Job Discussion Forums

trika · Joined: 11 Oct 2008 Posts: 16 Location: Wuhan, China

I was just wondering, how much money should one bring when going to China? And in what currency? traveller's checks, us dollars, or rmb...?
can I still keep my bank account in Canada? is it difficult to wire/deposit money into my Canada TD account? hmm silly questions maybe, but I want to be sure to have enough...

lf_aristotle69 · Joined: 06 May 2006 Posts: 546 Location: HangZhou, China

Can you repost your questions here to help keep such related questions in one place...?

How much money should I bring?

LFA

trika · Joined: 11 Oct 2008 Posts: 16 Location: Wuhan, China

Okay, sorry, I'm still new at using this site. Thankyou! Smile

eddy-cool · Joined: 06 Jul 2008 Posts: 1008

You can bring your Can dollars; no need to convert them into U.S. dollars before coming to China - that would only increase your loss.

Bringing travellers' cheques is a good idea as TCs lost to thieves are not lost to you whereas cash lost is like cash lost for good...

How long are you planning on staying in China, and doing what?

xiong20 · Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 3:11 pm Post subject: money

This works for me.....before I left Winnipeg in 2006, I opened a chequing savings account with HSBC.Once settled in China,I then opened an account with Bank of China. Luckily for me,my HSBC ATM card and BOC card can be used at any BOC ATM machine (English choice also) displaying the appropriate logo.This allows me to draw funds from either bank account.I subsequently applied for an received accounts with PayPal and a BOC Visa.I've never had occasion to have to transfer funds between banks. My registering any payable Canadian accounts with HSBC and their internet banking system,PayPal,and BOC Visa all bases are covered in Canada,USA,and China. Should I want to send cash money to someone,say in the Ukraine, then I use Western Union....it's the fastest way and payable in the currency of your choice.
Travelling money...exchange in airport in Canada five hundred dollars minimum...in Hong Kong or Beijing airports you can also exchange currency.If HK,get Hong Kong dollars(taxis,restaurants) as well as Chinese yuan.If you do not have Visa,then have enough to pay IN ADVANCE a hotel room cost for one night.This assumes you have a job to go to.
My Canadian HSBC ATM card has Interac,Cirrus,and The Exchange logos on the back of the card.

trika · Joined: 11 Oct 2008 Posts: 16 Location: Wuhan, China

Thankyou. I have signed a 6-month contract with an international language school. However I plan on staying for at least a year. I just signed a 6 month to be on the safe side, to be sure I like the school and whatnot. Smile

-Trika

shenyanggerry · Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 619 Location: Canada

I just withdrew 3000 Kwai from my Canadian Scotiabank account. I did have to try three banking machines before one finally worked.

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

which banks did you try gerry? three different banks, or different branches of the same bank? most of the major banks in china in any decent sized city should be no problem for most foreign card holders (BOC, China Construction Bank, ICBC, which other ones.... ?) i've even used a few minor banks with success..... still hit and miss in a lot of places though.