86 Country Code: China (+86)
Country code 86 (+86) belongs to China. China uses the international dialing code +86, assigned by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) under the E.164 standard. The ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code is CN.
You will see the same code written several ways depending on origin: +86 (universal + prefix, works from mobile), 0086 (from countries that use 00 as their international exit code — most of Europe, Asia, and Latin America), 011 86 (from the US and Canada), 0011 86 (from Australia), or the bare 86. All refer to the same China country code.
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Chinese mobile numbers are always 11 digits starting with 1 — specifically 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, or 19 — and are not geographic. Landline area codes are 2 digits for the four largest cities (Beijing 010, Shanghai 021, Guangzhou 020, Tianjin 022) and 3 digits elsewhere. Drop the leading 0 when calling from abroad; mobile numbers are dialed as +86 followed by all 11 digits.
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Chinese mobile numbers are always exactly 11 digits and start with 1.
Did You Get a Call from +86? Here's What That Means
Any incoming call that displays +86 followed by more digits is originating from China. The caller is dialing you from a China-registered phone number — either a landline or a mobile on a China carrier.
Common reasons people receive calls from +86:
- -Family or friends in China calling from a local number
- -Business contacts at China-based companies
- -Customer support agents working from a China call center
- -Travel-related calls (hotels, airlines, tour operators)
- -Less commonly, robocalls or scam calls that have spoofed a +86 number — if the call is unsolicited, do not return it without verifying the source
To return a call to a +86 number from the US, use Kinvo's China dialing guide — calls cost from $1.84/min with no app to download.
China Phone Number Format
International Format Example
Domestic vs International
Drop 0 and prepend +86.
Major City Area Codes in China
Area codes for the largest cities in China. When dialing from abroad, prepend +86 and drop the leading 0.
| City / Region | Area Code | Domestic Form | From Abroad |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing | 10 | 010 | +86 10 |
| Shanghai | 21 | 021 | +86 21 |
| Guangzhou | 20 | 020 | +86 20 |
| Shenzhen | 755 | 0755 | +86 755 |
| Chengdu | 28 | 028 | +86 28 |
| Chongqing | 23 | 023 | +86 23 |
Mobile Networks in China
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19 (all 11-digit)
- China Mobile
- China Unicom
- China Telecom
China Telephone System Facts
Calling China Successfully: Common Mistakes & Best Practices
Most failed calls to China come from one of four mistakes, not from network problems. The most common is mishandling the leading 0: domestically, China numbers are written with 0 at the front (e.g. 013112345678), but that 0 is the domestic trunk prefix and must be removed when calling from outside China. Dial +86 followed directly by the local number without the 0.
The second is misreading the area code on landline numbers — China area codes are not uniform length (Beijing 10, Shanghai 21, Guangzhou 20), so confirm the city before dialing. The third is dialing during off-hours — China uses Mandarin Chinese business hours and consumer phones are usually answered between 8 AM and 9 PM local time. The fourth and most expensive mistake is assuming your US carrier's WiFi calling feature makes the call cheap. It does not — see WiFi calling vs VoIP for international calls for why.
For scam-call awareness: +86 is the legitimate China country code, and most unsolicited calls from +86 numbers are legitimate calls from China-based businesses, hospitals, family members, or call centers serving US customers. Caller-ID spoofing exists, so if a call from a +86 number claims to be from a US government agency, your bank, or the IRS, hang up and call the agency back on its published number. Real authorities never demand payment over the phone.
When you are ready to place a call, the cheapest reliable route is to dial +86 from your browser using Kinvo — no app, no carrier add-on, and the per-minute rate is shown before you connect so there are no bill surprises. The browser approach also works from any laptop, tablet, or phone you happen to have access to, which matters when you're traveling, using a work device, or borrowing someone else's computer.
Calling China from Your Browser
To place a call to China, dial +86 followed by the local number in the Kinvo browser dialer. Pay-as-you-go, no app required.
Call China from Your Browser
Call any China number (+86) directly from Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge. No install required. Use it in under 2 minutes.
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Frequently Asked Questions: China Country Code
Which country is country code 86?
Country code 86 belongs to China. The full international dialing code is +86, also written as 0086 from countries using 00 as their international exit code (Europe, most of Asia, Latin America), 011 86 from the US and Canada, or +86 from any mobile phone.
What is the country code for China?
+86 is the international dialing code for China, assigned by the ITU under E.164. The ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code is CN. Equivalent forms — 0086, 011 86, +86, and 86 — all refer to the same China country code.
What are the main area codes in China?
The largest cities in China use these area codes: Beijing (10), Shanghai (21), Guangzhou (20), Shenzhen (755). When calling from abroad, prepend +86.
Who are the main mobile carriers in China?
The major mobile operators in China are China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom. Kinvo routes calls to every China mobile carrier at the same per-minute rate — no hidden surcharges for premium networks.
Do I drop the 0 when calling China from abroad?
Yes. China uses 0 as its domestic trunk prefix. When dialing from another country, remove it and replace with +86. The trunk prefix is only needed for long-distance calls within China.
What is the emergency number in China?
The emergency services number in China is 110 (police) / 119 (fire) / 120 (medical). Emergency numbers cannot be dialed via Kinvo or any VoIP service — use a mobile network or landline for life-threatening emergencies.
Can I call China from my browser?
Yes. Kinvo connects calls to China via WebRTC directly from Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge. No app download. Sign up, add credits from $5, and dial +86 followed by the local number.