How to Dial China from the United States​? A Step-by-Step Guidelines

To call from the US to China, enter the USA exit code (011), China country code (86), and the area code of a specific region or city, followed by the phone number.

However, the process differs slightly for landline, mobile, and toll-free numbers.

To call a landline in China, dial the US exit code, China country code, area code, and local landline number.

Step 1: Dial ‘011’, the US exit code. Replace it with “+” when calling from a mobile.
Step 2: Dial 86, China’s country code
Step 3: Dial the area code of the region you are trying to contact.
Step 4: Dial the subscriber’s landline number.

To call a Chinese cell phone from the US, dial the US exit code, China country code, mobile prefix, and subscriber number.

Step 1: Enter the US exit code - ‘001’ or ‘+’
Step 2: Enter the country code of China, 86
Step 3: Enter the mobile prefix code. (The prefix varies, depending on your carrier).
Step 4: Enter the subscriber’s mobile number.

To call a China toll-free number from the US, dial the US exit code, the China international access code, the toll-free prefix, and the local number.

Step 1: Dial ‘001’.
Step 2: Enter ‘86’.
Step 3: Enter the China toll-free prefix, usually ‘800’ or ‘400’.
Step 4: Dial the subscriber number. 

The best time to call China from the US is 9 AM to 6 PM, which is the business hours in China.

The US follows six different time zones, whereas China follows only one, i.e., China Standard Time. You must consider the time zone differences to ensure that your call reaches the appropriate time for your receiver.
 

Note: The above time is subject to change during the daylight saving times in the US.

The calling cost of China from the US typically ranges from around $0.11 per minute to $5 per minute. The exact cost varies depending on the service provider and your chosen plan.

Here’s the list of some popular U.S. carriers alongside their cost for calling China from the US:

You can use the social media apps, virtual phone numbers, or calling cards as an affordable alternative to the traditional carriers.

The social media apps like Facebook Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Snapchat offer free calling and texting. However, both parties should be registered users and leverage the same app for calls.

Virtual phone numbers allow you to make phone calls over the internet. You can get these numbers from several VoIP service providers. They typically offer low call rates for international calls compared to the traditional carriers. Additionally, you can use them on your existing smartphones, laptops, or tabs, without buying additional hardware.

Calling cards are a popular and cost-effective method for making international calls from the US. These cards typically offer lower rates compared to traditional phone services by utilizing prepaid credit for international calls. Users can purchase calling cards in stores or online, with various plans and pay-per-minute options. The cost varies depending on the provider and specific card.
 

For instance, Yolla charges $0.055/min for both landlines and mobiles while mytello charges $0.039 for each call.

Calling China from the U.S. is straightforward once you know the correct dialing format, involving various unique codes and prefixes. Alongside the structure, it's also important to consider the time-zone differences and calling cost to call at the right time at a reasonable cost.
 

To call China from the US for free, use social media apps like Instagram, Snapchat, and WhatsApp.

To call Shanghai from the USA, dial the US exit code ‘001’, followed by the China country code ‘86’, the Shanghai area code ‘21’, and the subscriber’s number. The format should look like this: 001 86 21 ABCD EFGH, where 21 is the Shanghai area code, and ABCD EFGH is the subscriber number.

Yes, it is legal to call China from the US. But remember to consider the time zone differences between the countries to call at an appropriate time.