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Chinese Currency
The
Chinese currency is called renminbi (people's
currency) and is often abbreviated to RMB. The
basic unit is Yuan. Ten Jiao make one Yuan; ten
Fen make one Jiao. Thus 100 Fen make one Yuan.
Hongkong's currency is the Hongkong dollar and
Macau's is the Pataca. Both currencies are worth
7% more than Renminbi.
A
money belt or pocket sewn inside your clothes
is the safest way to carry money. Velcro tabs
sewn to seal your pockets shut will also help
thwart roving hands. Keeping all your eggs in
one basket is not advised - guard against possible
loss by leaving a small stash of money (say US$100)
in your hotel room or buried in your backpack,
with record of the travellers cheque serial numbers
and your passport numbers.
Stock
up some ¡ê¡è10 bills in case of the vendors and
taxi drivers cannot make change for big note.
Counterfeit bills are a problem in China. Very
few Chinese will accept a ¡ê¡è50 or ¡ê¡è100 bill without
first checking to see whether or not it is a fake.
Notes that are old and tattered are also sometimes
hard to spend. If you are having problems with
a note, exchange it for a new one or small change
at the Bank of China -counterfeits, however, will
be confiscated.
Besides
the advantage of safety, travellers cheques are
useful to carry in China because the exchange
rate is actually more favourable than what you
get for cash. Cheques from most of the world's
leading banks and issuing agencies are now acceptable
in China - stick to the major companies such as
Thomas Cook, American Express and Citibank and
you'll be OK. However it is only acceptable in
the bank instead of shopping centers.
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