018421 area code — Shanghai
In China, the area code 018421 covers Shanghai. Numbers are written internationally as +86 18421.
* China spans more than one time zone; the clock shows its primary zone.
How to call Shanghai
- From abroad
- +86 18421 XXX XXXX
- Within China
- 018421 XXX XXXX
- Country calling code
- +86
About the 018421 area code
When you see a number beginning +86 18421, it belongs to Shanghai: the 86 is China's country calling code and 18421 is the area code.
Area codes like 018421 tie a phone number to a place — useful for knowing where a call or message originates, and for signing up to services that expect a local China number. To actually receive an SMS on a China number, a temporary or virtual line does the job without exposing your own SIM.
Frequently asked questions
What area code is Shanghai?
Shanghai uses the area code 018421, written internationally as +86 18421.
How do I call Shanghai from another country?
Dial your international access code, then +86 18421, then the local number — dropping the national leading 0.
What time is it in Shanghai?
Shanghai is in the Asia/Shanghai time zone; the live clock above shows the current local time.
Is 018421 a mobile or a landline code?
018421 is a geographic (landline) area code for Shanghai. Mobile numbers in China use their own separate prefixes.