You will have to change your U.S. dollars to Chinese currency for most of purchases in China. Airports, hotels and many tourist facilities have a currency exchange counter where you can exchange travelers checks and/or cash at the official exchange rate, which is the same throughout China for that given day. The passport is requested when you exchange the money.
The currency local people use is called “Renminbi”, often represented by the initials “RMB”. The local unit of currency is called the “Yuan”. There are one hundred “Fen” in a “Yuan” and ten “Fen” in a “Jiao”. There are 1, 2, and 5 Fen coins and different size and colored bills for 10 and 50 Fen; and for 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 Yuan.
U.S. dollars: Credit cards are accepted in major cities and tourist hotels and stores. Traveler checks, from any bank are recommended as the safest and most convenient way to carry your funds. Due to a black market in foreign currency we suggest that you do not exchange money with any strangers.
Please prepare some small notes of the cash with you.
