When communicating with someone in China, it's crucial to understand the country's phone number format, including its country code. This guide will walk you through the intricacies of Chinese phone numbers, ensuring you can connect with ease.
Understanding Chinese Phone Numbers
Chinese phone numbers consist of 11 digits and can be broken down into three main parts:
- Area Code: The first three digits indicate the region or city where the number is based.
- Local Exchange Code: The next four digits represent the specific exchange area within the city.
- Line Number: The final four digits are unique to each phone line.
China's Country Code
Before dialing a Chinese number from abroad, you must include the country code. China's country code is 86. Here's how to format it:
International Format: +86 [Area Code] [Local Exchange Code] [Line Number]
Dialing Chinese Numbers from Abroad
To call a Chinese number from outside the country, follow these steps:
- Dial the international access code for your country (e.g., 00 for most of Europe, 011 for the US and Canada).
- Dial China's country code, 86.
- Dial the area code of the city in China you're calling (without the initial 0).
- Dial the local exchange code and line number.
Example
Let's say you want to call a number in Beijing, China: 010-12345678. Here's how you'd dial it from the US:
011 + 86 + 010 + 12345678
Dialing International Numbers from China
To call an international number from China, you'll need to use the exit code and the country code of the destination:
- Dial the international exit code for China, which is 00.
- Dial the country code of the destination.
- Dial the area code and local number of the destination.
Example
If you're in China and want to call a number in the US: 123-456-7890, you'd dial:
00 + 1 + 123 + 456 + 7890
Mobile Phone Numbers in China
Chinese mobile phone numbers also consist of 11 digits but have different area codes. They start with 1, followed by the region code (e.g., 139 for China Mobile, 159 for China Unicom, and 189 for China Telecom).
When dialing mobile numbers, follow the same international format as mentioned earlier, using the mobile's area code instead of the city's area code.
| Carrier | Mobile Area Code |
|---|---|
| China Mobile | 139, 159, 189 |
| China Unicom | 130, 131, 132, 155, 156, 185, 186 |
| China Telecom | 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 150, 151, 152, 153, 157, 158, 159, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 187, 188 |
Understanding and correctly formatting Chinese phone numbers is essential for seamless communication. Whether you're calling from within China or dialing internationally, this guide ensures you'll connect with ease.
