I will travel to Southeast Asia this summer , so I need to exchange some US dollars . Can I get the foreign currency at any bank ?   I don't think you can . In China , our currency is not freely convertible yet .   Do you mean there is no way to get any foreign money ?   No . You can go to the Bank of China to exchange some US dollars at the current exchange rate of the day you exchange them . The maximum amount you can exchange is $ 2,000 .   Only $ 2,000 ? Are there any other ways to get the money exchanged ?   The only official way is to go to Bank of China .   I'd better take more dollars with me . It seems that I need to borrow some from my friends . 