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Exchanging Money in China
| 投稿者 | メッセージ |
  Joined: 2005-04-24 Points: 648 | I see a lot of people with questions about what the best combination of (credit cards, cash, traveller's checks, and ATM cards) is to carry in China. I'll share my experiences here. If anyone else has any experiences to share, whether they were the same or different please share them here as well. I arrived in China the first time from the border crossing from Boten in Laos to Mohan (and on to Mengla). I arrived in the middle of Chinese New Year, and Mengla was pretty quiet. I think maybe 2 banks were open at the time. At the time I had with me my Star/Plus/co-op networks ATM card, a Visa credit card, and American Express traveller's checks (U.S. Dollar-denominated). The cards were from a U.S. bank. The first bank we went to didn't accept any of those three things. The second bank only could do credit card advances. I realize now I should probably have tried my ATM card, as there probably was and is an ATM in town that would have accepted them, but at the time our driver was waiting for payment. It was my first time in China, and I knew the most Mandarin of my fellow car-mates so I was a bit stressed out trying to help translate, and didn't think to wander around town trying every single ATM machine. Anyway, I'm sure the driver wouldn't have appreciated that. Since then, in every reasonably sized city I've been in, I've been able to find a China Construction Bank (CCB), ICBC, or Bank of China (not People's Bank of China) ATM that accepted my ATM card. All three banks seem to generally accept foreign bank cards, Bank of China most reliably so. For example, in Xianggelila, where there is no Bank of China, Construction Bank ATMs take my card, but ICBC ATMs do not. Both CCB and ICBC ATMs worked for me in Shanghai, except for one ICBC ATM that I tried. The way that I think about getting money in China these days is carrying both my ATM and credit cards around, using the ATM cards when possible, and the credit card to get a cash advance in a crunch, and getting enough money if I ever go to a smaller village where it might be difficult or impossible to exchange money. I'd be curious to hear other people's experiences! |
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Posted: 投稿者： 
Points: 179
If you coming via Hong Kong, you will find Hong Kong dollars is as good as RMB in Shenzhen and Zhuhai. However, you will find yourself losing out on the exchange rate as the shops will view at as 1:1. Although some shops will give you a slightly better rates.
Taxi do accept HK Dollars in Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Macau. However, they may not accept coins, so I guess it is notes only payment.
I would suggest you to change your whatever currency in Hong Kong at the major banks, as they will give you a better rate if in bulk. Also, it is less likely you will receive countifiet notes.
Overall, if you go to major cities, it is best to exchange your foreign cash with the major banks.
Remember: Do not show your cash around in China, as there are many pickpockets and thievies.
Points: 11
So you had problems with travelers cheques in China? I am traveling this summer and will take my Visa ATM cards and some Sterling travelers cheques.
I have read in the book that exchange rates are almost the same in Beijing Airport as in the city. I was planning to change some of my money on arrival at the Airport. What do you think?
Points: 748
You could consider cashing say 50 pounds before you leave home, then you would not have to think about doing such immediately upon arrival in Beijing
Connecting EXPATS Across China
Points: 648
Since the yuan is not freely exchangable, I do imagine that the exchange rate in the airport would at least be better than in your home country. You'll need yuan one way or another to pay for your taxi into the city though.