China Area Code and Postal Code
From ChinaTravelGuide
China Area Code and Postal Code
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[edit] Postal Code (邮编)
Postal codes (邮编) in China are six-digit numbers. The first two digits show the province, province-equivalent municipality (namely Beijing (北京), Chongqing (重庆), Shanghai (上海), Tianjin (天津)), or autonomous region (namely Guangxi (广西), Inner Mongolia (内蒙古), Ningxia (宁夏), Xinjiang (新疆), Tibet (西藏)); the third digit the postal zone; the fourth digit the prefectures or prefecture-level city; the last two digits the delivery post office. See a partial list (provincial capitals, municipalities, sub-provincial cities) and/or a range of numbers from 000000~009999 (reserved for Taiwan) to 850000~859999 (Tibet Autonomous Region).
However, China postal codes are not entirely straightforward. In some cases, the first two digits extend over parts of multiple provinces. In particular, the western portions of Inner Mongolia (内蒙古) are joined with divisions that are predominantly for Ningxia (宁夏) and part of Gansu (甘肃), and smaller portions of it are joined to divisions belonging primarily to Jilin (吉林) and Heilongjiang (黑龙江). A small, non-contiguous portion of western Hebei (河北) belongs to the same division as Beijing (北京), and there are other non-contiguous parts of divisions in Shanxi (山西) and Shaanxi (陕西).
[edit] Area Code (电话区号)
The Chinese Telephone Code Plan is the way to group telephone numbers in the People's Republic of China. Land lines and mobile phones follow different systems: land lines use area codes, while mobile phones do not.
For land line area codes, a "0" is typically added in front when dialing domestic long distance from within mainland China, but is never added when dialing from outside mainland China. Domestic phone numbers in large cities have 8 digits, and in other areas 7 digits and no less. Mobile phone numbers have 11 digits.
The Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau are not part of this numbering plan, and use the country codes 852 and 853, respectively. See Hong Kong telephone numbering plan and Macau telephone numbering plan.
China's country code is 86. Each Chinese city has its own area code. Below is a list of the area code for major cities:
[edit] Calling China from Abroad
First dial the number that connects you with the international direct-dial (IDD) telephone system. Then you dial "86" (the country code for China), then the city code, without the zero, finally the local number of the party you are calling. For example, call China from the USA/Canada: dial 011 + 86 + area code (without 0) + phone number
When calling someone staying in a hotel, it is very important to have the room number as the front desk is usually not as good finding the person by his or her name.
[edit] Calling Abroad from China
First dial "00" to connect with the international direct-dial (IDD) telephone system, then dial the country code you are calling, for US, "1" skipping the "0," then the area code and local number. For example, toc all a US local number 800-555-5555 from Beijing (北京), China, you would dial 00-1-800-555-5555. Remember, don't pause too long when you dial.
When making international calls in China you may dial 10811 for AT&T operator to place a call for you.
[edit] Calling within China
To call a fixed telephone number in a Chinese city from another Chinese city, dial 0 + area code + fixed telephone number. To call a mobile phone number, dial the mobile phone number directly without 0 prefix.
what are the charges for calling from one province to another?
[edit] Phone Tips
Making phone calls from China is very easy. If you want to call overseas, an IP card is best for convenience and low price.They can be used from the area where they are purchased (prepaid) or attached to registered fixed or mobile phones. Prepaid calling cards can be bought on the street or at post offices across the country with a 50% to 75% discount. China Telecom, China Unicom, China Netcom and China Jitong issue IP cards. Rates for international calls are different with different issuers.
The China Mobile's prepaid SIM card for China with a world cell phone is a convenient and economical solution for staying in touch while in China. All incoming calls while you travel China are no more then $.19 USD per minute (Only $.07 in Guangdong province), regardless of where they originate. Pay the local rate for local calls and use your cellular phone in China like you do at home. And unlike home, your China SIM card and cell phone service is prepaid so there is no need for a contract.
If you don't want to call someone at 2 AM without knowing what you are doing, check What Time Is It in China before you call.
[edit] List of zip and area codes for major Chinese cities
| City | Area Code | Postal Code | City | Area Code | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing (北京) | 10 | 100000 | Kunming (昆明) | 871 | 650000 | |
| Chengdu (成都) | 28 | 610000 | Lanzhou (兰州) | 931 | 730000 | |
| Chongqing (重庆) | 23 | 404000 | Lhasa (拉萨) | 891 | 850100 | |
| Dali (大理) | 872 | 671000 | Lijiang (丽江) | 888 | 674300 | |
| Dunhuang (敦煌) | 937 | 736200 | Luoyang (洛阳) | 379 | 471900 | |
| Fuzhou (福州) | 591 | 350000 | Nanjing (南京) | 25 | 210000 | |
| Guangzhou (广州) | 20 | 510000 | Qingdao (青岛) | 532 | 266600 | |
| Guilin (桂林) | 773 | 541000 | Sanya (三亚) | 379 | 471000 | |
| Guiyang (贵阳) | 851 | 550000 | Shanghai (上海) | 21 | 200000 | |
| Haikou (海口) | 898 | 570100 | Shenzhen (深圳) | 755 | 518000 | |
| Hangzhou (杭州) | 571 | 310000 | Suzhou (苏州) | 512 | 215400 | |
| Hohhot (呼和浩特) | 471 | 010000 | Turpan (吐鲁番) | 995 | 838000 | |
| Huangshan (黄山) | 559 | 245000 | Urumqi (乌鲁木齐) | 991 | 830000 | |
| Jinan (济南) | 531 | 250200 | Xi'an (西安) | 29 | 710000 |
