What is the best currency to take to China mainland and Hong Kong?
You can buy Hong Kong Dollars to take to Hong Kong, but you can’t use them on the Chinese mainland. I would keep some of your own nationality’s currency as emergency if you come from UK, Europe or US. You cannot bring RMB (Chinese currency) as it is not yet fully convertible – not available in foreign banks. Travellers cheques are widely acceptable (and a little more secure than cash if handled correctly). If you are in the US or UK or Europe, personally I would bring my own currency to the Chinese mainland, ie. US Dollar, British Pound, or Euro. They are all easily changeable for the RMB (or Yuan to give it its common name) but the dollar is depreciating daily albeit in very small steps, whereas the pound and euro are holding steady and even appreciating a little. You can also change Pound, Euro, or US Dollar in most largish hotels and probably get a better rate than bank.
