Telephone numbers in the People's Republic of China are administered according to the Telecommunications Network Numbering Plan of China. The structure of telephone numbers for landlines and mobile service is different. Landline telephone numbers have area codes, whereas mobile numbers do not. In major cities, landline numbers consist of a two-digit area code followed by an eight-digit local number. In other places, landline numbers consist of a three-digit area code followed by a seven- or eight-digit local number. Mobile phone numbers consist of eleven digits.
Location | |
---|---|
Country | People's Republic of China |
Continent | Asia |
Regulator | Ministry of Industry and Information Technology |
Type | Open |
Access codes | |
Country code | +86 |
International access | 00 |
Long-distance | 0 |
Landline calls within the same area do not require the area code. Calls to other areas require dialing the trunk prefix 0 and the area code.
Calling a mobile phone from a landline requires the addition of the "0" in front of the mobile phone number if they are not in the same area. Mobile to landline calls requires the "0" and the area code if the landline is not within the same place. Mobile to mobile calls does not require the "0" outside mainland China.
The special administrative regionsofHong Kong and Macau are not part of this numbering plan, and use the calling codes 852 and 853 respectively.
In mainland China, mobile phone numbers have eleven digits in the format 1xx-XXXX-XXXX (except for 140–144, which are 13-digit IoT numbers), in which the first three digits (13x to 19x) designate the mobile phone service provider.
Before GSM, mobile phones had 6-digit (later upgraded to 7-digit) numbers starting with nine. They had the same numbering format as fixed-line telephones. Those numbers were eventually translated into 1390xx9xxx, where xx were local identifiers.
The oldest China Mobile GSM numbers were ten digits long and started with 139 in 1994, the second oldest 138 in 1997, and 137, 136, 135 in 1999. The oldest China Unicom numbers started with 130 in 1995, the second oldest at 131 in 1998. Keeping the same number over time is somewhat associated with the stability and reliability of the owner. The 5th to the seventh digit sometimes relates to age and location.
China's mobile telephone numbers were changed from ten digits to eleven digits, with 0 added after 13x, and thus the HLR code became four-digit long to expand the capacity of the seriously fully crowded numbering plan.
In 2006, 15x numbers were introduced. In late 2008, 18x and 14x (for data plans or IoT) were introduced. In late 2013, 17x were introduced. In 2017, 16x and 19x were introduced.
In December 2016, each cell phone number was required to be consigned to a real name in mainland China. [1]
In November 2010, MIIT has started the trial mobile number portability service in Tianjin and Hainan, in 2012 the trial has extended to Jiangxi, Hubei and Yunan provinces. On 10 November 2019, all provinces started accepting MNP requests for all mobile carriers, except for technical difficulties, the MVNO phones, satellite phones and IoT phones.[2][3]
Mobile service carriers can be identified by the first three or four digits as follows:
Prefix | Carrier | Network | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2G | 3G | 4G | 5G | ||
10641 (13 digits) | China Unicom (VNO for IoT purposes) | N/A4 | WCDMA7 | LTE | NR |
130–132 | China Unicom | N/A4 | WCDMA7 | LTE | NR |
133 | China Telecom1 | N/A5 | LTE | NR | |
134(0–8) | China Mobile | GSM4 | N/A3 | LTE | NR |
1349 | Chinasat (operated by China Telecom) | Satellite | |||
135–139 | China Mobile | GSM4 | N/A3 | LTE | NR |
140 (13 digits) | reserved for China Unicom (IoT), due to NR technical difficulties, no 1400(0-9) numbers will be provided | N/A | |||
141 (13 digits) | China Telecom (IoT) currently only 1410(0-9) are used, the rest, 141(10-99) are reserved for future 5G IoT card plans |
N/A5 | LTE | NR | |
142–143 (13 digits) | reserved for future IoT carriers | N/A | |||
144 (13 digits) | China Mobile (IoT) currently only 1440(0-9) and 1441(0-9) are used, the rest, 144(20-99) are reserved for future 5G IoT card plans |
GSM4 | N/A3 | LTE | NR |
145 | China Unicom (formerly Data-plans only) only new TD-LTE, LTE-FDD, LTE-A or NR wireless network card users may got a new 145 number, but can also be used to connect 3G network |
N/A4 | WCDMA7 | LTE | NR |
146 | China Unicom (IoT) | N/A4 | WCDMA7 | LTE | NR |
147 | China Mobile (formerly Data-plans only) Used for "one SIM with dual-number" service of CMHK in Mainland |
GSM4 | N/A3 | LTE | NR |
148 | China Mobile (IoT) | GSM4 | N/A3 | LTE | NR |
149 | China Telecom (formerly Data-plans only) only new TD-LTE, LTE-FDD, LTE-A or NR wireless network card users may got a new 149 number |
N/A5 | LTE | NR | |
150–152 | China Mobile | GSM4 | N/A3 | LTE | NR |
153 | China Telecom1 | N/A5 | LTE | NR | |
154 | reserved for future mobile carriers | N/A | |||
155–156 | China Unicom | N/A4 | WCDMA7 | LTE | NR |
157 | China Mobile also used for CM wireless landlines |
GSM4 | N/A3 | LTE | NR |
158–159 | China Mobile | GSM4 | N/A3 | LTE | NR |
161 | reserved for future mobile carriers | N/A | |||
162 | China Telecom (VNO) | N/A5 | LTE | NR | |
164 | reserved for future mobile carriers | N/A | |||
165 | China Mobile (VNO) | GSM4 | N/A3 | LTE | NR |
166 | China Unicom | N/A4 | WCDMA7 | LTE | NR |
167 | China Unicom (VNO) | N/A4 | WCDMA7 | LTE | NR |
170(0-2) | China Telecom (VNO) | N/A5 | LTE | NR | |
1703 | China Mobile (VNO) | GSM4 | N/A3 | LTE | NR |
1704 | China Unicom (VNO) | N/A4 | WCDMA7 | LTE | NR |
170(5-6) | China Mobile (VNO) | GSM4 | N/A3 | LTE | NR |
170(7-9) | China Unicom (VNO) | N/A4 | WCDMA7 | LTE | NR |
171 | China Unicom (VNO) also used by Hong Kong 3 as sub-number of their SIM cards in Mainland |
N/A4 | WCDMA7 | LTE | NR |
172 | China Mobile (IoT)
Used for "one SIM with dual-number" service of CTM in Mainland |
GSM4 | N/A3 | LTE | NR |
173 | China Telecom | N/A5 | LTE | NR | |
174(00-05) | Tiantong (operated by China Telecom) | Satellite | |||
174(06-12) | MIIT Emergency Communication Support Center | emergency mobile call | |||
174(13-89) | reserved for satellite phones | N/A | |||
1749 | Inmarsat2 | Satellite | |||
175–176 | China Unicom | N/A4 | WCDMA7 | LTE | NR |
177 | China Telecom | N/A5 | LTE | NR | |
178 | China Mobile | GSM4 | N/A3 | LTE | NR |
180–181 | China Telecom | N/A5 | LTE | NR | |
182–184 | China Mobile | GSM4 | N/A3 | LTE | NR |
185–186 | China Unicom | N/A4 | WCDMA7 | LTE | NR |
187–188 | China Mobile | GSM4 | N/A3 | LTE | NR |
189–191 | China Telecom | N/A5 | LTE | NR | |
192 | China Broadnet | N/A | LTE6 | NR | |
193 | China Telecom | N/A5 | LTE | NR | |
194 | reserved for future mobile carriers | N/A | |||
195 | China Mobile | GSM4 | N/A3 | LTE | NR |
196 | China Unicom | N/A4 | WCDMA7 | LTE | NR |
197–198 | China Mobile | GSM4 | N/A3 | LTE | NR |
199 | China Telecom | N/A5 | LTE | NR |
1G TACS networks were provided by China Telecom since 1987, operations transferred to China Mobile in 1999, the year China Mobile established, 1G shut down in 2001.
To call phone numbers in China one of the following formats is used:
xxx xxxx | xxxx xxxx Calls within the same area code
0yyy xxx xxxx | 0yyy xxxx xxxx Calls from other areas within China
+86 yyy xxx xxxx | +86 yyy xxxx xxxx Calls from outside China
1nn xxxx xxxx Calls to mobile phones within China
+86 1nn xxxx xxxx Calls to mobiles from outside China
The prefix one is used exclusively by the national capital, Beijing Municipality.
These are area codes for the municipalitiesofShanghai, Tianjin, and Chongqing, as well as several major cities with early access to telephones. These cities have upgraded to an 8-number system in the past decade[when?]. All telephone numbers are 8-digit in these areas.
1 - Formerly 811 in urban area and 814 in Yongchuan, both abolished in 9 August 1997; 819 for Wanxian and 810 for Fuling and Qianjiang, abolished in 28 November 1998.
2 - Formerly 410 for Tieling and 413 for Fushun, abolished in 28 August 2011;[7] 414 for Benxi, abolished in 24 May 2014.
3 - Formerly 832, 833, abolished 2010.[8]
4 - Formerly 910, abolished 2006.[9]
It's still unclear whether 26 will be provided or not, some local materials say that it's reserved for Taiwan (especially its capital Taipei), but currently they use +886.[10] Some proposals from planned independent cities (Chinese: 计划单列市) to get rights to operate 026 were also unsuccessful.[11][12]
These are area codes for the provincesofHebei, Shanxi and Henan.
Shijiazhuang
311
(8-digit)
Tangshan
315
Qinhuangdao
335
Handan
310
Xingtai
319
Baoding
312
Zhangjiakou
313
Chengde
314
Cangzhou
317
Langfang
316
Hengshui
318
Taiyuan
351
Datong
352
Yangquan
353
Changzhi
355
Jincheng
356
Shuozhou
349
Jinzhong
354
Yuncheng
359
Xinzhou
350
Linfen
357
Lüliang
358
Zhengzhou
371
(8-digit)
Kaifeng
3711
(8-digit)
Luoyang
379
(8-digit)
Pingdingshan
375
Anyang
372
Hebi
392
Xinxiang
373
Jiaozuo
391
Puyang
393
Xuchang
374
Luohe
395
Sanmenxia
398
Nanyang
377
(8-digit)
Shangqiu
370
Xinyang
3762
Zhoukou
394
Zhumadian
396
Jiyuan
391
1 - Formerly 378, abolished in 26 October 2013.
2 - Formerly 397 for 7 east counties, abolished in 20 October 2005.
These are area codes for the autonomous regionofInner Mongolia, and the provincesinNortheast China (Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang). Additionally, numbers starting 400 are shared-pay (callers are charged local rate anywhere in the country) numbers [citation needed].
Shenyang
24
(8-digit)
Dalian
411
(8-digit)
Anshan
412
Fushun
24
(8-digit)
Benxi
24
(8-digit)
Dandong
415
Jinzhou
416
Yingkou
417
Fuxin
418
Liaoyang
419
Panjin
427
Tieling
24
(8-digit)
Chaoyang
421
Huludao
429
Changchun1
431
(8-digit)
Jilin
432
(8-digit)
Siping
434
Liaoyuan
437
Tonghua
4353
Baishan
439
Songyuan
438
Baicheng
436
Yanbian
4332
1 - except Gongzhuling which still uses 434 of Siping
2 - Hunchun formerly 440, abolished in 16 September 2006
3 - Meihekou, Liuhe, Huinan formerly 448, abolished in 16 September 2006
Harbin
4511
(8-digit)
Qiqihar
452
Jixi
467
Hegang
468
Shuangyashan
469
Daqing
459
Yichun
458
Jiamusi
454
Qitaihe
464
Mudanjiang
453
Heihe
456
Suihua
455
1 -Acheng formerly 450, abolished.
2 - Includes Jiagedaqi and Songling, where considered part of Inner Mongolia by de jure
Hohhot
471
Baotou
472
Wuhai
473
Chifeng
476
Tongliao
475
Ordos
477
Hulunbuir
470 1
Bayannur
478
Ulanqab
474
Alxa
League
483
1 - Jiagedaqi and Songling are de facto under the administration of the Daxing'anling
Prefecture, uses 457.
These are area codes for the provincesofJiangsu, Shandong (predominantly), Anhui, Zhejiang and Fujian.
All telephone numbers are 8-digit in Jiangsu.
Nanjing
25
Wuxi
510
Xuzhou
516
Changzhou
519
Suzhou
5121
Nantong
513
Lianyungang
518
Huai'an
517
Yancheng
515
Yangzhou
514
Zhenjiang
511
Taizhou
523
Suqian
527
1 - Changshu, Kunshan, Taicang, Wujiang and Zhangjiagang are formerly 520, abolished in 20 April 2002.
Jinan
531
(8-digit)
Qingdao
532
(8-digit)
Zibo
533
Zaozhuang
632
Dongying
546
Yantai
535
Weifang
536
Jining
537
Tai'an
538
Weihai
631
Rizhao
633
Linyi
539
Dezhou
534
Liaocheng
635
Binzhou
543
Heze
530
Hefei1
551
(8-digit)
Wuhu1
553
Bengbu
552
Huainan
554
Ma'anshan1
555
Huaibei
561
Tongling
562
Anqing
556
Huangshan
559
Chuzhou
550
Fuyang
558
Suzhou
557
Lu'an
564
Bozhou
5582
Chizhou
566
Xuancheng
563
1 - Formerly 565 for Chaohu prefectural city era (i.e. before 2011), later splitted as: Hefei's 551 for Juchao district (now county-level Chaohu) and Lujiang county, Wuhu's 553 for Wuwei and Shenxiang Town of He county (now part of Jiujiang district), and Ma'anshan's 555 for He county (except Shenxiang) and Hanshan county.
2 - Split from Fuyang in 2000, no new area code allocated.
Hangzhou
571
(8-digit)
Ningbo
574
(8-digit)
Wenzhou
577
(8-digit)
Jiaxing
573
(8-digit)
Huzhou
572
Shaoxing
575
(8-digit)
Jinhua
579
(8-digit)
Quzhou
570
Zhoushan
580
Taizhou
576
(8-digit)
Lishui
578
Fuzhou
591
(8-digit) 1
Xiamen
592
Putian
594 1
Sanming
598
Quanzhou
595
(8-digit) 1
Zhangzhou
596 1
Nanping
599
Longyan
597
Ningde
593
1 - Kinmen, Matsu, and Wuchiu are under Taiwanese control, and hence use international calling code of +886.
All area codes with prefix 6 were assigned in recent years. This prefix (+866) previously was reserved for Taiwan, which is now assigned (+886).[13]
While most areas in Shandong use the prefix 53x 54x, some sites also use the prefix 6.
Laiwu was using 634, now merged to Jinan's 531, former numbers are re-prefixxed as 5317 when merging.
While most areas in Guangdong use the prefix 75x and 76x, some sites also use the prefix 6. The provincial capital Guangzhou uses code 20.
Chaoyang county-level city was using 661, now changed to 754 after splitted to Chaoyang and Chaonan districts and join Shantou.
While most areas in Yunnan use the prefix 87x and 88x, a couple of areas also use the prefix 6.
These are area codes for the central provincesofHubei, Hunan, Guangdong (predominantly), Jiangxi, and the autonomous regionofGuangxi.
Wuhan
27
(8-digit)
Huangshi
714
Shiyan
719
Yichang
717
Xiangyang
710
Ezhou20
711
Jingmen
724
Xiaogan
712
Jingzhou
716
Huanggang
713
Xianning
715
Suizhou
722
Enshi
718
Xiantao
728
Qianjiang
728
Tianmen
728
Shennongjia
719
20 - except Huarong district which uses Wuhan's 27.
Changsha
731
(8-digit)
Zhuzhou
731
(8-digit) 21
Xiangtan
731
(8-digit) 22
Hengyang
734
Shaoyang
739
Yueyang
730
Changde
736
Zhangjiajie
744
Yiyang
737
Chenzhou
735
Yongzhou
746
Huaihua
745
Loudi
738
Xiangxi
743
21 - Formerly 733, abolished.
22 - Formerly 732, abolished.
Guangzhou
20 (8-digit)
Shaoguan
751
Shenzhen
755 (8-digit)
Zhuhai
756
Shantou
754
(8-digit)
Foshan
757
23(8-digit)
Jiangmen
750
Zhanjiang
759
Maoming
668
Zhaoqing
758
Huizhou
752
Meizhou
753
Shanwei
660
Heyuan
762
Yangjiang
662
Qingyuan
763
Dongguan
769 (8-digit)
Zhongshan
760 (8-digit)
Chaozhou
768
Jieyang
663
Yunfu
766
↑
Macau
+853
Hong Kong
+852
23 - Shunde formerly 765, abolished.
Nanning
771
Liuzhou
772
Guilin
773
Wuzhou
774
Beihai
779
Qinzhou
777
Guigang
775
Yulin
775 26
Baise
776
Hezhou
774 24
Hechi
778
Laibin
772 25
Chongzuo
771 27
24 - Split from Wuzhou Prefecture, original area code inherited.
25 - Split from Liuzhou Prefecture, original area code inherited.
26 - Split from Yulin Prefecture, original area code inherited.
27 - Split from Nanning Prefecture, original area code inherited.
Nanchang
791
(8-digit)
Jingdezhen
798
Pingxiang
799
Jiujiang
792
Xinyu
790
Yingtan
701
Ganzhou
797
Ji'an
796
Yichun
795
Fuzhou
794
Shangrao
793
These are area codes for the provincesofSichuan, Hainan, Guizhou, Yunnan (predominantly) and the autonomous region of Tibet.
Chengdu
28 (8-digit)
Zigong
813
Panzhihua
812
Luzhou
830
Deyang
838
Mianyang
816
Guangyuan
839
Suining
825
Neijiang
832
Leshan
833
Nanchong
817
Meishan
28
(8-digit)
Yibin
831
Guang'an
826
Dazhou
818
Ya'an
835
Bazhong
827
Ziyang
28 (8-digit)
Ngawa (Aba)
837
Liangshan
834
Guiyang
851
(8-digit)
Liupanshui
858
Zunyi
851
(8-digit) 28
Anshun
851
(8-digit) 28
Bijie
857
Tongren
856
Qianxinan
859
Qiandongnan
855
Qiannan
854
28 - Formerly 852, 853, abolished 2014.[15]
Kunming
871
(8-digit) 29
Qujing
874
Yuxi
877
Baoshan
875
Zhaotong
870
Lijiang
888
Pu'er
87930
Lincang
883
Chuxiong
878
Honghe
873
Wenshan
876
Dali
872
Dehong
692
Nujiang
886
29 - Dongchuan formerly 881, incorporated into 871
30 - also de facto used by Wa Stateof Myanmar
Lhasa
891
Nyingchi
894
Nagqu
896
Ngari
897
☐ Disputed areas claimed or controlled by
China, Indiaor Bhutan.
All telephone numbers are 8-digit in Hainan.
Formerly (most likely before 2000), Sanya, Wuzhishan, Lingshui, Ledong, Baoting and Qiongzhong were 899, Danzhou, Dongfang, Lingao, Baisha and Changjiang were 890.
These are area codes for northwestern regions including the provincesofShaanxi, Gansu and Qinghai, as well as the autonomous regionsofNingxia and Xinjiang.
Xi'an
29
(8-digit)
Tongchuan
919
Baoji
917
Xianyang
29
(8-digit)
Weinan
913
Yan'an
911
Hanzhong
916
Yulin
912
Ankang
915
Shangluo
914
Lanzhou
931
↑
↑
↑
↑
↑
Jiayuguan
937 31
Jinchang
935
Baiyin
943
Tianshui
938
Wuwei
935
Zhangye
936
Pingliang
933
Jiuquan
937
Qingyang
934
Dingxi
932
Longnan
939
Linxia
930
Gannan
941
31 - Shared area code due to small size.
Yinchuan
951
Shizuishan
952
Wuzhong
953
Guyuan
954
Zhongwei
955
Xining
971
Haidong
972
Haibei
970
Huangnan
973
Hainan
974
Yushu
976
Haixi
977, 979 32
(Haixi)
979
32 - Area under the administration of Golmud uses 979, other landlines within the prefecture use 977.
Ürümqi
991
Kuitun
992
Shihezi
993
Changji
994
Turpan
995
Bayingolin
996
Aksu
997
Kashgar
998
rest of Ili
999
Karamay33
990
Tacheng33,34
901
Hami
902
Hotan
903
Altay
906
Kizilsu
908
Bortala
909
33 - except Wusu and Dushanzi District which use Kuytun's 992.
34 - except Shawan county which uses Shihezi's 993, and Hoboksar county which uses Karamay's 990.
From within Mainland China, the following emergency numbers are used:
In most cities, the emergency numbers assist in Mandarin Chinese and English.
Starting from 2012 in Shenzhen, an implemented system upgrade to unify three emergency reporting services into one number, 110. A similar approach is being installed in more cities in China to make them more convenient.
Dialing 112, 911, and 999 (outside Beijing without area code 010) plays a recording message about the correct emergency numbers in Chinese and English twice: "For police, dial 110. To report a fire, dial 119. For ambulance, dial 120. To report a traffic accident, dial 122." on China Mobile and China Unicom phones, NO SERVICES will be redirected. The error messages "Number does not exist" will be played on China Telecom phones, and NO SERVICES will be redirected. However, some local report said that in sometimes, only within Beijing, China Unicom landlines and mobile phones call 010-112 may be successful as reporting service for call failures.
From within Mainland China, the following special numbers are used:
12303 – proposals[note 2]
12305 – SPB post appeals[note 3]
12306 – railway services
(10-)12308 – MFA Consular assistance
12309 – SPP reports
12310 – CIOC reports
12313 – tobacco reports[note 3]
12314 – water reports
12315 – consumer reports[note 4]
12316 – agricultural services[note 4]
(10-)12317 – poverty helps[note 4]
12318 – cultural reports[note 4]
12319 – urban development services[note 4]
12320 – health services[note 4]
12321 – MIIT Internet disinfos and spam reports
12323 – MNR maritime report
12325 – food audit
12326 – CAAC audit
12328 – transportation illegal reports[note 4]
12329 – housing fund services[note 4]
12333 – MHRSS services[note 4]
(10-)12335 – MoC Multinational corporation reports
12337 – CPLAC anti-blacks
12338 – women helps
12339 – MSS reports
12340 – statistics[note 5]
12348 – MoJ legal services and aids[note 4]
12350 – MEM safety reports[note 4]
12351 – ACFTU workers' helps
12355 – CYL Adolescence services
12360 – custom services[note 3]
12361 – PDCCP Xuexi Qiangguo
12363 – PBC financial reports
12366 – tax services[note 3]
12367 – immigration services[note 3]
12368 – court services
12369 – environment reports[note 4]
(10-)12370 – MHRSS Civil services
12371 – ODCCP community member consult
12377 – CAC Internet illegal and disinfo reports
12378 – CBIRC reports
(10-)12379 – MEM emergency situation info release
12380 – ODCCP reports
12381 – MIIT public services
12385 – disabled services[note 4]
12386 – CSRC Investor services
12388 – CCDI and NSC reports
12389 – MPS reports
12390 – anti-pornography, illegal and copyvio publishing reports
12393 – NHSA services[note 4]
12395 – MSA Shipwrecking helps
12398 – energy audits
(ex. 962288 in Shanghai – Shanghai foreigner assistant hotline, outside Shanghai people should dial 021-962288, or they will receive an error message or undesired service message)
The international access code from the PRC is 00. This must also be used for calls to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau from the Chinese mainland, together with their separate international codes, as follows:
place! Prefix | |
---|---|
(All countries) | 00 CountryCode AreaCode SubscriberCode |
Taiwan | 00 886 xxx xxx xxx[16] |
Hong Kong | 00 852 xxxx xxxx[17] |
Macau | 00 853 xxxx xxxx[18] |
NANP | 00 1 xxx xxx xxxx |
UK | 00 44 xxxxxxxxxx |
Japan | 00 81 xxxxxxxxx |