China in cash.
WeChat Pay and Alipay rule — but the law obliges every merchant to accept cash: your yuan are your insurance when foreign apps stall. And for buyers, each city has its trading speciality.
Helvetica Exchange prepares your CNY travel envelope at Rue Pierre-Fatio 19, 1204 Geneva (Rive district) — the posted rate, no separate commission, Monday–Friday 08:30–18:30 and Saturday 09:00–17:00. Reserve and your rate is held for 3 hours during opening hours; ID from the LBA thresholds.
The cities, chosen.
Beijing
The imperial capital — Forbidden City, hutongs and ceremonious Peking duck.
The Great Wall at Mutianyu — The most photogenic restored section — cable car up, toboggan down.
Forbidden City — 9'999 rooms of empire — online booking obligatory, passport in hand.
Shanghai
The Bund facing the towers of Pudong — China racing towards tomorrow.
The Bund by night — The skyline lights up at 7 pm — free and unforgettable.
Shanghai acrobats — Contortions and motorbikes in the sphere: the great thrill.
Xi'an
The first emperor's buried army, and city walls by bicycle.
The Terracotta Army — 8'000 soldiers, no two faces alike — take a guide.
Getting around.
High-speed rail is a marvel: Beijing → Xi'an in 4 h 30, Xi'an → Shanghai in 6 h, wide seats and airport-like stations. Book tickets a few days ahead through your hotel.
Cash & banknotes.
Keep notes of ¥10–100 at hand: indispensable whenever Alipay declines a foreign card. Business buyers often leave Geneva with yuan AND dollars — Yiwu for wholesale, Canton for the fair, Shenzhen for tech.
| Rate reservation | held 3 hours, during opening hours |
| Counter hours | Mon–Fri 08:30–18:30 · Sat 09:00–17:00 |
| Commission | none — the margin lives in the posted rate |
Before you go.
Can you pay cash in China?
Yes — the central bank obliges merchants to accept it. Keep ¥10–100 notes: essential when Alipay refuses a foreign card.
Which city for professional buying?
Yiwu for small wholesale, Canton for the fair and electronics, Shenzhen for tech — our buying clients often travel with yuan AND dollars.
Indicative amounts — rate reservable for 3 hours · Rue Pierre-Fatio 19, Geneva · Guide complet en français