Although it may seem a little confusing because the names are often depicted together, they’re actually two separate terms. Travelers to China are often confused by how to refer to Chinese money. In English, some people call it the Chinese “dollar.” In Chinese, there are three common names and two symbols in regular use. China’s ongoing efforts to liberalize its financial markets and promote international use of the Renminbi through initiatives such as the Belt. It serves as a unit of account for the IMF and other international organizations. The composition of the SDR basket is reviewed every five years, with the last review taking place in 2015.

In most cases, you will have to pay a small fee when withdrawing money using international cards. Chinese paper money comes in denominations of one, five, ten, twenty, fifty and one hundred. China has the world’s second largest economy and Chinese money plays an increasingly important role in global financial transactions. That said, there’s still a great deal of confusion when it comes to Chinese currency.

• Confusingly, however, it’s possible that you may also have heard Chinese money referred to as “yuan” (元 yuán), commonly abbreviated as CNY (“Chinese Yuan”).
• CNY is the official currency abbreviation for the Chinese yuan under the ISO 4217 standard, but RMB is often used as an unofficial abbreviation.
• There are limits to the amount of cash travelers can bring into China.

Paying for things in a new currency in a new country can be exciting, but be sure you have a good idea of how much you’re actually paying in your own currency equivalent before you spend. If you plan to stay in China for an extended period of time, setting up a WeChat Pay or Alipay account will definitely make your life much easier. If you find the difference between currency and units confusing, it might seem like a good idea to figure out which word for money is most popular in China and use that one. When telling someone how much something costs, you would be unlikely to say “This car costs 10 gold.” You need some sort of unit, such as ounces.

The renminbi, introduced in 1948, is abbreviated as RMB but it is not an official currency code. Markets located in Hong Kong that trade the Chinese currency at free-floating rates use another unofficial code – CNH. The RMB acts as one of the most-held reserve currencies in the world, while being the eighth most-traded currency globally. Not only did devaluing the CNY make Chinese goods more affordable and attractive in international markets, but there was also another advantage for China. It became the first emerging market currency included in the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF’s) special drawing rights (SDR) basket—a reserve currency used by the IMF. Several series of the renminbi were issued since the 1950s, each of which has its own banknotes and coins.

All have in-depth knowledge and experience in various aspects of international banking. In particular, they have expertise in banking for foreigners, non-residents, and both foreign and offshore companies. For the sake of easy carriage, the bank staff will always give you some big notes. However, you can ask them to give you a 100 Yuan of small change. If you are traveling to China for the first time, you might be wondering whether or not to bring any cash. The character 圆 (yuán) is a variant of 元 (yuán) and the two share the same pronunciation.

Understanding the Chinese Yuan Renminbi (CNY)

If you don’t have any idea about the trend of the RMB’s exchange rate, then you can pay 50% of the tour price at the time of booking, and the rest when your tour gets closer. In 2005, China revalued the Renminbi and moved to a managed floating exchange rate regime against a basket of currencies. This shift signified China’s commitment to market-oriented reforms and its growing influence in the global economy. Initially, it was issued by the People’s Bank of China in the form of banknotes and coins.

How Much Is $1 in Chinese Renminbi?

The latter was introduced to the country by the Communist People’s Republic of China at the time of its founding in 1949. A yuan acts as China’s unit of account for its financial system and economy, which represents a single unit of money. Renminbi, on the other hand, is the official name of the currency itself. At present, banknotes in denominations of one, five, 10, 20, 50, and 100 yuan are in circulation. Its symbol, the ¥, represents the strength and stability it brings to international trade and financial markets. Amidst increasing global economic influence, there is growing anticipation surrounding the future trajectory of the Renminbi.

Who Issues China’s National Currency?

The SDR is an international reserve asset created by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to supplement its member countries’ official reserves. The horizontal stroke through the “Y” is said to symbolize the stability and balance in the Chinese economy. It is derived from the Chinese character for “round” or “circular,” reflecting the concept of a round coin. The Renminbi’s historical journey reflects China’s economic evolution and its integration into the international financial system. Once you’ve got your renminbi in hand, be sure to take some time to examine it and think about its history, its future and all the different ways there are to refer to it in both English and Chinese.

RMB or CNY?

• The CNY went through a steady stream of appreciation against the greenback, leading the country to devalue its currency several times in 2015.
• Trump returned to office in January 2025 and announced new tariffs on China.
• This understanding serves as a gateway to comprehending the renminbi’s role in international trade.
• It became the first emerging market currency included in the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF’s) special drawing rights (SDR) basket—a reserve currency used by the IMF.
• If you find the difference between currency and units confusing, it might seem like a good idea to figure out which word for money is most popular in China and use that one.

The word renminbi came into use the same year the People’s Republic of China was founded, in 1949. The word yuan, however, is much older, and was originally used to refer to the silver coins that European merchants used to trade with Chinese merchants almost 500 years ago. Confusingly, however, it’s possible that you may also have heard Chinese money referred to as “yuan” (元 yuán), commonly abbreviated as CNY (“Chinese Yuan”). The currency of China is referred to as either the Chinese yuan (CNY) or renminbi (RMB).

Banknotes in circulation come in one-, two-, five-, 10-, 20-, 50-, and 100-yuan denominations, as well as one-, two-, and five-jiao notes. Coins are also issued in one and five jiao, along with one-yuan denominations. On the other hand, if you think your currency will be weaker against RMB in the future, then you can pay us up to 100% of the tour price in advance to lock the exchange rate.

The Renminbi has undergone significant transformations over the years, from being pegged to the U.S. dollar to a managed floating exchange rate system. The People’s Bank of China has exclusive authority to issue currency. Banknotes are issued in denominations from 1 fen to 100 renminbi.

The Chinese yuan renminbi is the currency used in the People’s Republic of China. Yuan is the actual unit of currency for China’s financial system and economy, representing a single unit of money. As mentioned above, the terms “yuan” and “renminbi” are commonly used interchangeably or together in some parts of the world, so it’s no surprise that their use often confuses investors.

Can You Use Foreign Currency in China?

In recognition of the renminbi’s elevated status, in November 2015 the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced that the renminbi was to become one of its reserve currencies. Thus, it would join the U.S. dollar, the euro, the British pound sterling, and the Japanese yen as one of the IMF’s Special Drawing Rights currencies used for intergovernmental loans. Due to inflation, banknotes or coins with a value of less than one yuan, including one jiao and five jiao, are rarely used in China. If someone insists on you paying the small change, you can just give them one yuan and tell them to keep the change instead. Learn more about managing payments while traveling in China here.

Future Outlook for Renminbi

The inclusion of the renminbi in the IMF’s Special Best investment opportunities Drawing Rights (SDR) has significantly enhanced its status as an international reserve currency. If you are looking to exchange Iranian rial into Chinese renminbi, it is important to note that Iran does hold the cheapest currency in the world. So, if you happen to hold any rial and are looking to exchange into Chinese currency, it might be difficult to facilitate. This article is part of our free series on foreign currency bank accounts. In fact, mobile payments have become so common that some merchants no longer keep enough small bills on hand to make change.

The fifth series is now legal tender, leading to the prior ones being phased out. The Chinese yuan renminbi is the official currency of mainland China. As noted above, the term “yuan” refers to a single unit of the currency, while the term “renminbi” refers to the actual name of the currency itself. The yuan is abbreviated as CNY, while the renminbi is abbreviated as RMB.

Understanding these changes is crucial for navigating the evolving landscape of international finance. Understanding the significance of the ¥ symbol is crucial for comprehending the representation of China’s currency in international contexts. The symbol, which represents the Chinese yuan, has a rich historical and cultural significance. The historical origins of the Renminbi can be traced back to the establishment of the People’s Bank of China in 1948. The Renminbi, denoted as RMB and symbolized as ¥, became the official currency of the People’s Republic of China in 1949.