Britain's Chinese community — long-established families plus one of the largest groups of international students in the country — keeps the lines to China busy. Here is how to dial a Chinese number from the UK.
How to dial China from United Kingdom
- 1Dial the exit code 00
From United Kingdom, every international call starts with the exit code 00. On a mobile you can type + instead — it stands in for the exit code automatically.
- 2Add China's country code +86
Next comes +86, the country code that routes your call to China.
- 3Add the area or city code
Then the destination's area or city code — see the common China codes below.
- 4Dial the local number
Finish with the subscriber number. The full format for China is +86 XXX XXXX XXXX.
A China number dialed from United Kingdom looks like this:
China is 7h ahead of United Kingdom.
When it's a friendly 9 AM–9 PM in China, it's 2 AM–2 PM where you are.
China area codes
Chinese area codes after +86 (drop the leading 0 from the local number).
- ·+86 10 for Beijing
- ·+86 21 for Shanghai
- ·+86 20 for Guangzhou
- ·+86 755 for Shenzhen
- ·+86 28 for Chengdu
- ·+86 23 for Chongqing
- ·+86 571 for Hangzhou
- ·+86 25 for Nanjing
- ·+86 22 for Tianjin
- ·+86 27 for Wuhan
- ·+86 29 for Xi'an
- ·+86 411 for Dalian
- ·+86 532 for Qingdao
Mobile numbers are 11 digits starting with 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, or 19 (e.g. +86 13X XXXX XXXX).
Calling China from United Kingdom
Call China affordably with Hyallo and stay connected with the world's largest diaspora community — over 50 million overseas Chinese rely on regular calls to family in Beijing, Shanghai, and beyond for business and personal ties.
Calling China from another country?
Frequently asked questions
How do I dial China from United Kingdom?
From United Kingdom, dial the exit code 00, then China's country code +86, then the area code and the local number. On a mobile you can press + in place of 00.
How much does it cost to call China from United Kingdom?
With Hyallo you pay $1.71/min to call China — a fraction of typical carrier and roaming rates — and your first call is free.
Can I call a China landline or mobile from my browser?
Yes. Hyallo connects your browser straight to the phone network, so you can reach any China landline or mobile from United Kingdom with nothing to install.