The US international access code is 001.

Also, when calling from China, I use a code that saves me money (doesn't save much but you can get a couple more minutes out of a calling card). The code is 17951. Put in those numbers before the int'l. code.

So from China to US, I dial 17951 + 001 + areacode + number.


17951 will only work on a cell phone. The saving is actually rather significant. Calls from a cell phone to USA/Canada was RMB 8.00/min. With 17951, it's only RMB 2.40/min.

You can use 17951 to make any international call, not just to USA. The pattern is:
17951 + 00 + Country Code + Area Code + Local Number

00 is the international access code from China. That is needed in any international call. 1, in the example our friend gave above, is the country code for USA (and the same for Canada).

If you are calling from a land line, try using 17909. The pattern is the same:
17909 + 00 + Country Code + Area Code + Local Number

However, 17909 doesn't work everywhere. As far as I know, it works in most of the major cities, like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, etc.

Both number (or IP Access Code as they called it) could also be used to call in-country long distance calls. For example, if you are calling a Shanghai number from Beijing, or vice versa. The pattern in that case is:
17951 or 17909 + City Code + Local Number

For example, Shanghai's city code is 021, Beijing 010, Guangzhou 020, etc.