Get your
Chinese Yuan Fast!
- Free home delivery over £750
- with Royal Mail Special Delivery 1pm
- Better rates than the banks
Travelling to China?
Get the best exchange rate for Chinese yuan online
Get ready for your trip to China with Chinese yuan from Manor FX.
Order your yuan currency today and arrive with local cash ready for taxis, snacks, markets and your first few days away.
Our competitive Chinese yuan exchange rates help you get more when you convert pounds to Chinese yuan before you travel.
You can have your Chinese yuan delivered securely to your home or office, or collect your CNY from the Manor FX bureau near Heathrow.
Manor FX makes it easy to buy Chinese yuan online, order foreign currencies securely, and avoid airport currency exchange rates or hidden fees.
“Easy process from start to finish. Competitive prices and excellent customer support. Would highly recommend and will use again.”
Emma Thompson
Chinese travel money
Here are some helpful facts about cash, cards and currency in China.
What is the currency in China?
The currency used in mainland China is the renminbi.
The main unit of the renminbi is the Chinese yuan.
The currency code is CNY, and the currency symbol is ¥.
You may see it written as Chinese yuan, yuan, renminbi, RMB, CNY or Chinese yuan renminbi. For everyday travel money, these terms are often used to talk about the same currency.
Are Chinese yuan and renminbi the same?
Yes, but they are not exactly the same word.
Renminbi is the official name of China’s currency. Yuan is the main unit of that currency.
A simple way to think of it is in terms of pound sterling and pounds. “Pound sterling” is the currency, while “pound” is the unit people use day to day.
So if you buy Chinese yuan, you are buying renminbi for everyday spending in China.
Where is the best place to buy Chinese yuan?
Manor FX is a great place to buy Chinese yuan if you want competitive online rates, secure delivery and a simple ordering process.
You can buy Chinese yuan online and have your travel money delivered to your home or office. You can also collect your Chinese yuan from our bureau near Heathrow.
Buying Chinese yuan before you travel is a good idea because you’ll have local cash ready when you arrive.
Should I exchange money before I travel to China?
Yes. Taking some Chinese yuan with you before your trip is sensible.
China is highly digital, and mobile payments are widely used, but cash is still useful for arrival expenses, small shops, markets, taxis, and as a backup.
Having local currency ready also helps if your debit card, credit card or mobile payment setup does not work straight away.
What is the best currency to take to China?
The best currency to take to China is Chinese yuan.
Pounds, euros and US dollars are not practical for everyday spending. You may be able to exchange foreign currency after arrival, but paying in local currency is easier for normal purchases.
Can I use Chinese yuan in Hong Kong or Macau?
No, Chinese yuan is not the main everyday currency in Hong Kong or Macau.
Hong Kong uses the Hong Kong dollar, and Macau uses the Macanese pataca. Some tourist businesses may accept yuan, but you should not rely on it for daily spending.
If you are travelling beyond mainland China, check the local currency before you go.
Can I use my bank card in China?
You can use international debit and credit cards for payments in China, especially at hotels, large shops, and major tourist areas.
However, card acceptance can be more limited than in the UK. Many everyday payments in China are made using local mobile payment apps, and some smaller businesses may not accept foreign cards.
Take a mix of Chinese yuan cash and a suitable card for flexibility.
Should I use cash in China?
Yes. Cash can still be useful in China, even though digital payments are common.
The Chinese yuan is helpful for small purchases, taxis, local markets, street food, rural areas, and as a backup if card or app payments fail.
Do not carry more cash than you need for the day. Keep smaller notes separate and store the rest safely.
Buy your yuan now
How much cash should I take to China?
The amount of Chinese yuan you need depends on your travel style and plans.
- Budget travellers: around £30–£50 per day.
- Mid-range travellers: around £50–£100 per day.
- Luxury travellers: £100+ per day.
You do not need to carry your whole budget in cash. Take enough yuan for your first few days and keep a card as backup.
How does tipping work in China?
Tipping is not expected in most everyday situations in China.
You usually do not need to tip in local restaurants, taxis or cafés. Some tour guides, drivers or hotel staff working with international visitors may accept tips, but it is not as standard as in the UK or US.
Carrying small yuan notes can still be useful for guided tours or hotel help.
Is China cheap to visit?
China can be good value for UK travellers, although costs vary by city, region and travel style.
Street food, local restaurants and public transport can be affordable. Major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, as well as international hotels and high-speed trains, can be more expensive.
Planning your travel money in Chinese yuan makes it easier to manage daily spending.nd, of course, keep your money safe and secure while you explore the wonders of China!
Buy your yuan now
Chinese currency
Chinese yuan banknotes
The People’s Bank of China issues Chinese yuan banknotes.
Common banknotes include 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 yuan. The 20, 50 and 100 yuan notes are especially useful for many travellers’ purchases.
Most yuan banknotes feature Mao Zedong on the front, with different landscapes and national landmarks on the reverse.
Chinese yuan banknotes include security features such as watermarks, security threads and colour-shifting details to help prevent counterfeiting.
Chinese yuan coins
Yuan is divided into jiao and fen.
One yuan is divided into 10 jiao, and one jiao is divided into 10 fen.
Coins are used less often than notes for many traveller purchases, but you may still receive coins for small payments or change.
How much Chinese yuan can I take to China?
China Customs says passengers carrying RMB 20,000 in cash or foreign currency worth 5,000 US dollars or more should use the red “goods to declare” channel.
UK rules are separate. If you are taking cash of £10,000 or more from Great Britain to a country outside the UK, you must declare it to UK customs.
Always check official rules before you travel, as currency regulations can change.
Order Chinese yuan online
Looking for the best Chinese yuan exchange rates?
Convert GBP to Chinese yuan online from Manor FX and get secure delivery to your home or office. You can also collect your yuan from our travel money bureau near Heathrow.
Check today’s CNY exchange rate, choose how much you want to order, and complete your purchase online.
Can I sell Chinese yuan when I get home?
Yes. You can sell leftover Chinese yuan to Manor FX and convert Chinese yuan to pound sterling after your trip.
Choose “sell currency” and select Chinese yuan to see the current yuan to GBP rate.
The Chinese yuan to British pound exchange rate may differ from the GBP to yuan rate because providers use different buy and sell rates and real time exchange rates change all the time.e yuan’. We offer competitive rates for your remaining Chinese yuan.
FAQs
Until 31 December 2026, British citizens can enter China visa-free for stays of up to 30 days for business, tourism, family or friend visits, or transit.
If you are travelling for another reason, staying longer than 30 days, working, studying or doing journalism, you may need a visa before your trip.
Most UK travellers do not need a specific vaccine just to enter China.
However, you must show proof of yellow fever vaccination if you are arriving from a country listed as a yellow fever transmission risk.
Routine vaccines should be up to date, and you should check travel health advice before your trip.
Yes, a currency converter can help you estimate pound to yuan, yuan to pounds, GBP to yuan and Chinese yuan to GBP values.
Just remember that a converter may not show the exact travel money rate, delivery cost or hidden fees.
The CNY exchange rate changes regularly. Check the exchange rate today on the Manor FX Chinese yuan page before you order.
You can also compare GBP to CNY exchange and CNY to GBP exchange rates if you are buying or selling yuan.
No. Bank of China is a major commercial bank.
China’s central bank is the People’s Bank of China, which issues the renminbi.
No. Manor FX provides travel money and foreign exchange for cash orders, not international money transfer services.
If you need to send money to China, compare transfer providers carefully and check their fees, exchange rates and regulation before sending.
Feel the Trustpilot love
Been using Manor FX for quite some time for my foreign currencies and the best prices anywhere on the internet to buy. And customer service is really good if needed.
You had exactly the currency I needed, where most exchanges don’t carry it. Easy to navigate website to boot. Thank you.
Manor FX always deliver when they say they are. I’ve never had any problems and have bought a few times from them. It’s a seamless experience that I would recommend.
Ordered on a Monday midday and the currency arrived by Special Delivery the following day. No hassle whatsoever. Perfect
Great service! The follow-up call to decide on the best date for scheduling delivery was appreciated. A lot easier than going to the Post Office or Tesco. Will use again in future.
Fantastic company! They stock even hard to source currencies and kept me informed of when they would have it in stock for me to order which was very quickly!
Get your
Chinese Yuan Fast!
- Free home delivery over £750
- with Royal Mail Special Delivery 1pm
- Better rates than the banks