Buy Chinese Yuan (CNY) | NZD to CNY Exchange Rate

Convert Currency

*Online rates not available in store.

Travel Money NZ is a dedicated foreign exchange specialist, helping Kiwis buy Chinese Yuan (CNY) before travelling to China. If you find a better published cash rate from a New Zealand competitor, our Price Beat Guarantee means we'll beat their eligible transaction price. That's competitive rates, guaranteed.

Order Chinese Yuan online for convenient Click & Collect from your preferred Travel Money NZ store. Prefer to buy in person? You can purchase Chinese Yuan over the counter at participating stores nationwide.

Best Place to Buy Chinese Yuan in New Zealand

Planning a trip to China? Whether you're exploring Beijing's historic landmarks, shopping in Shanghai, discovering Xi'an's Terracotta Army or visiting Chengdu's famous panda reserves, you'll need Chinese Yuan for everyday spending throughout your trip.

Travel Money NZ makes it easy to get your Chinese Yuan sorted before departure, with online ordering available whenever it suits you and stores across New Zealand for in-person purchases.

Unlike many banks, foreign exchange is what we do. No hidden fees and no surprises at the counter. With our Price Beat Guarantee, if you find a better eligible published rate elsewhere, we'll beat it.

Where to Buy Chinese Yuan Near Me

Searching for Chinese Yuan near you? Travel Money NZ has stores across New Zealand, making it easy to exchange NZD to CNY before your trip. Use our Store Finder to check your nearest location, opening hours and contact details before visiting.

Participating stores stock Chinese Yuan as part of our In Stock Promise. If your pre-ordered currency isn't available when promised and a full deposit has been paid, you may be eligible for $10 NZD off your order.

Find your nearest store

CNY vs RMB vs Yuan Explained: Same Currency, Different Terms
Planning a trip to China and wondering whether CNY, RMB and Yuan are different currencies? You're not alone. While all three terms are commonly used, they actually refer to the same Chinese currency.
CNY is the official international currency code used by banks, foreign exchange providers and financial markets.
RMB stands for Renminbi, which translates to "people's currency" and is the official name of China's currency.
Yuan is the unit of currency, similar to how "dollar" is used for NZD or USD.
In simple terms:
CNY = Currency code
RMB = Currency name
Yuan = Unit of currency
So, whether you see prices listed in CNY, RMB or Yuan, they all refer to the same money used throughout mainland China.

How to Buy Chinese Yuan Online or In-Store

💻 Order online for Click & Collect: Place your order online, choose your preferred store and collect your CNY when it's ready.

🏪 Buy in-store: Walk into a Travel Money NZ store and purchase Chinese Yuan over the counter.

💳 Load a Travel Money Card: Prefer card over cash? You can also load supported currencies onto a Travel Money Card before you travel.

How to order:

Check the live NZD to CNY rate above.
Enter the amount of Chinese Yuan you want to buy.
Choose Click & Collect or Travel Money Card.
Complete your secure online order.
Collect your CNY from your selected store.

Get a Better NZD to CNY Rate with Our Price Beat Guarantee

Travel Money NZ offers a Price Beat Guarantee on eligible in-store Chinese Yuan purchases. If you find a better deal, here's how it works:

Find a better published cash foreign exchange rate from a New Zealand competitor.
Make sure the currency is available for immediate collection.
Bring the written quote or published rate into a Travel Money NZ store.
We'll beat the competitor's eligible transaction price.

Whether you're visiting Shanghai for business, sightseeing in Beijing or exploring China's cultural and natural attractions, a stronger exchange rate means more Chinese Yuan to spend during your trip.

_{*Price Beat Guarantee applies to in-store cash purchases only. Terms and conditions apply.}

Cash rate

*Online rates not available in store

Card rate

Code

CNY

Symbol

Coins

¥0.1, ¥0.5, ¥1

Banknotes

¥0.1, ¥0.5, ¥1, ¥5, ¥10, ¥20, ¥50, ¥100

Buy Chinese Yuan Online for Click & Collect or In-Store

Skip the last-minute rush and organise your travel money before you fly. Order Chinese Yuan online and choose Click & Collect at checkout. Your currency will be prepared for collection from your selected Travel Money NZ store, allowing you to lock in your NZD to CNY exchange rate before departure.

Prefer to buy in person? Visit your nearest Travel Money NZ store and purchase Chinese Yuan over the counter. With stores across New Zealand and our In Stock Promise, getting your travel money sorted before departure is simple and convenient.

Whether you're travelling to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu or Xi'an, arriving with local currency can make your first day significantly easier.

Convert Chinese Yuan Back to NZD

Back from China with leftover currency? Travel Money NZ makes it easy to convert Chinese Yuan back into New Zealand Dollars. Whether you've got a few notes remaining or a larger amount to exchange, visit your nearest Travel Money NZ store and we'll help convert your CNY back into NZD.

Get a Better CNY to NZD Rate with Our Buy Back Bonus

If you originally bought your Chinese Yuan from Travel Money NZ, bring your receipt when exchanging your leftover currency and you may qualify for our Buy Back Bonus, giving you a better rate on your return exchange.

_{*Buy Back Bonus applies to in-store cash purchases only. Terms and conditions apply.}

How to get the most out of your Chinese Yuan

Here are some tips to travel China on a budget...

Travel during the low season (November to February, avoiding Chinese New Year) to enjoy lower prices on flights and accommodations while avoiding crowds.
Dining out? Opt for local street food like dumplings, baozi, and jianbing for an authentic and affordable culinary experience.
China’s high-speed rail network is a fast and cost-effective way to travel between cities, while local buses and metro systems are perfect for getting around within urban areas.
Don’t miss free attractions like the stunning parks in Beijing, the iconic West Lake in Hangzhou, or a visit to the historical sites along the Great Wall!
Convert NZD to CNY with Travel Money NZ and ensure every Yuan takes you further in this fascinating country.

All about China currency

A quick guide to money in China

The currency of China is the Chinese yuan renminbi (RMB), but it prefers to be called just ‘yuan' (CNY). It’s quite a unique form of currency, so be sure to triple-check notes as you hand them out. One yuan equates to 10 jiao, which itself is made up of 10 fen.

Think of yuan as dollars, fen as cents, and jiao as… well, something in the middle.

Chinese notes and coins

In Chinese currency, you’ll find coins worth 10 and 50 fen, as well as the 1 yuan coin. Banknotes will take you through 10 and 50 fen, ¥1, ¥5, ¥10, ¥20, ¥50 and ¥100 yuan each.

It’ll take a little getting used to, but it won’t be long until you’ve mastered Chinese currency correctly.

Fun facts about Chinese cash

The current banknotes focus more on historical landmarks, portraits of Mao Zedong, and scenic landscapes like the Great Wall of China, the Temple of Heaven, and the Karst mountains.
While the current series doesn’t feature dragons, dragons were once a key symbol in older Chinese currency, representing power, prosperity, and good fortune.
Special limited-edition notes are sometimes released to mark anniversaries or major events, such as the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China.

Travel Money Trivia - China edition

The Chinese Yuan is sometimes colloquially called the ‘kuai’ (meaning ‘lump’) because currency was once quite literally a lump of silver.
For Bitcoin fans, you’d be intrigued to know that 80% had been exchanged for CNY in 2015.
The Chinese people were the founders of paper currency, dating back to the 9th century.
As the inventors of paper currency, the Chinese revolutionized commerce in the 9th century by introducing notes that replaced heavier metal coins—a concept that would eventually be adopted worldwide.
Inflation on the Chinese yuan has been astonishing, going up over 1000x over the last 40 years.