Call China from United Kingdom
Affordable calls from United Kingdom to China. No app needed.
Mobile
$2.38
per minute
Landline
$2.38
per minute
Same rate whether you call from United Kingdom or anywhere else
Cost Calculator: Calls to China
See exactly what your call will cost
Mobile cost
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Landline cost
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Best Way to Call China from United Kingdom
Browser-Based (Callana)
Call directly from your browser at web.callana.app. No app download, no SIM card needed. Works from any country.
VoIP / Internet Calling
Use a VoIP service over WiFi or mobile data. Best for regular international callers who make frequent calls to China.
Traditional Carrier
Dial 00 + 86 + local number from your United Kingdom phone. Rates vary by carrier and plan.
How to call China
Call with Callana
Enter the number with the country code. No exit codes or international prefixes needed.
From a regular phone
Dial your country's exit code, then the country code +86, then the local number.
Area codes for major cities
Beijing
+86-10
Shanghai
+86-21
Guangzhou
+86-20
Shenzhen
+86-755
Chengdu
+86-28
Common Issues When Calling China
Dialing CodeChinese mobile numbers are 11 digits starting with 1
Chinese mobile numbers are 11 digits starting with 1
Chinese mobile numbers are 11 digits beginning with 1 (e.g. 1XX-XXXX-XXXX). Dial +86 followed by all 11 digits. Do not drop any leading digit — there is no trunk prefix to remove.
RoutingLandlines require the city area code
Landlines require the city area code
Chinese landline numbers need the city area code: Beijing (10), Shanghai (21), Guangzhou (20), Shenzhen (755). Dial +86 + area code + local number. Area codes are 2-4 digits.
BlockedVoIP services may be restricted or degraded
VoIP services may be restricted or degraded
China's Great Firewall can interfere with VoIP services. Standard international calls route through traditional phone networks and are more reliable than internet-based alternatives.
Calling China from United Kingdom
Time difference
China is 8 hours ahead of UK time
Best time to call
Morning UK (10 AM-12 PM GMT) = evening China (6-8 PM CST)
Popular cities called
Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu
Peak calling seasons
Chinese New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival, Dragon Boat Festival
Calling tips
Chinese students form a large UK diaspora. Chinese New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival are important calling times.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to call China from United Kingdom?
With Callana, calls from United Kingdom to China cost $2.38/min to mobile phones and $2.38/min to landlines. No subscription required — just pay as you go.
What time should I call China from United Kingdom?
Morning UK (10 AM-12 PM GMT) = evening China (6-8 PM CST). China is 8 hours ahead of UK time. Callana is available 24/7 so you can call anytime.
How do I call China from United Kingdom?
The easiest way is to use Callana in your browser — just enter the China number and we connect you instantly. From a regular phone in United Kingdom, dial 00 + 86 + the local number.
Do I need a special app to call China?
No. Callana works directly in your browser — no app download needed. Just open web.callana.app, add credit, and start calling China from United Kingdom immediately.
What is the best way to call China from United Kingdom?
The easiest way is to use Callana's browser-based calling — no app needed, just open web.callana.app and dial. For traditional calling from United Kingdom, dial 00 then +86 followed by the local number. Callana offers the same low rates regardless of where you call from.
Why is my call to China not connecting?
Common issues when calling China include using the wrong country code format and incorrect digit count. Make sure you're dialing the full international number with the correct country code. If using Callana, enter the number without any exit codes — we handle the routing automatically.