How To Call China From Singapore
Quick Reference Summary
To call China from Singapore:
001 + 86 + Area Code (without the 0) + Local Number
Examples:
- For Beijing landline: 001 + 86 + 10 + XXXX XXXX
- For Shanghai landline: 001 + 86 + 21 + XXXX XXXX
- For Chinese mobile phone: 001 + 86 + 1XX + XXXX XXXX
When it’s 3 PM in Singapore, it’s 3 PM in Beijing (same time in most of China).
How to Call a Landline in China
Calling a Chinese landline from Singapore is easy if you follow these steps:
- Dial Singapore’s international access code: 001 (or 002, 008 depending on your carrier)
- Dial China’s country code: 86
- Dial the area code (without the first 0)
- Dial the local phone number
For example, if you’re calling a Beijing number written as (010) 1234 5678, you would dial 001 86 10 1234 5678 from Singapore.
Important: When people in China write down phone numbers, they include a 0 before the area code (e.g., 010 1234 5678). But when you call from Singapore, you need to drop this 0 and just dial the area code after the country code.
How to Call a Mobile Phone in China
Calling a Chinese mobile phone follows a similar pattern:
- Dial Singapore’s international access code: 001 (or 002, 008)
- Dial China’s country code: 86
- Dial the mobile number (all 11 digits)
For example, if the Chinese mobile number is 139 1234 5678, you would dial 001 86 139 1234 5678 from Singapore.
Chinese mobile numbers always start with 1 followed by another digit (usually 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9), and have a total of 11 digits.
Different Ways to Dial Internationally from Singapore
Singapore offers several international access codes depending on which phone company you use:
- 001: SingTel
- 002: M1
- 008: StarHub
The choice of access code might affect how much your call costs. If you’re using a phone card, follow the instructions that came with your card.
Understanding Chinese Phone Numbers
Landline Numbers
Chinese landline numbers usually have:
- An area code (2-4 digits including the leading 0 when dialed locally)
- A local number (7-8 digits)
The total number of digits varies by city:
- Bigger cities like Beijing (010) and Shanghai (021) have 8-digit local numbers
- Many other cities have 7-digit local numbers
Mobile Numbers
All Chinese mobile numbers have 11 digits:
- Always start with the number 1
- Second digit indicates the carrier (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9)
- Followed by 9 more digits
Area Codes for Major Chinese Cities
Here’s a list of area codes for major cities in China. Remember to drop the 0 when calling from Singapore:
| City | Area Code (drop the 0 when calling from Singapore) |
|---|---|
| Beijing | 10 |
| Shanghai | 21 |
| Guangzhou | 20 |
| Shenzhen | 755 |
| Chengdu | 28 |
| Hangzhou | 571 |
| Nanjing | 25 |
| Tianjin | 22 |
| Xi’an | 29 |
| Chongqing | 23 |
| Wuhan | 27 |
| Xiamen | 592 |
| Qingdao | 532 |
| Dalian | 411 |
| Suzhou | 512 |
| Shenyang | 24 |
| Ningbo | 574 |
| Dongguan | 769 |
| Fuzhou | 591 |
| Harbin | 451 |
| Kunming | 871 |
Mobile Phone Prefixes
Chinese mobile numbers start with 1 followed by specific digits that show which company the phone belongs to:
| Network | Prefixes |
|---|---|
| China Mobile | 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 147, 150, 151, 152, 157, 158, 159, 172, 178, 182, 183, 184, 187, 188, 198 |
| China Unicom | 130, 131, 132, 145, 155, 156, 166, 167, 171, 175, 176, 185, 186, 196 |
| China Telecom | 133, 149, 153, 173, 177, 180, 181, 189, 199 |
Time Difference
China uses China Standard Time (CST), which is UTC+8 all year round. China does not use daylight saving time.
Singapore is also in UTC+8 all year round and does not use daylight saving time.
This means mainland China and Singapore are in the same time zone. However, be aware that while China is a large country spanning what would normally be several time zones, the entire country officially uses Beijing time.
Special Numbers to Know
Service Numbers
- 400: Business toll-free numbers (can sometimes be reached from abroad)
- 800: Toll-free numbers (typically cannot be reached from outside China)
- 95xxx: Service numbers (not accessible from abroad)
Emergency Numbers
- 110: Police
- 120: Medical Emergency
- 119: Fire These cannot be dialed from outside China.
Calling Business Extensions
When calling a business in China that has extensions:
- Dial the full international number as usual
- Wait for the automated system to answer
- Then enter the extension number when prompted
Many businesses in larger Chinese cities or international companies have English language options in their automated systems.
Best Time to Call
Since China and Singapore share the same time zone, you can call at any time that’s convenient for both parties. Standard business hours in China are:
- Business hours: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Monday to Friday
- Government offices: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Monday to Friday
- Lunch break: Many businesses take a lunch break from 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Call China For Less With Singapore Phone Cards
Calling China from Singapore can be expensive with regular phone companies, but Singapore Phone Cards offers a cheaper way to stay in touch with family, friends, or work contacts in China.
Our customers who call China often love our clear sound quality and low rates. Whether you’re calling Beijing landlines or mobile phones in Shanghai, you’ll get great service at a good price.
Calling to a landline in China? See our best international calling cards for China here.
Calling to a mobile in China? See our best international calling cards for China here.
Using our service is simple and easy:
- Dial the local access number we provide
- Enter your 10-digit PIN number
- Dial China (86 + area code without the 0 + local number)
You can use our service from any landline or mobile phone in Singapore. What makes our service special:
- Call to 200+ countries including all parts of China
- Call from landline or mobile with the same great rates
- No hidden fees or extra charges
- 100% prepaid so you’re always in control
- No reactivation fees even if you don’t use your card for a while
- Phone card details sent right away by email
- Your credit rolls over so you never lose what you’ve paid for
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