In Tibet, the only currency accepted is Chinese Yuan (RMB). Credit cards can only be used at some top hotels. The only place to change foreign currency and travellers’ cheque is the Bank of China. The top end hotels in Lhasa have exchange services but only available for their guests. The other places can change money in Tibet are Shigatse, Zhangmu and Purang (or perhaps Ali). If you travel to the remote area in Tibet, it is better to get your cash in small denominations: RMB100 or RMB50 notes are sometimes not easy to get changes.
ATM is not widely available in Tibet. You can find ATM in Lhasa, but not functioning well at the moment. So exchanging your money into Chinese Yuan will be the best option for you. You can easily do it in the Bank of China. Banks are closed on Saturdays and Sundays in Tibet.
Credit card is not recommended as a way of payment in Tibet because they are only accepted by the Bank of China and few hotels in Lhasa.
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