Telephone numbers in China: Difference between revisions
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== Calling formats == |
== Calling formats == |
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To call phone numbers in China people |
To call phone numbers in China people one of the following formats is used: |
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* For fixed phones: |
* For fixed phones: |
Revision as of 15:20, 6 May 2022
Location | |
---|---|
Country | China |
Continent | Asia |
Regulator | MIIT |
Type | Open |
Access codes | |
Country code | +86 |
International access | 00 |
Long-distance | 0 |
Telephone numbers in China are organized according to the Chinese Telephone Code Plan. The numerical formats of landlines and mobile phones are different: landlines have area codes, whereas mobile phones do not. In major cities, landline numbers consist of a two-digit area code followed by an eight-digit inner number. In other places, landline numbers consist of a three-digit area code followed by a seven- or eight-digit internal number. The numbers of mobile phones consist of eleven digits.
When one landline is used to dial another landline within the same area, it is not necessary to specify the area code. The target number must be prepended between different regions with the trunk prefix, which is 0.
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 "0om outside mainland China.
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.
In addition, there have been rumors suggesting that the PRC numbering plan once reserved the "026" space for Taiwan (currently +886). However, Yang Peifang, an assistant chief engineer at the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), denied such a claim. He pointed out that even after China is unified, Taiwan would continue to hold on to its current "+886" area code, just like Hong Kong and Macau, because possessing multiple international area codes is considered a resource.[1]
Mobile phones
In mainland China, mobile phone numbers have 11 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.[2]
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 phone numbers upgraded from 10-digit to 11-digit, with 0 added after 13x, and thus HLR code became 4-digit long to expand the capacity of the seriously fully crowded numbering plan.
In 2006, 15x numbers were introduced.[3] 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.
Mobile service providers can be identified by the first three or four digits as follows:
1 – China Unicom before 2009
2 – Operated by China Transport Telecommunication & Information Center
Calling formats
To call phone numbers in China people one of the following formats is used:
- For fixed phones:
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
- For mobile phones:
1nn xxxx xxxx Calls to mobile phones within China
+86 1nn xxxx xxxx Calls to mobiles from outside China
Area 1 – Capital Operation Center
The prefix one is used exclusively by the national capital, Beijing Municipality.
- Beijing – 10 (formerly 1, abolished after GSM was introduced, to avoid conflict with mobile phone numbers with prefix 0 added (e.g. 0139-xxxx-xxxx))
Area 2 – Country Communication System Operating Center
These are area codes for the municipalities of Shanghai, 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. All telephone numbers are 8-digit in these areas.
- Guangzhou – 20
- Shanghai – 21
- Tianjin – 22
- Chongqing – 23 3
- Shenyang, Tieling, Fushun, Benxi – 24 4
- Nanjing – 25
- Wuhan – 27
- Chengdu, Meishan, Ziyang – 28 5
- Xi'an, Xianyang – 29 6
3 - Formerly 811, 814, 819, 810, 829, abolished 1997.
4 - Formerly 410, 413, abolished 2011,[4] and 414, abolished in 2014.[5]
5 - Formerly 832, 833, abolished 2010.[6]
6 - Formerly 910, abolished 2006.[7]
Area 3 – Northern China Operation Center
These are area codes for the provinces of Hebei, Shanxi and Henan.
Hebei – 31x 33x
315
335
310
319
312
313
314
317
310
318
Shanxi (山西) – 34x 35x
351
352
353
355
356
349
354
359
350
357
358
Henan – 37x 39x
375
372
392
373
391
393
374
395
398
370
394
396
391
8 - Formerly 378, abolished.
9 - Formerly 397, abolished.
Area 4 – Northeastern China Operation Center
These are area codes for the autonomous region of Inner Mongolia, and the provinces in Northeast China (Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang). Additionally, numbers starting 400 are shared-pay (callers are charged local rate anywhere in the country) numbers [citation needed].
Liaoning – 41x 42x
Jilin – 43x 44x
10 - Hunchun formerly 440, abolished
11 - Meihekou, Liuhe, Huinan formerly 448, abolished
Heilongjiang – 45x 46x
452
467
468
469
459
458
454
464
453
456
455
12 -Acheng formerly 450, abolished.
13 - Jiagedaqi and Songling are de facto under the administration of the Daxing'anling
Prefecture, uses 457.
Inner Mongolia – 47x 48x
471
472
473
476
475
477
471 14
478
474
League
483
14 - Jiagedaqi and Songling are de facto under the administration of the Daxing'anling
Prefecture, uses 457.
Area 5 – Eastern China Operating Center
These are area codes for the provinces of Jiangsu, Shandong (predominantly), Anhui, Zhejiang and Fujian.
Jiangsu – 51x 52x
All telephone numbers are 8-digit in Jiangsu.
25
510
516
519
512
513
518
517
515
514
511
523
527
Shandong – 53x 54x
533
632
546
535
536
537
538
631
633
539
534
635
543
530
Anhui – 55x 56x
553
552
554
555
561
562
556
559
550
558
557
564
55815
566
563
15 - Split from Fuyang in 2000, no new area code allocated.
Zhejiang – 57x 58x
Fujian – 59x 50x
16 - Kinmen, Matsu, and Wuchiu are under the international calling code of +886.
Area 6 – Supplement for Shandong(63x), Guangdong(66x), Yunnan(69x)
All area codes with prefix 6 were assigned in recent years. This prefix (+866) previously was reserved for Taiwan, which is now assigned (+886).[8]
Shandong – 63x
While most areas in Shandong use the prefix 53x 54x, some sites also use the prefix 6.
Guangdong – 66x
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.
Yunnan – 69x
While most areas in Yunnan use the prefix 87x and 88x, a couple of areas also use the prefix 6.
Area 7 – Central-Southern China Operating Center
These are area codes for the central provinces of Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong (predominantly), Jiangxi, and the autonomous region of Guangxi.
Hubei – 71x 72x
714
719
717
710
711
724
712
716
713
715
722
718
728
728
728
719
Hunan – 73x 74x
734
739
730
736
744
737
735
746
745
738
743
17 - Formerly 733, abolished.
18 - Formerly 732, abolished.
Guangdong – 75x 76x
20 (8-digit)
751
755 (8-digit)
756
750
759
668
758
752
753
660
762
662
763
769 (8-digit)
760 (8-digit)
768
663
766
Guangxi – 77x 78x
771
772
773
774
779
777
775
775 21
776
774 19
778
772 20
771 22
19 - Split from Wuzhou Prefecture, original area code inherited.
20 - Split from Liuzhou Prefecture, original area code inherited.
21 - Split from Yulin Prefecture, original area code inherited.
22 - Split from Nanning Prefecture, original area code inherited.
Jiangxi – 79x 70x
798
799
792
790
701
797
796
795
794
793
Area 8 -Southwestern China Operating Center
These are area codes for the provinces of Sichuan, Hainan, Guizhou, Yunnan (predominantly) and the autonomous region of Tibet.
Sichuan – 81x 82x 83x
28 (8-digit)
813
812
830
838
816
839
825
832
833
817
837
826
818
835
827
28 (8-digit)
837
834
Guizhou – 85x 86x
23 - Formerly 852, 853, abolished 2014.[10]
Yunnan – 87x 88x
874
877
875
879
888
879
883
878
873
876
872
692
886
24 - Dongchuan formerly 881, incorporated into 871
Tibet/Xizang – 89(1–7)
Hainan – 898
All telephone numbers are 8-digit in Hainan.
Area 9 – Northwestern China Operating Center
These are area codes for northwestern regions including the provinces of Shaanxi, Gansu and Qinghai, as well as the autonomous regions of Ningxia and Xinjiang.
Shaanxi (陕西) – 91x 92x
Gansu – 93x 94x
931
937 25
935
943
938
935
936
933
937
934
932
939
930
941
25 - Shared area code due to small size.
Ningxia – 95x 96x
Qinghai – 97x 98x
26 - Area under the administration of Golmud uses 979, other landlines within the prefecture use 977.
Xinjiang – 99x 90x
- Ürümqi – 991
- Kuitun – 992
- Shihezi – 993
- Changji – 994
- Turpan – 995
- Korla – 996
- Aksu – 997
- Kashgar – 998
- Yining – 999
- Karamay – 990
- Tacheng – 901
- Kumul – 902
- Hotan – 903
- Altay – 906
- Artux – 908
- Bole – 909
Emergency numbers
From within Mainland China, the following emergency numbers are used:
- 110 – Police (12110 for text to police)
- 119 – Fire brigade (12119 for forest fire in some regions)
- 120 – Beijing EMS Ambulance
- 122 – Traffic accident (incorporated into 110 in some cities) (12122 on highway)
- 999 – Privately operated ambulance (Beijing ONLY, calls outside Beijing is 010-999)
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.
Others
From within Mainland China, the following special numbers are used:
- 100xx – Telecommunications Customer Service (10000 for China Telecom, 10010 for China Unicom, 10086 for China Mobile, 10020-10049 for VNOs)
- 101xx and 116xxx – Premium service of China Unicom
- 1010 xxxx – Special number by China Unicom
- 11185 – Post
- 114 – Directory assistance
- 118xxx – Premium service of China Telecom (e.g. 118114)
- 12117 – Speaking clock
- 12121 – Weather
- 12122 – Highway service
- 123xx – Government service (e.g. 12388 – Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and Ministry of Supervision, 12306 – China Railway, 12355 – Help Hotline For Children and Youth)
- 124x – Carrier Identification Code (formerly 190/196/197, abolished in 2018, to create space for mobile phone numbers.)
- 125xx – Premium service of China Mobile (e.g. 12580)
- 160xxxxx, 168xxxxx – Telephone information service
- 179xx + target number followed – VoIP (e.g. 17901-133-0000-0000)
- 200, 201 – IC telephone service
- 400 xxx xxxx, 800 xxx xxxx – business numbers
- 95xxx, 95xxxx, 95105xxx- Service number (nationally)
- 955xx – Bank, Insurance, Airlines service hotline, (nationally, ex. 95588 – Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) )
- 96xxx, 96xxxx – Service number (locally, area code needed for calls from other provinces or autonomous region or province-level municipality.)
(ex. 962288 in Shanghai – Shanghai foreigner assistant hotline, calls outside Shanghai is people will play 021-962288, or a message will reach error message or undesired service)
International Access Code
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[11] |
Hong Kong | 00 852 xxxx xxxx[12] |
Macau | 00 853 xxxx xxxx[13] |
NANP | 00 1 xxx xxx xxxx |
UK | 00 44 xxxxxxxxxx |
Japan | 00 81 xxxxxxxxx |
See also
- Telecommunications in China
- Telephone numbers in Hong Kong
- Telephone numbers in Macau
- Toll-free telephone number, China
References
- ^ Shen, Saixing (December 18, 2007). "信产部权威专家解密区号分配史:026和台北无关". Southern Weekly. Southern Weekly. Southern Weekly. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
- ^ "中国手机号码设计及长度的演变_显赫的破墙_新浪博客". blog.sina.com.cn. Retrieved 2020-03-17.
- ^ "提示信息 - 通信人家园 - Powered by C114". www.txrjy.com. Retrieved 2020-03-17.
- ^ "沈阳、抚顺、铁岭正式开始共用"024"长途区号-搜狐新闻".
- ^ "股人网 - Powered by Discuz! Archiver".
- ^ "成都眉山资阳三地将共用长途区号028_新闻中心_新浪网".
- ^ "西安咸阳今夜电话同区号-搜狐新闻".
- ^ The story of Taiwan's calling code, Taipei Times, October 5, 2010
- ^ Nanhai No.1 & Guangdong Maritime Silk Road Museum Archived 2016-10-11 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "贵阳遵义安顺实现通信同城化 共享区号0851".
- ^ China Vista, Eugene Law, China Intercontinental Press, 2004, page 519
- ^ China International Business: The Monthly Publication of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, P.R.C, Issues 7–12, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, 2002
- ^ China Law, Issues 1–6, 2008, page 50
- "ITU allocations list". ITU-T. Archived from the original on 2009-08-02.
External links
- "Chinese Mobile Phone Directory" (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2012-10-24.