other Chinese holidays, such as Golden Week in October. 
• Avoid being too expressive. If you’re on a video call, keep yourself poised and avoid using dramatic gestures. Do not use your fingers to point. Instead, use the palm of your hand if you need to gesture at something.  

Cost for Calls to China

Phone calls to China can range in price from reasonable to expensive. You’ll want to contact your carrier before placing a phone call so you know what to expect. The cost to call China from the US can range from $.01 per minute to $3 per minute. The rate will depend on your carrier as well as whether you’re calling a landline or cell phone. 

If you’re planning to make a lot of calls to China, you might consider VoIP service, such as Nextiva. With Nextiva, you can make VoIP calls to China at a much lower cost. 

Confused about your options? OneStop Communications can help. Whether you need VoIP service to call China or other business telecom services, we’ll help you find the right carrier for your specific needs. 

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