Telephone numbers in China#Emergency numbers
{{Short description|None}}
{{Infobox country telephone plan
| country = People's Republic of China
| country_link = China
| continent = Asia
| map_image = CHN orthographic.svg
| map_caption = Map of the People's Republic of China in dark green with the disputed territories in light green
| map_size = 200px
| map_alt =
| country_code = 86
| international_prefix = 00
| trunk_prefix = 0
| regulator = Ministry of Industry and Information Technology
| plan_membership = E.164
| nsn_length =
| plan_type = Open
| codes_list =
}}
File:Map of the telephone area codes of the People's Republic of China.png
Telephone numbers in the People's Republic of China are administered according to the Telecommunications Network Numbering Plan of China. The structure of telephone numbers for landlines and mobile service is different. Landline telephone numbers have area codes, whereas mobile numbers do not. In major cities, landline numbers consist of a two-digit area code followed by an eight-digit local number. In other places, landline numbers consist of a three-digit area code followed by a seven- or eight-digit local number. Mobile phone numbers consist of eleven digits.
Landline calls within the same area do not require the area code. Calls to other areas require dialing the trunk prefix 0 and the area code.
The special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau are not part of this numbering plan, and use the calling codes 852 and 853 respectively.
Mobile phones
In mainland China, mobile phone numbers have eleven 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.
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 telephone numbers were changed from ten digits to eleven digits, with 0 added after 13x, and thus the HLR code became four-digit long to expand the capacity of the seriously fully crowded numbering plan.
In 2006, 15x numbers were introduced. 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. {{cite news |title=工信部:已实现全部电话用户实名登记 |url=http://tech.qq.com/a/20170118/031020.htm?utm_medium=referral |publisher=新华社 |date=2017-01-18 |accessdate=2017-01-18 |archive-date=2019-02-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219211812/http://tech.qq.com/a/20170118/031020.htm?utm_medium=referral }}
In November 2010, MIIT has started the trial mobile number portability service in Tianjin and Hainan, in 2012 the trial has extended to Jiangxi, Hubei and Yunan provinces. On 10 November 2019, all provinces started accepting MNP requests for all mobile carriers, except for technical difficulties, the MVNO phones, satellite phones and IoT phones.{{cite news|url=https://www.yicai.com/news/100417060.html|title="携号转网"正式启动,工信部点名"百年套餐"等障碍|publisher=第一财经|date=2019-11-27|language=zh-cn|accessdate=2019-11-29|archive-date=2020-11-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104152246/https://www.yicai.com/news/100417060.html}}{{cite web |title=携号转网新规正式施行!权威解答来了! |url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_5144788 |publisher=澎湃新闻 |access-date=2019-12-10 |archive-date=2019-12-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210045127/https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_5144788 }}
Mobile service carriers can be identified by the first three or four digits as follows:
class="wikitable" | ||
rowspan="2" | Prefix || rowspan="2" | Carrier
! colspan="4" |Network | ||
---|---|---|
2G
!3G !4G !5G | ||
10641 (13 digits)
|China Unicom (VNO for IoT purposes) |N/A4 |LTE |NR | ||
130–132 | China Unicom
|N/A4 |LTE | NR |
133 | China Telecom1
| colspan="2" |N/A5 |LTE | NR |
134(0–8) | China Mobile
|GSM4 |N/A3 |LTE | NR |
1349 | Chinasat (operated by China Telecom)
| colspan="4" |Satellite | |
135–139 | China Mobile
|GSM4 |N/A3 |LTE | NR |
140 (13 digits)
|{{Small|reserved for China Unicom (IoT), due to NR technical difficulties, no 1400(0-9) numbers will be provided}} | colspan="4" |N/A | ||
141 (13 digits)
|China Telecom (IoT) | colspan="2" |N/A5 |LTE |NR | ||
142–143 (13 digits)
|{{Small|reserved for future IoT carriers}} | colspan="4" |N/A | ||
144 (13 digits) | China Mobile (IoT) {{Small|currently only 1440(0-9) and 1441(0-9) are used, the rest, 144(20-99) are reserved for future 5G IoT card plans}} |GSM4 |N/A3 |LTE | NR |
145 | China Unicom (data card) {{Small|only new TD-LTE, LTE-FDD, LTE-A or NR wireless network card users may got a new 145 number, but can also be used to connect 3G network}} |N/A4 |LTE | NR |
146
|China Unicom (IoT) |N/A4 |LTE |NR | ||
147 | China Mobile (data card) {{Small|Used for "one SIM with dual-number" service of CMHK in Mainland}} |GSM4 |N/A3 |LTE | NR |
148 | China Mobile (IoT)
|GSM4 |N/A3 |LTE | NR |
149
|China Telecom (data card) | colspan="2" |N/A5 |LTE |NR | ||
150–152 | China Mobile
|GSM4 |N/A3 |LTE | NR |
153 | China Telecom1
| colspan="2" |N/A5 |LTE | NR |
154
|{{Small|reserved for future mobile carriers}} | colspan="4" |N/A | ||
155–156 | China Unicom
|N/A4 |LTE | NR |
157
|China Mobile |GSM4 |N/A3 |LTE |NR | ||
158–159
|GSM4 |N/A3 |LTE |NR | ||
161(0-8)
|{{Small|reserved for future mobile carriers}} | colspan="4" |N/A | ||
1619
|China Satellite Network Group | colspan="4" |Satellite | ||
162
|China Telecom (VNO) | colspan="2" |N/A5 |LTE |NR | ||
164
|{{Small|reserved for future mobile carriers}} | colspan="4" |N/A | ||
165
|China Mobile (VNO) |GSM4 |N/A3 |LTE |NR | ||
166 | China Unicom
|N/A4 |LTE | NR |
167 | China Unicom (VNO)
|N/A4 |LTE | NR |
170(0-2) | China Telecom (VNO)
| colspan="2" |N/A5 |LTE | NR |
1703 | China Mobile (VNO)
|GSM4 |N/A3 |LTE | NR |
1704 | China Unicom (VNO)
|N/A4 |LTE | NR |
170(5-6)
|China Mobile (VNO) |GSM4 |N/A3 |LTE |NR | ||
170(7-9)
|China Unicom (VNO) |N/A4 |LTE |NR | ||
171 | China Unicom (VNO)
|N/A4 |LTE | NR |
172
|China Mobile (IoT) {{Small|Used for "one SIM with dual-number" service of CTM in Mainland}} |GSM4 |N/A3 |LTE |NR | ||
173 | China Telecom
| colspan="2" |N/A5 |LTE | NR |
174(00-05) | Tiantong (operated by China Telecom)
| colspan="4" |Satellite | |
174(06-12)
|MIIT Emergency Communication Support Center | colspan="4" |emergency mobile call | ||
174(13-89)
|{{Small|reserved for satellite phones}} | colspan="4" |N/A | ||
1749 | Inmarsat2
| colspan="4" |Satellite | |
175–176 | China Unicom
|N/A4 |LTE | NR |
177
| colspan="2" |N/A5 |LTE |NR | ||
178
|GSM4 |N/A3 |LTE |NR | ||
180–181 | China Telecom
| colspan="2" |N/A5 |LTE | NR |
182–184 | China Mobile
|GSM4 |N/A3 |LTE | NR |
185–186 | China Unicom
|N/A4 |LTE | NR |
187–188
|GSM4 |N/A3 |LTE |NR | ||
189–191 | China Telecom
| colspan="2" |N/A5 |LTE | NR |
192 | China Broadnet
| colspan="2" |N/A |LTE6 | NR |
193
| colspan="2" |N/A5 |LTE |NR | ||
194
|{{Small|reserved for future mobile carriers}} | colspan="4" |N/A | ||
195 | China Mobile
|GSM4 |N/A3 |LTE | NR |
196 | China Unicom
|N/A4 |LTE | NR |
197–198
|GSM4 |N/A3 |LTE |NR | ||
199
| colspan="2" |N/A5 |LTE |NR |
- China Unicom before 2009
- Operated by China Transport Telecommunication Information Group Co., Ltd.
- TD-SCDMA networks deprecated by China Mobile in 2020
- China Unicom finalize deprecated the GSM networks in 2021. A plan to deprecate GSM by China Mobile announced in 2023, scheduled to shut down in 2025{{Cite web |date=29 September 2022 |title=中国电信提出要加快2G/3G退网 原计划2024年底完成但貌似还要提前 |url=https://www.163.com/dy/article/HIELTDNA0511BBQE.html |language=zh}}{{Cite web |date=2023-09-17 |title=中国移动2G网络退网公告:全面升级4G/5G,提升用户体验 |url=https://www.70070.cn/fcnq67.html}}
- CDMA2000 1x Ev-Do networks deprecated in 2022, and CDMA2000 1x RTT in 2024{{Cite web |title=中国电信800M黄金频率再获1M频段,CDMA准备退网 - 中国电信,CDMA,800M频率,4G - IT之家 |url=https://www.ithome.com/0/410/032.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407062805/https://www.ithome.com/0/410/032.htm |archive-date=2019-04-07 |accessdate=2019-04-07 |work=www.ithome.com |url-status=dead}}
- LTE compatibility of China Broadnet SIM cards only available on Apple iOS devices
- WCDMA networks are being deprecated by China Unicom since 2023
1G TACS networks were provided by China Telecom since 1987, operations transferred to China Mobile in 1999, the year China Mobile established, 1G shut down in 2001.
Calling formats
To call phone numbers in China 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{{when|date=May 2022}}.
All telephone numbers are 8-digit in these areas.
- Shanghai – 21
- Tianjin – 22
- Chongqing – 23 1
- Shenyang, Tieling, Fushun, Benxi – 24 2
- Nanjing – 25
- Wuhan, Huarong District of Ezhou – 27
- Chengdu, Meishan, Ziyang – 28 3
- Xi'an, Xianyang – 29 4
- Guangzhou – 20
1 - Formerly 811 in urban area and 814 in Yongchuan, both abolished on 9 August 1997; 819 for Wanxian and 810 for Fuling and Qianjiang, abolished on 28 November 1998.
2 - Formerly 410 for Tieling and 413 for Fushun, abolished on 28 August 2011;{{Cite web|url=http://news.sohu.com/20110828/n317553727.shtml|title = 沈阳、抚顺、铁岭正式开始共用"024"长途区号-搜狐新闻}} 414 for Benxi, abolished on 24 May 2014.
3 - Formerly 832, 833, abolished 2010.{{Cite web|url=http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2010-01-13/132319459973.shtml?from=wap|title = 成都眉山资阳三地将共用长途区号028_新闻中心_新浪网}}
4 - Formerly 910, abolished 2006.{{Cite web|url=http://news.sohu.com/20060915/n245351431.shtml|title = 西安咸阳今夜电话同区号-搜狐新闻}}
It's still unclear whether 26 will be provided or not, some local materials say that it's reserved for Taiwan (especially its capital Taipei), but currently they use +886.{{cite web |author= |date= |title=中国的区号为什么缺026?_话题广场_评论频道_腾讯网 |url=http://view.news.qq.com/a/20071019/000025.htm |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521204959/http://view.news.qq.com/a/20071019/000025.htm |archivedate=2014-05-21 |accessdate=2018-07-13 |website=Tencent News |publisher=}} Some proposals from planned independent cities ({{Lang-zh|c=计划单列市}}) to get rights to operate 026 were also unsuccessful.{{Cite web |title=区号026争夺与台北猜想 |url=http://view.news.qq.com/zt/2007/026/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071022051230/http://view.news.qq.com/zt/2007/026/index.htm |archive-date=2007-10-22 |accessdate=2009-01-27 |website=Tencent News}}{{Cite web |title=026区号之争民间热议官方低调 长株潭并未申报 |url=http://news.sohu.com/20090114/n261735152.shtml |accessdate=2022-09-05 | date=2009-01-14 |website=Sohu News}}
Area 3 – Northern China Operation Center
= Hebei – 31x 33x =
{{Image label begin|image=Administrative Division Hebei alt.svg|width=315|link=|font-size=70%}}
{{Image label|x=125|y=925|scale=300/1000|text=Shijiazhuang
311
(8-digit)}}
{{Image label|x=710|y=610|scale=300/1000|text=Tangshan
315}}
{{Image label|x=855|y=545|scale=300/1000|text=Qinhuangdao
335}}
{{Image label|x=150|y=1225|scale=300/1000|text=Handan
310}}
{{Image label|x=200|y=1090|scale=300/1000|text=Xingtai
319}}
{{Image label|x=260|y=750|scale=300/1000|text=Baoding
312}}
{{Image label|x=235|y=390|scale=300/1000|text=Zhangjiakou
313}}
{{Image label|x=610|y=290|scale=300/1000|text=Chengde
314}}
{{Image label|x=480|y=900|scale=300/1000|text=Cangzhou
317}}
{{Image label|x=440|y=700|scale=300/1000|text=Langfang
316}}
{{Image label|x=335|y=990|scale=300/1000|text=Hengshui
318}}