USD/CNY exchange rate

USD/CNY — US Dollar to Chinese Yuan

USD/CNY measures how many Chinese yuan (renminbi) one US dollar buys. It is one of the most closely watched exchange rates globally, given China's size in world trade and its influence on other emerging-market and commodity currencies.

The People's Bank of China (PBoC) runs a managed float: each trading day it sets a daily reference fixing for the yuan, and the onshore rate (CNY) is then allowed to trade within a band of roughly plus or minus 2% around that fix. This makes the daily PBoC fix itself one of the most important signals in the pair, since it reflects the central bank's tolerance for yuan strength or weakness.

It is worth noting that onshore CNY, traded within mainland China's capital controls, differs from offshore CNH, which trades more freely outside mainland China and can diverge from CNY during periods of stress. China's large trade surplus and its capital-flow controls are both persistent structural drivers of the pair.

This page shows an indicative daily reference rate sourced from public reference rates (ECB/FRED), updated once per business day. It is not a live intraday quote, and not for settlement or regulated trading.

Frequently asked questions

What does USD/CNY measure?

USD/CNY states how many Chinese yuan you receive for one US dollar. A rate of 7.25 means one dollar buys 7.25 CNY.

Is this USD/CNY rate live or a daily reference?

CNY is served as a daily reference rate (source: ecb_daily), updated once per business day — which is why the badge on this page reads "Delayed" rather than "Live". Every API response also carries the source and market_session fields, so you always know how fresh a number is. exchangerate.dev never relabels a daily rate as live.

How do I get the USD/CNY rate via the API?

GET /v1/latest/USD?symbols=CNY returns the indicative rate, the source (ecb_daily), market_session, and timestamp. The reverse (CNY as base) is also supported. The free tier covers it, no credit card required. All rates are indicative, not for settlement.

What is the PBoC daily fix?

Each trading day, the People's Bank of China sets a reference rate for the yuan against the dollar. Onshore trading (CNY) is then permitted within a band of roughly plus or minus 2% around that fix, making the fix itself a closely watched signal of policy intent.

What is the difference between CNY and CNH?

CNY is the onshore yuan, traded within mainland China under capital controls. CNH is the offshore yuan, traded in centers like Hong Kong with fewer restrictions. The two usually track closely but can diverge during periods of market stress or heavy capital-flow pressure.

Why does China's trade surplus matter for USD/CNY?

A large and persistent trade surplus means more foreign currency, especially dollars, flows into China from exports than flows out for imports. This structurally shapes the supply and demand backdrop the PBoC manages when setting its daily fix.

Why doesn't China let the yuan float freely?

Beijing prioritizes exchange-rate stability and capital-account control as policy tools, using the managed float and daily fix to limit sharp swings and maintain flexibility over capital flows, rather than leaving the rate to unrestricted market forces.