Hi! We have been in Kunming all summer and have loved our stay. We will be leaving in a couple of weeks and will be getting a 3500 CNY deposit back. Where should we convert this money to get the best rate or is it preferable to try and spend it? Thanks for any help! We've appreciated the GoKunming site!

I don't know the differences but my impression is that exchange rates don't vary much, so anyplace is okay, at least if you want US$.

www.gokunming.com/en/forums/thread/12146/exchange_money

Bus 82, 84 - Nanping Jie. Read the thread I provided with more specific directions. I have never been cheated by these women and their rates are much better than inside the bank. I have exchanged, RMB, Laos Kip, Vietnam Dong, Euros, and Dollars.

I know this sounds crazy but I'm going to say it although it is hard...

I agree with Campo.

In front of the Bank of China... you can't miss these ladies as they will approach you and ask if you want to exchange money.

I wonder how they make money as their rate is better than the bank... but how many people actually use their services everyday?

Thanks for all the responses. It sounds like the ladies in front of Bank of China are worth it. We have been staying with my college-aged son who is the Mandarin speaker...he left for the US yesterday. Do any of those nice ladies speak English or do you know? You all probably speak mandarin!!! I know I don't want to wait for the states...big mistake!

HF Campo...I apologize up front for my lack of knowledge with directions. I did read your link and other directions. I am living near RenMin and Beijing Road. Isn't RenMin middle in walking distance from there? I am traveling with my 11 year old son and do my best to get around (we've traveled and hiked the upper path of Tiger Leaping Gorge), but the buses confuse me for some reason. Thanks for any help!

Bank of China main branch is at the corner of Renmin Rd. & Beijing Rd.
@Campo: how much is the difference between what the women give and what the bank gives?

Bridge. I am sure you have been to this area before. It is about a 40 minute walk from where you are. At Ren Min Middle Road turn onto Dong Feng Road and reach the end to nanping Jie - There is a big plaza and you can not miss the big Bank of China.

These women earn a small profit from changing money and they do not want to ruin their business by passing counterfit notes. I tried changing money in the bank once and took nearly an hour. The women outside the bank will change money is less than 5 minutes. They only speak one phare in English - Change Money.

Ignore the comment made by Alien - this is NOT where you change money. Let me summarize what Alien previously wrote -I don't know the differences but my impression is that exchange rates don't vary much, so anyplace is okay, at least if you want US$.

Thank you so much HFCampo! And just to be sure, they will change RMB to US dollars, right? I will look up the exchange rate before going and compare (hoping they speak English, but if not, we can do calculator language :)). I'll post what the bank would give and what the ladies' going rate is for information on this thread.

Thanks Bridge - this issue can finally be put to rest when you give us actual exchange rates given by the bank and the women outside the bank.

Exchange rates change every day but the women consistently have better rates than the banks so people prefer using them because it gives them better rates and saves a lot of time. Not to mention that they dont ask for copies of passport and visa.

No english required. You will see them carrying a bag with them and they have just about every type of currency you can possibly need. As I mentioned earlier, the have Kip, Dong, Baht, Euro, HK Dollars, and US, Canadian, Australian Dollars.