018521 area code — Shanghai
In China, the area code 018521 covers Shanghai. Numbers are written internationally as +86 18521.
* China spans more than one time zone; the clock shows its primary zone.
How to call Shanghai
- From abroad
- +86 18521 XXX XXXX
- Within China
- 018521 XXX XXXX
- Country calling code
- +86
About the 018521 area code
When you see a number beginning +86 18521, it belongs to Shanghai: the 86 is China's country calling code and 18521 is the area code.
Area codes like 018521 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 018521, written internationally as +86 18521.
How do I call Shanghai from another country?
Dial your international access code, then +86 18521, 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 018521 a mobile or a landline code?
018521 is a geographic (landline) area code for Shanghai. Mobile numbers in China use their own separate prefixes.