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China's fifth-series renminbi banknotes come in six denominations: 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 yuan. Each has Mao Zedong's portrait on the front and a different landscape or landmark on the back. The series began in 1999, with later editions updating individual notes and their security features.
Renminbi, usually shortened to RMB, is the currency's name. Yuan is the unit used to state an amount. One yuan equals 10 jiao or 100 fen. This guide covers ordinary fifth-series paper notes, rather than commemorative issues or coins.
Renminbi Banknote Denominations at a Glance
The table pairs each denomination with its reverse design and the edition introduced during the 2015–2020 updates. These updates belong to the fifth series; an edition year identifies a design version.
| Denomination | Updated edition | Design on the back |
|---|---|---|
| 1 yuan | 2019 | Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, West Lake |
| 5 yuan | 2020 | Mount Tai |
| 10 yuan | 2019 | Kui Gate, Qutang Gorge |
| 20 yuan | 2019 | Guilin landscape |
| 50 yuan | 2019 | Potala Palace |
| 100 yuan | 2015 | Great Hall of the People |
The fifth series also includes coins. Its 1-jiao and 5-jiao denominations are coins, not fifth-series banknotes. A 1-yuan denomination exists in both paper and coin form. The People's Bank of China overview of the fifth series explains this distinction.
What Does “New Edition” Mean?
A series can contain several editions. The fifth series began on October 1, 1999, and was introduced in stages. Later revisions changed security features while retaining recognizable portraits and reverse designs.
The main updates covered here are:
- 2015: a revised 100-yuan note.
- 2019: revised 50-, 20-, 10- and 1-yuan notes.
- 2020: a revised 5-yuan note.
The PBOC's 2020 release overview sets out this sequence. The 2019 update did not replace all six denominations at once.
For a practical comparison, look at the two 5-yuan editions below. Both belong to the fifth series and show Mount Tai on the back, but the 2020 design places a prominent color-changing “5” near the center of the front.
The 2005 edition is on the left and the 2020 edition is on the right. Both are fifth-series notes.
How to Recognize Each Yuan Note
Start with the printed denomination, then compare the portrait, floral decoration and reverse design. The images below help identify the design; a photograph cannot establish whether a physical note is genuine.
1 Yuan: Orchid and West Lake
The 1-yuan note has an orchid motif on the front. Its reverse shows Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, a scene at West Lake in Hangzhou. The reverse example below carries the 2019 edition year.
5 Yuan: Narcissus and Mount Tai
The 5-yuan note combines a narcissus motif on the front with Mount Tai on the back. Use the side-by-side comparison above to see the 2005 and 2020 versions. The mountain scene remains recognizable even though the layout and security features changed.
10 Yuan: Rose and Kui Gate
The 10-yuan note features a rose motif and the steep cliffs of Kui Gate at the entrance to Qutang Gorge on the Yangtze River. In the illustrated front design, the large “10” sits above the floral decoration.
20 Yuan: Lotus and the Guilin Landscape
A lotus motif appears on the front of the 20-yuan note. The reverse depicts the river and karst peaks of the Guilin landscape. Check the printed value as well as the scenery when sorting notes.
50 Yuan: Chrysanthemum and Potala Palace
The 50-yuan note has a chrysanthemum motif on the front and Potala Palace in Lhasa on the back. The palace provides a useful visual cue alongside the large printed denomination.
100 Yuan: Great Hall of the People
The 100-yuan note is the largest denomination in the ordinary fifth-series banknote set. Its reverse depicts the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The illustrated front has a large “100” above a decorative floral motif and Mao Zedong's portrait to the right.
Security Features: Match the Denomination and Edition
Security features differ between denominations and editions. First find the note's value and printed edition year, then compare it with the corresponding official reference.
Here are examples from the PBOC's published descriptions:
- 2015 100 yuan: look for the color-changing “100” near the center of the front and the windowed security thread on the right. See the PBOC's 2015 issue announcement.
- 2019 50, 20 and 10 yuan: tilt the note to observe the changing appearance of the large denomination numeral and the windowed security thread. These features are described in the PBOC's 2019 issue announcement (PDF).
- 2019 1 yuan: the update added a numeral watermark on the left of the front. Hold the note to the light to inspect it; do not expect this denomination to share all the visible features of the larger notes.
- 2020 5 yuan: the central “5” changes between gold and green when tilted. The edition also uses raised printed patterns that align between the two sides when viewed against the light. See the PBOC's 2020 feature guide.
Check several features together. If you are unsure about a note, ask a bank that handles RMB to examine it. For machine counting or checking, confirm support for the denomination and edition with the equipment supplier before relying on the result.
Are Older Renminbi Banknotes Still Usable?
An older-looking note may be an earlier edition of the fifth series or part of a different series. Identify it before assuming it has been withdrawn.
The PBOC's 2018 withdrawal announcement (PDF) covered fourth-series 100-, 50-, 10-, 5-, 2- and 1-yuan notes, the 2-jiao note and the 1-jiao coin, effective May 1, 2018. It did not include the fourth-series 1-jiao and 5-jiao paper notes.
Withdrawal depends on both series and denomination. Fourth-series restrictions should not be applied automatically to earlier fifth-series editions. A later PBOC Shanghai notice (PDF) also lists withdrawn denominations and designated exchange arrangements. For a particular older note, check the applicable PBOC notice and ask a bank about current exchange options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is RMB the same as yuan?
RMB is an abbreviation for renminbi, the currency's name. Yuan is its main unit. An amount of RMB 20 means 20 yuan.
Is there a fifth-series 2-yuan banknote?
No. The fifth series includes a 20-yuan note but no 2-yuan note. A 2-yuan RMB banknote belongs to an earlier series and should be checked against that series' information.
Why can two notes of the same value look different?
They may be different editions. The 5-yuan comparison above shows how the same denomination can retain its main portrait and landscape while changing the arrangement of its printed features.
Are renminbi banknotes and coins part of the same series?
The fifth series includes both, but their denominations and designs differ. Continue with our guide to fifth-series renminbi coins for the coin designs.