How to Call China From the United States

Whether you plan to shop the huge metropolises or visit the grasslands of Mongolia, use these directions to aid you in your travel plans or to contact a relative back home.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Foreign Language Phrase Books
• Travel Guides
• Telephones
• Clocks
• Telephone Calling Cards

1. Determine what time it is in China before you call. It will be 13 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time in the United States (8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time).

2. Dial the international access code, 011.

3. Dial the country code for China, 86.

4. Dial the city code for the city you wish to call. Codes for some major cities in China include 1 for Beijing and 21 for Shanghai.

5. Dial the rest of the telephone number.

Tips & Warnings

• All of China is set to Beijing time.
• If you follow these steps but still can't connect, dial 00 and ask the international operator to help you place the call.
• It can be very expensive to call long distance during business hours, so try to make your phone calls in the evenings and on weekends.

[pqiu]

on 4/6/2008 This document is outdated, at least for 10 years. The area code for Beijing is 10 instead 1. (1 was used long long time ago.)

The area codes in China can be either 2-digit or 3-digit long. (In the old days, some area codes can be 4-digit long). The 2-digit area code are 10 and 20, 21 ... 29, and they are used in super large cities, such as Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, with 10s of millions population. All are codes begin with 3, 4 ... 9 are 3-digit long and they are used in "smaller" cities. (A city with a few millions population is not considerred as a big city in China.)

In China, the area code is applicable only to fixed line phones. A local fixed line phone number can be 7- or 8- digit long, and it is 9- to 11- digit long with the area code.

All the mobile phone numbers in China are 11-digit long without area codes. Most mobile phone numbers begin with 13, but some new mobi

[pqiu]

on 4/6/2008 This document is outdated, at least for 10 years. The area code for Beijing is 10 instead 1. (1 was used long long time ago.)

The area codes in China can be either 2-digit or 3-digit long. (In the old days, some area codes can be 4-digit long). The 2-digit area code are 10 and 20, 21 ... 29, and they are used in super large cities, such as Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, with 10s of millions population. All are codes begin with 3, 4 ... 9 are 3-digit long and they are used in "smaller" cities. (A city with a few millions population is not considerred as a big city in China.)

In China, the area code is applicable only to fixed line phones. A local fixed line phone number can be 7- or 8- digit long, and it is 9- to 11- digit long with the area code.

All the mobile phone numbers in China are 11-digit long without area codes. Most mobile phone numbers begin with 13, but some new mobi

[ChattyCathy]

on 2/6/2008 Oops, sorry for the double-posting everyone!

[ChattyCathy]

on 2/6/2008 I use Talkste for my international calling, and now they've just added China, which means free international calls to or from China -- you call and local number and they connect you internationally. They don't ask you for your credit card and you can talk as long and as often as you like. Site is: www.talkster.com

[ChattyCathy]

on 2/6/2008 I use Talkste for my international calling, and now they've just added China, which means free international calls to or from China -- you call and local number and they connect you internationally. They don't ask you for your credit card and you can talk as long and as often as you like. Site is: www.talkster.com