Area Code 906 – Aletai, Xinjiang

Overview of Area Code 906 (Aletai, Xinjiang)

Area code 906 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the city of Aletai (Altay) and its surrounding administrative region in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. This code is part of the Chinese national numbering plan, which adheres to ITU-T E.164 recommendations. The region is located in the northern part of Xinjiang, bordering Mongolia, Russia, and Kazakhstan, and is known for its mountainous terrain and significant Kazakh ethnic population.

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

The 906 code serves the entire Aletai Prefecture, which includes the county-level city of Aletai (the administrative center) and surrounding counties such as Burqin, Fuyun, Fuhai, Habahe, and Jeminay. The prefecture is a distinct administrative division under the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The code is used for all fixed-line (PSTN) services within this area, including traditional copper-line telephony and fixed VoIP services that are geolocated to this region.

Dialing Formats and Number Structure

In China, the national significant number for geographic areas consists of an NDC followed by a subscriber number. For Aletai, the NDC is 906, and local subscriber numbers are typically 7 digits long. Therefore, the complete national significant number is 10 digits (excluding the leading trunk prefix 0).

• Local dialing (within Aletai): When calling a fixed line within the same area code, subscribers can dial the 7-digit subscriber number directly (e.g., 1234567).
• Domestic long-distance dialing (from other parts of China): Dial the trunk prefix 0 followed by the area code and subscriber number: 0 906 1234567.
• International dialing (from outside China): Callers should dial the international access prefix (e.g., 00 from most countries) followed by China's country code 86, then the area code without the leading 0, and the subscriber number: +86 906 1234567.

For example, a caller from the United States would dial 011 86 906 1234567, while a caller from the United Kingdom would dial 00 86 906 1234567.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

As of the latest ITU-T and MIIT (Ministry of Industry and Information Technology) updates, there is no overlay code for the Aletai region. The 906 code is the sole geographic code for this area. However, due to the rapid expansion of mobile and VoIP services, fixed-line numbers in this region may be subject to number portability, allowing subscribers to retain their numbers when changing service providers.

Caller Instructions

• Local callers: For calls within Aletai, simply dial the 7-digit subscriber number. No area code is required.
• Domestic callers from other regions: Always include the trunk prefix 0 and the area code 906 when dialing from outside the Aletai area.
• International callers: Use the +86 country code and omit the leading 0 of the area code. Ensure you have the correct international exit code for your country.

It is important to note that while mobile numbers in China begin with prefixes like 13x, 15x, etc., and are non-geographic, fixed-line numbers under 906 are strictly tied to the Aletai geographic region. For accurate billing and routing, always verify the complete number format before dialing.