Post Office sees boom in pre-Olympics Yuan sales

During July the Post Office has seen a 44% increase in sales of Chinese Yuan compared to the same period last year.

Today (28 July) the rate at Post Office bureaux de change is 12.18 yuan to the pound meaning £100 will buy you 1218 yuan, £250 will buy you 3046 yuan and £500 will buy you 6092 yuan at any PO bureaux de change. The Post Office is the UK's largest provider of foreign currency and customers can purchase yuans on demand over the counter at over 1600 bureaux de change branches.

Post Office head of travel services Helen Warburton said: "The huge demand for yuans at Post Office bureaux de change over the last few weeks shows that many people are planning to travel to China. We advise Olympic travellers to make sure they take a mix of travellers cheques, payment cards and currency. Although ATMs are widely available across Beijing and China, the acceptance of foreign debit and credit cards can be a bit hit and miss so travellers should make sure they take a sufficient supply of yuan to meet their initial day to day needs."

Sample Price Guide (GBP £1 is 12.1850 Yuan based on rate at 28/07/08) Source (lonelyplanet.com)

food court meal Y 16
American hamburger Y 12
sending postcard overseas Y 4
internet cafe per hour Y 2
pack of 20 cigarettes Y 3
small bottle of beer from corner shop Y 2
draught pint of local beer from a bar Y 10
city bus ticket Y 1
litre of petrol Y 3
small bottle of water Y 2