China - money how much to bring?

Trampas

Going to China for 3 weeks. Accom already booked.

I know how long is a piece of string.

How much would you need for spending money for food and extras.

I'll be in Shanghai and Beijing for a couple of days each.

Is CC usage widely available?

Many ATM machines to use my mastro?

Thanks

niceirishfella

Trampas wrote: »

Going to China for 3 weeks. Accom already booked.

I know how long is a piece of string.

How much would you need for spending money for food and extras.

I'll be in Shanghai and Beijing for a couple of days each.

Is CC usage widely available?

Many ATM machines to use my mastro?

Thanks

Nehow!,

yes, CC can be used widely in the bigger stores. YOu'll need to have the local currency for the markets etc.
Re; ATM, yes there's atms imrc but don't remember if they take maestro though a call to your bank will tell you this.

have a great time!

Victor McDade

Some places won't take an international credit card, even in Beijing, but most ATM's will take visa and mastercard. Never been to Shanghai but I'd imagine it'll be better equipped to handle foreign cards

bernard0368

I find it is easy enough to get money from the Atm's do check with your bank that the card you have will do so.
Cash is god and I would advise you to use this as much as possible. Avoid eating in the hotels as they can be expensive compared to the restaurants outside. Using visa and mastercard can be quite hard as a lot of the shops will only accept chinese cards. The goverment run supermarkets will take international cc's but they tend to be the most expensive places to shop.

In shanghai you must go to the pirate market in the shanghai space museum haggle hard and you will get great bargins. I get my suits and shirts there made to order at stupid money. Two suits and ten shirts for about €250.00. It helps to bribe a girl working in the hotel to go and haggle for you.

Trampas

Cheers for the replies.

Do the like dollars or euros like some countries due but I say this is a no cause it is china.

If I bring €500 would that last me long?

niceirishfella

They like US dollars but more china yuan than anything.
You'll get a shed load for your € but then again you'll alway be paying the tourist price whereever you go.

MrMatisse

Id bring more like €900 cash for three weeks. especially if you wont be in big cities all the time as some places dont have atms and a lot of business wont take credit cards.