China Country Code

How do I dial mobiles vs landlines in China

China’s country calling code is +86. For landlines called from abroad: dial your exit code → 86 → the area code (drop the domestic 0) → the local number (7–8 digits; big cities like Beijing/Shanghai/Guangzhou use 8). Inside China, calling another city’s landline uses 0 + area code + number; local calls within the same city just use the subscriber number. International calls placed from China use the 00 prefix. Example landlines: +86 10 xxxx xxxx (Beijing), +86 21 xxxx xxxx (Shanghai), +86 755 xxx xxxx (Shenzhen). 

Mobiles vs landlines: Chinese mobile numbers are 11 digits and always start with 1 (13x–19x). From abroad, dial +86 1xx xxxx xxxx (no area code, no leading 0). Inside China, dial the same 11 digits. China implemented mobile number portability nationwide in Nov 2019, so the first three digits indicate the original allocation, not necessarily the current carrier—always dial exactly as written.

What are the emergency phone numbers in China

• 110 - Police (For crimes, theft, assault, traffic incidents, or general emergencies requiring police)

• 120 - Ambulance / Medical Emergency (Connects to the local hospital emergency dispatch center)

• 119 - Fire (For fires, rescues, or chemical incidents)

• 122 - Traffic Accidents (Highway Police). Used specifically for road and vehicle accidents

• 12395 - Maritime / River Rescue (For emergencies on waterways or ships)

• 12369 - Environmental / Chemical Hazards. For pollution, radiation, or chemical leaks (Ministry of Ecology & Environment hotline).

Useful Notes

• You can usually press 9 for English assistance in major cities (e.g., Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen), though English fluency varies.

• For mobile phones with foreign SIM cards, you might need to dial +86 110 / +86 120, but local SIMs connect directly.

Tourist helplines:

• 12301 – National Tourism Service Hotline (English support available).

• 12345 – General government service & information hotline in most cities.