Area Code 738 – Loudi, Hunan
The phone area code for Loudi, Hunan is 738 (international format +86738). Browse local exchange codes (NXX) and carrier assignments below.
📞 Exchange Codes (NXX) for Area Code 738
Select a central office code to view local carrier data and detailed information
📍 Geographic Location of Loudi, Hunan
Geographic Overview
The +86 738 area code is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to Loudi (娄底), a prefecture-level city in the central part of Hunan Province, China. Loudi is strategically located along the upper reaches of the Lianshui River and serves as an important industrial and transportation hub for the region. The city administers several county-level divisions, including Louxing District, Lengshuijiang City, Lianyuan City, Shuangfeng County, and Xinhua County. All of these areas share the 738 area code for fixed-line telephone services.
Dialing Formats
When calling a fixed-line number in Loudi from within China (excluding the city itself), the domestic trunk prefix '0' is used before the area code, followed by the 8-digit local subscriber number. For example, a local number such as 8123456 would be dialed as 0738 8123456 from elsewhere in China. From outside China, callers must use the international access prefix (typically '00' or '+'), followed by China's country code 86, the area code without the leading '0', and the subscriber number: +86 738 8123456.
Within Loudi itself, local calls are made using only the 8-digit subscriber number, without the area code. It is important to note that China's numbering plan is closed, meaning that all fixed-line numbers are a uniform length of 8 digits after the area code. No overlay codes are currently in effect for Loudi; the 738 code is the sole geographic code for the city.
Caller Guidance
For domestic callers outside Loudi, always include the '0' trunk prefix before the area code. For international callers, replace the '0' with the '+' sign and China's country code 86. For example, an international caller would dial +86 738 8123456. Ensure that you drop the leading '0' of the area code when dialing from abroad.
Regulatory and Technical Notes
The assignment and management of area codes in China fall under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), in accordance with the national numbering plan aligned with ITU-T E.164 recommendations. Fixed-line numbers in Loudi are primarily served by China Telecom, China Unicom, and China Mobile's fixed-line divisions. As with all geographic codes, the 738 area code is tied to the physical location of the line, although number portability for fixed lines is limited. VoIP services may use geographic numbers, but routing is determined by the number's allocation, not the actual location of the device.