Understanding the USD/CNY exchange rate
1 USD equals 6.72 CNY at the European Central Bank reference rate published 28 August 2026 (1 USD = 6.7209 CNY). The USD/CNY rate tells you how many Chinese Yuan you get for one US Dollar. When the rate goes up, the US Dollar is strengthening against the Chinese Yuan. When it falls, Chinese Yuan is gaining ground. The number on this page is the European Central Bank's daily reference rate — the mid-market midpoint that banks use when they trade with each other, published every business day at 16:00 Central European Time.
This is the fairest single benchmark to compare quotes against. It is not the rate your bank, card, or bureau will give you retail — those providers add a margin. But it's the number every honest quote should be close to.
USD to CNY conversion table
Common US Dollar amounts converted to Chinese Yuan at the reference rate and reference date shown above:
| Amount in USD | Converts to CNY | Rate date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 USD | 6.72 CNY | |
| 5 USD | 33.60 CNY | |
| 10 USD | 67.21 CNY | |
| 25 USD | 168.02 CNY | |
| 50 USD | 336.05 CNY | |
| 100 USD | 672.09 CNY | |
| 250 USD | 1,680.23 CNY | |
| 500 USD | 3,360.45 CNY | |
| 1,000 USD | 6,720.90 CNY | |
| 5,000 USD | 33,604.50 CNY |
What moves the USD/CNY pair
- Interest rate decisions. When the central bank behind US Dollar raises rates faster than the one behind Chinese Yuan, USD typically strengthens. Watch the Federal Reserve, ECB, Bank of England, and Bank of Japan calendars.
- Inflation surprises. Higher-than-expected inflation usually weakens a currency short-term but can strengthen it if markets expect the central bank to hike aggressively.
- Growth and jobs data. Strong GDP, retail sales, and non-farm payrolls readings tend to lift a currency; weak data does the opposite.
- Risk sentiment. In periods of global stress, "safe-haven" currencies like the US dollar, Swiss franc, and Japanese yen gain against riskier ones.
- Commodity prices. Currencies of resource-heavy economies (CAD, AUD, NOK, BRL, ZAR) rise and fall with oil, metals, and agricultural prices.
- Political and fiscal news. Elections, budget announcements, and geopolitical events can move rates within minutes.
About the US Dollar and Chinese Yuan
US Dollar (USD). The world's most widely traded reserve currency, issued by the US Federal Reserve.
Chinese Yuan (CNY). The official currency of the People's Republic of China, also known as Renminbi (RMB).
How to get a good USD to CNY rate
The rate you get depends on where you convert, not just when. Rather than quote markup averages we cannot verify per provider, here is the method that always works:
- Ask for the exact rate the provider will apply to USD → CNY today, plus any fixed fee, before you commit.
- Compute the markup yourself: (reference rate ÷ their rate − 1) × 100. That single number exposes a spread hidden inside a "zero commission" offer.
- Compare on the total, not the headline: markup plus fee, for the amount you are actually sending.
- Decline dynamic currency conversion at card terminals — it hands rate-setting to the merchant's bank instead of yours.
- Check the reference date. ECB rates publish once per business day, so a weekend quote is compared against Friday's benchmark.
Our rate methodology documents exactly how the USD/CNY figure on this page is sourced, crossed and rounded. See also our guides on avoiding hidden exchange fees and when to exchange currency.
The reverse rate: CNY to USD
1 CNY = 0.14879 USD on the 2026-08-28 ECB reference date. Both directions are computed from the same ECB publication, so they are exact reciprocals of one another rather than two separately rounded numbers. Open the CNY to USD page to convert the other way.
Frequently asked about USD to CNY
What is the current USD to CNY exchange rate?
1 USD equals 6.72 CNY at the European Central Bank reference rate published 28 August 2026 (1 USD = 6.7209 CNY). This is the ECB daily mid-market reference rate. The calculator at the top of this page and the 30-day chart below it show how the rate has moved.
Is the ECB rate the rate my bank uses?
No. Banks and exchange services add a margin on top of the mid-market rate. The ECB reference is a benchmark for comparison, not a retail quote.
When does the USD/CNY rate update?
The wholesale interbank rate moves continuously during market hours. The ECB publishes one reference number per business day at approximately 16:00 CET. Weekends and eurozone bank holidays carry Friday's number forward.
How do I convert a specific amount of USD to CNY?
Use the conversion table on this page for common amounts, or type any value into the calculator at the top — the result updates instantly against the same ECB reference rate.