Area Code 991 – Urumchi, Xinjiang
The phone area code for Urumchi, Xinjiang is 991 (international format +86991). Browse local exchange codes (NXX) and carrier assignments below.
📞 Exchange Codes (NXX) for Area Code 991
Select a central office code to view local carrier data and detailed information
📍 Geographic Location of Urumchi, Xinjiang
Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction
The area code 991 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to Urumqi (also spelled Urumchi), the capital city of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China. As part of China's E.164 numbering plan, this code is used for fixed-line (PSTN) services within the city and its immediate administrative subdivisions. Urumqi serves as the political, economic, and cultural hub of Xinjiang, and the 991 code covers the central urban districts, including Tianshan, Saybagh, Xinshi, Shuimogou, Toutunhe, Dabancheng, and Midong, as well as the surrounding counties under its jurisdiction.
Dialing Formats and Caller Instructions
For callers within China (excluding Urumqi), the domestic long-distance format is: 0 991 XXXX XXXX. The leading 0 is the domestic trunk prefix. For local calls within Urumqi, only the eight-digit subscriber number is dialed (no area code). For international callers, the format is: +86 991 XXXX XXXX, where +86 is the country calling code for China. Note that the trunk prefix 0 is omitted when dialing from abroad.
Numbering and Overlay Considerations
All subscriber numbers within the 991 area code are eight digits long. Currently, no overlay code has been introduced for Urumqi, meaning that 991 remains the sole geographic area code for the region. However, due to the growth of telecommunications services, the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) periodically reviews numbering resources. If an overlay is ever implemented, ten-digit dialing would become mandatory for local calls. As of now, local calls require only the eight-digit number.
Practical Usage and Routing
Fixed-line numbers under 991 are primarily used by residential and business customers. When calling from a mobile phone within China, the same domestic format applies (0 991 XXXX XXXX). For international SMS or voice calls, the +86 991 prefix is used. It is important to note that while mobile numbers in China are non-geographic (beginning with 13x-19x), landline numbers under 991 are tied to the physical location of the line. This geographic association is relevant for emergency services, law enforcement, and location-based services.
Example Dialing Scenarios
- Local call within Urumqi: XXXX XXXX
- Domestic long-distance from Beijing: 0 991 XXXX XXXX
- International call from the United States: +86 991 XXXX XXXX