worldcurrencies

Cash rules for China

Official currency CNY

How much cash can you carry?

There is a ceiling here, not just paperwork. Bringing in is capped at CNY 20,000; carrying more is prohibited rather than declarable. Taking out is capped at CNY 20,000; you cannot declare your way past it.

Limits

Bringing cash in

max CNY 20,000

Hard ceiling. Carrying more is prohibited, not declarable.

The renminbi limit is a hard cap in both directions, carrying more than ¥20,000 in cash is prohibited, not merely declarable. Foreign currency has no quantitative limit, but cash worth more than USD 5,000 must be declared on arrival.

Taking cash out

max CNY 20,000

Hard ceiling. Carrying more is prohibited, not declarable.

The same ¥20,000 cap applies on departure. Foreign currency above USD 5,000 is released on the strength of the declaration made on your last entry, so keep the endorsed copy, without it, customs releases only what a certificate from the Foreign Exchange Bureau or an authorised bank covers.

How to declare

Use the Customs declaration form.

Specific routes

Sources: rules as of 22 September 2026. General information, not legal advice; check the official authority before travelling.