Area Code 891 – Lhasa, Tibet

Overview of Area Code +86 891

Area code 891 is the National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to Lhasa, the capital city of the Tibet Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China. This geographic code is part of the national numbering plan administered under ITU-T E.164, with the full international dialing format +86 891 XXXX XXXX (or +86891XXXXXXX). The code serves the urban districts of Lhasa, including Chengguan, Doilungdêqên, and Dagzê, as well as surrounding administrative areas within the prefecture-level city.

Geographic Coverage and Jurisdiction

Lhasa is situated in the southern part of Tibet, on the north bank of the Lhasa River, at an elevation of approximately 3,650 meters. As the traditional and political center of Tibet, the city hosts significant governmental, religious, and cultural institutions, including the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple. The area code covers all fixed-line telephone services within the city's administrative boundaries. Suburban and rural districts, such as Lhünzhub and Nyêmo, also fall under this code, reflecting the unified numbering plan for the Lhasa metropolitan region.

Dialing Formats and Caller Instructions

For local callers within Lhasa, the national trunk prefix 0 is used before the area code, followed by the 8-digit subscriber number: 0 891 XXXX XXXX. For example, to call a landline in Lhasa from Beijing, you would dial 0891 XXXX XXXX. International callers must replace the trunk prefix with China's country code +86, omitting the leading zero: +86 891 XXXX XXXX. For instance, a call from the United States to a Lhasa number would be dialed as 011 86 891 XXXX XXXX.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

Currently, there is no overlay code for Lhasa; the 891 code is exclusive to the region. However, as with all Chinese geographic codes, the subscriber number length is fixed at eight digits, and the total national significant number (NSN) length is 12 digits (including the leading 0). Mobile numbers in China are non-geographic and use separate prefixes (e.g., 13x, 15x, 18x), so they are not affected by this area code. When dialing from abroad, it is essential to verify the correct number of digits and avoid omitting the area code, as Chinese fixed-line numbers require the full NDC for routing.

Practical Tips for Callers

• From within China: Dial 0891 followed by the 8-digit local number.
• From outside China: Dial your country's exit code, then 86, then 891, then the 8-digit number (e.g., +86 891 1234 5678).
• VoIP and mobile calls: When using VoIP services, always use the international format +86 891 to ensure proper routing.
• Check for service availability: Some remote areas may have limited PSTN coverage; consider using mobile or satellite services if needed.