AUD to CNY Exchange Rate

The lowdown on the Chinese yuan renminbi

Knowing exactly what to call the Chinese currency can get a bit confusing. The renminbi is China’s official currency, but the yuan is its basic unit. It’s a bit like in the UK, where the currency is pounds sterling – we don’t say sterling on its own, we just talk about pounds.

In a country known as the People’s Republic, renminbi means the people’s currency – it was introduced when the Communist People’s Republic of China was formed in 1949. You can use yuan in mainland China, but not officially in Hong Kong or Macau – although they might be accepted in some places.

The yuan goes by different names in some parts of China – in Tibet it’s called a gor, and in Mongolia it’s sometimes known as a tugreg or yuani. But the most common name for yuan is kuai, which means piece, or kuai qian, which means pieces of money. In China, it’s just like saying buck in Australia or quid in the UK.

^{*The information contained in this article has been compiled by Travelex from different external sources. The figures provided are indicative only and are there to provide an idea of the amount of travel money you may need during your trip. Travelex does not ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information shown. Nothing in this article is to be considered financial advice. Travelex Limited does not accept any liability for any loss or damage derived from any reliance on the information in this article. Travelex Limited (ABN 36 004 179 953, AFSL Number 222444) arranges for and sells Online Foreign Currency via its Online Ordering Facility. You should consider the Terms and Conditions before deciding whether to acquire any product.}