How to call China from South Africa
- From mobile
- +86 xx xxxx xxxx
- From landline
- 00 86 xx xxxx xxxx
From $1.06/min in your browser, no plan needed
How to dial China from South Africa
How to make a call to China from South Africa: dial the exit code, the country code, and the number. Chinese city codes start with 0 at home, but you drop that 0 after 86.
- Shanghai00 86 21
- Chongqing00 86 23
- Chengdu00 86 28
- 00South Africa exit code
- 86Country code of China
- xx xxxx xxxxThe number, area code first
- From a mobile: +86 xx xxxx xxxx
Paste or type a number here to see how to dial it from anywhere
Example: +86 10 1234 5678
- Mobile
- +86 10 1234 5678
- Landline
- 00 86 10 1234 5678
Main area codes in China
The area code comes right after 86, then the local number
- Shanghai00 8621then the local number
- Chongqing00 8623then the local number
- Chengdu/Ziyang/Meishan00 8628then the local number
- Beijing00 8610then the local number
- Guangzhou00 8620then the local number
- Tianjin00 8622then the local number
- Wuhan00 8627then the local number
- XiAn/Xianyang00 8629then the local number
Before you call China
Leave out the 0 of the city code
Shanghai is 21 after 86, not 021. A Chinese number is not always a 10-digit number: it runs from 7 to 12 digits.
- Fails
- 00 86 021 xxxxxxxx
- Works
- 00 86 21 xxxxxxxx
Dial Beijing, Guangzhou, or Tianjin
Each city code goes right after 86, then the local number.
- Beijing00 86 10
- Guangzhou00 86 20
- Tianjin00 86 22
Save Chinese contacts with +86
For calling China cell phones, a contact saved this way dials from any mobile in South Africa, with no exit code to type.
- +exit
- 86China
- 21Shanghai
- xxxxxxxxlocal number
Calling China from South Africa without an international plan
Suparelay calls China for $1.06/min from your browser, with no plan. Without one, carriers in South Africa charge up to $1.37/min
| Carrier | Per minute |
|---|---|
SuparelayNo plan needed | $1.06 |
 | $1.37 |
 | $0.12 |
 | $0.28$0.059 with plan |
Want to call China?
Type the number and call from your browser, with no app and no plan
When to call China
The time now in China, and the best hours to call. The time difference stays the same all year, so one check of the clock holds in every month.
- Time difference
- All year: 6 hours ahead of Johannesburg
- Daylight saving time
- None, the clocks never change
- Time zones
- 2
Why a call to China fails
Cell C contracts need activation first
A Cell C contract has no international calling until Customer Care activates it. Call 135 before you dial abroad.
Cell C, International CallingVodacom standard calling costs more per minute
Vodacom's standard international calling has higher rates than International Calling Plus, which bills per second. Plus is an upgrade, so ask Vodacom to switch it on.
Vodacom, Affordable International Calling RatesFrom any country, a call to China also fails when
- The exit code is wrong for your country
- The number does not take calls from abroad
Questions
How to call China from South Africa on a cell phone or mobile?
Dial +86, then the number. It works from any mobile in South Africa
Are calls to China included in South Africa phone plans?
Not on most plans. No carrier in South Africa that we checked includes China in a plan
Does Vodacom include calls to China?
With the International Calling Plus. Without it, Vodacom charges $0.28 a minute to a landline and $0.28 to a mobile
How much does it cost to call China from South Africa?
With no plan, carriers in South Africa charge up to $1.37 a minute. Suparelay charges each started minute, from your browser
How to call Shanghai from South Africa?
For Shanghai, dial 00 86 21, then the local number
Do I need to dial 00 to call China?
From a landline, yes: dial 00, then 86. From a mobile, type + instead, and the phone adds the exit code
How do I dial a +86 number?
Press and hold 0 until + appears, then dial 86 and the number
Can I call China on my iPhone?
Yes. In the Phone app, press and hold 0 for +, then dial 86 and the number. Your plan must allow calls to China
Why isn't my call going through to China?
The usual causes: the exit code is wrong for your country and the number does not take calls from abroad. Each one is listed above, with a link to its fix
How to call China from South Africa for free?
An app calls for free only when both sides have it. A call to a landline, or to a phone without the app, costs money
How to call China from South Africa on WhatsApp?
WhatsApp and FaceTime call for free, but only someone with the same app. To ring a landline or a phone in China without the app, use your phone plan, a calling service, or Suparelay
How to call a China landline from South Africa?
From a landline in South Africa, dial 00 86, then the number
When is the best time to call China?
Call between 8:00 and 22:00 in China. All year: 6 hours ahead of Johannesburg
How do I call China from South Africa?
Dial 00 86, then the number. From a mobile, +86 works too
How to make an international call to China?
Dial 00 86, then the number. From a mobile, +86 works too