CHINA: CURRENCY & BANKING

1 Renminbi Yuan (CNY; symbol ¥) = 10 jiao/mao or 100 fen. Notes are in denominations of ¥100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1. Coins are in denominations of ¥1, 5 and 1 jiao/mao. Counterfeit ¥50 and ¥100 notes are commonplace.

CNY is not traded outside China. Foreign banknotes and traveller's cheques can be exchanged at branches of The Bank of China. In hotels for tourists, imported luxury items such as spirits may be bought with Western currency. Scottish and Northern Irish banknotes cannot be exchanged.

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in major provincial cities in designated establishments. ATMs can generally be found in airports, hotels, shopping centres and banks. Credit cards are often unlikely to be accepted away from the major cities.

To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars.

Restrictions apply.

Mon-Fri 0900-1600/1700. Some banks close for lunch from 1200-1300. Select branches in major cities offer extended hours in the evenings and on weekends.