How to call China from the UK
Short answer
To call China from the UK, open RobinPhone in your browser, dial +86 and the number, and pay $0.88 per minute to landlines or mobiles. There is no app, SIM or subscription.
UK importers, Amazon sellers and anyone with a Chinese supplier eventually need a real phone call: a late shipment, a wrong sample, or a rep who has stopped answering. Chat apps reach your contact; a phone call reaches the factory.
How to dial
Start with +86 and drop the 0 from the city area code. Mobiles are 11 digits starting with 1 and have no area code.
Guangzhou landline
+86 20 XXXX XXXX
Shenzhen is 755, Shanghai is 21, Ningbo is 574, Beijing is 10
Mobile
+86 1XX XXXX XXXX
11 digits starting with 1, all networks
What a call costs
| Call to | Per minute | 10 minutes | 30 minutes |
|---|---|---|---|
| China landlines and mobiles | $0.88 | $8.80 | $26.40 |
Live rates in US dollars, billed per minute with no connection fee. The price is the same wherever you call from. Prepaid credit never expires.
China costs more than most destinations because Chinese carriers charge more to connect calls from overseas numbers. A focused call to sort out an order still costs only a few dollars.
Best time to call
China is 7 hours ahead of the UK in summer and 8 in winter, and all of China is on one time zone. Factories work 9 am to 6 pm with a lunch break from 12 to 2 pm, so the UK morning is the window: ring between 7 and 10 am to catch the Chinese afternoon.
7 hours ahead
Shanghai compared with London, today
2 am to 10 am
London time, when it is 9 am to 5 pm in Shanghai
Who people in the UK call in China
- Factories and suppliersThe office switchboard, the sales manager, or the shipping and accounts desks when your usual rep has stopped replying on chat. Guide: how to call a supplier in China
- Freight forwarders and inspection agenciesConfirming a container booking, a pickup date or a QC report before you release a payment. Guide: how to call a supplier in China
- Hotels and offices for a tripMany hotels, guesthouses and government offices in China only take bookings and enquiries by phone. Guide: calling a hotel or airline abroad
Chat apps only reach other app users. Why WhatsApp can't call a landline
Common questions
Can I call a Chinese landline with WhatsApp?
No. WhatsApp only connects to other WhatsApp users, so it cannot reach landlines, offices or hotlines in China. RobinPhone places a normal phone call, so any number that can ring will ring.
Do I need a SIM or phone number from the UK?
No. RobinPhone works in your browser over Wi-Fi or mobile data, on a laptop or a phone. You do not need any SIM or calling plan.
Is it cheaper to call China from the UK than from other countries?
The price is the same wherever you are. RobinPhone charges by the destination you call, per minute, with no connection fee.
Can I call toll-free or short hotline numbers in China?
Usually not from abroad, with any service. Most agencies and banks publish a separate number for callers overseas. Look for "calling from overseas" on their contact page and dial that number with +86.
Why won't my Chinese supplier answer when I call from the UK?
Usually timing: after 6 pm China time is 10 or 11 am in the UK, so an afternoon UK call lands after they have gone home. Overseas numbers are also sometimes screened as spam. Call in your morning, set your verified UK number as caller ID, and try the office landline as well as the mobile.
Can I try it before paying?
Not for China, unfortunately. The free 1-minute test call is limited to lower-priced destinations, and China is one of the pricier ones to connect. You can start with just $5 of credit, it never expires, and you only pay for the minutes you actually talk.
Related routes
Call China in the next minute
No app, no SIM, no subscription. Pay only for the minutes you talk.