Urumqi Travel Forum

I will be leaving for Xinjiang next week. I would like to find out some info on ATM in Xinjiang. Are there a lot of ATMs in Urumqi, Turpan,Kuqa? Do they take Foreign ATM cards? and any fee for the withdrawl? I really appreciate if any of you can provide me the info on this.


Stephanie

I don't know about Turpan or Kuqa, although I had no problems with travellers cheques there, but we were in Urumqi a couple of weeks ago and you can withdraw money only from the Bank of China next to the Hoi Tak Hotel, and perhaps the other main one (think it's the south gate). The others won't let you withdraw from foreign cards. The charges are the same as any other Bank of China. If you're going outside of Urumqi and Kashgar, you'd probably be best to get money first.

Doug

Thank you, Doug. The info on ATM are very helpful.


Stephanie

Doug,
Sorry to bother you again. Can you tell me what kind of the electric outlet(three holes or two holes plug) in Xinjiang? Thank you

Stephanie

i'm arriving in xinjian tomorrow and i don't expect the electric outlets to be THAT differnt than here in gansu province or sichuan or guangdong or chongqing. yeah, there's quite a variety of outlets here, but almost often they'll have two plugs per outlet. the top being a combo of the two round type (european) and a two flat (US-type)...both will fit in the top socket. the bottom is that funky slanted australian type. every now and then you find the square british type, but if you have an european adapter, you can often jam it in, by sticking something in the ground plug to release the two other ones.

Thank You, Wiley.

ATM update...been here in urumqi for a while now and am having an impossible time getting money out of ATMs here. it's been a total nightmare. even the main bank of china and the one next to the hoi tak reject my card (which has worked in every single country i've tried except turkey). there is one ATM at the china merchant's bank on xinhua lu that once allowed me to withdraw 1000RMB, but ever since it hasn't allowed any other withdrawls. anyway, if you're coming here, i suggest a nice wad of cash or traveller's checks as back up as no one (even major airlines) will accept credit cards. the archaic financal system of this place should be an embarrasment to china.

I'm with Wiley Coyote. My advice: exchange any money you plan to spend AND cash your travellers checks At The Airport.

I spent a hellish morning trying to cash a traveller's check when I first arrived.

Today I had a very unsatisfactory time attempting to transfer RMB to my bank in the US. My bank had provided the transfer number, etc. but the strange ironic combination of creative buraucry and arcaic money systems of China was very dissapointing.

I'm with Wiley Coyote. My advice: exchange any money you plan to spend AND cash your travellers checks At The Airport.

I spent a hellish morning trying to cash a traveller's check when I first arrived.

Today I had a very unsatisfactory time attempting to transfer RMB to my bank in the US. My bank had provided the transfer number, etc. but the strange ironic combination of creative buraucry and arcaic money systems of China was very dissapointing.