Convert Korean Won to Chinese Yuan
Convert Korean won (KRW) to Chinese yuan (CNY) at the Export-Import Bank of Korea's mid-market rate, and see how far your won budget stretches in Shanghai or Beijing — plus how much banks and cards actually charge on top.
🔒 Unit conversions are computed in your browser (exchange rates via public API only).
What moves the won-to-yuan rate
Unlike the fully free-floating dollar-won, the yuan (renminbi) runs on a managed float: the People's Bank of China sets a daily reference rate each morning and caps how far the rate can drift that day. That means US-China trade tensions, China's growth and property cycle, and Beijing's rate and stimulus decisions weigh heavily on the yuan's value. On the won side, Korea's export momentum and broad dollar strength pull in their own direction. When the yuan softens or the won strengthens, the same budget buys you more yuan.
What does 100,000 won buy in yuan?
If the rate is 190 won per yuan, 100,000 won comes to roughly 526 yuan and 500,000 won to about 2,630 yuan. Going the other way, multiply a yuan price by 190 to read it in won — an 80-yuan dish in Shanghai lands around 15,000 won. China's largest banknote is 100 yuan, so paying big sums in cash means a thick stack of bills. Won-to-yuan is easy to eyeball since one yuan is only a few hundred won, but real payments run a bit higher than this math because of the spread below.
In Shanghai and Beijing, cash barely works
Mainland China runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay QR codes — from street stalls to hypermarkets, a phone handles almost everything. Foreign visitors can now link an overseas card to those apps, but a few spots still expect small cash, so keeping a little yuan on hand is reassuring. The rate shown here is the interbank mid-market value; card payments and currency exchange add a spread and fees on top. Cash exchange carries the widest spread, so it's worth comparing app payments against what a cash swap actually costs.
Frequently asked questions
Is this yuan rate the same as what my bank or card actually charges?
No. This is the mid-market rate the Export-Import Bank of Korea publishes around 11 a.m. Korea time on each business day. Banks, card issuers, and airport kiosks add a spread and fees, so an actual exchange or payment usually costs a little more. Treat it as a baseline for budgeting and pad your real costs slightly above it.
How much yuan cash should I bring to China?
In cities like Shanghai, Beijing, and Qingdao, mobile payment is so widespread that you'll rarely need cash. Linking an overseas card to Alipay or WeChat Pay covers most purchases, so a small amount of cash is usually enough. For exchanging, a Korean bank (especially with a preferential rate) or a travel card typically beats an airport kiosk.
Is the rate live? Does it change on weekends?
It isn't a live quote. The tool shows a value the server fetches and caches once a day, and the Export-Import Bank updates its rate around 11 a.m. on business days. On weekends and holidays there's no new posting, so the last business day's rate stays in place and the screen shows which date it's based on.