Currency exchange service at the Alashankou Port facilitates foreign travelers

Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Wang Yongfei) news: A currency exchange point at the Alashankou Port International Bus Station has been offering cash exchange services for dollars, Kazakh tenge, euros and other currencies in the first half of this year, according to the Xinjiang branch of the People's Bank of China (PBOC) on July 30, 2026. A total of 30,800 yuan (about 4,250 U.S. dollars) was exchanged, helping to meet the cash needs of foreign travelers.

The Alashankou Port is a key gateway for China's trade with Central Asia and Europe, handling large numbers of inbound foreign travelers. While most local businesses accept mobile and card payments, some foreign visitors still struggle with cash payments in their daily spending.

To tackle this, the Alashankou business management department of the PBOC's Bortala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture branch and the Agricultural Bank of China's Alashankou sub-branch set up a currency exchange point at the passenger terminal on March 31 this year, ensuring foreign travelers have access to cash payments upon arrival and significantly improving their financial convenience.

The exchange point is located in the main area of the passenger terminal, providing immediate service for inbound travelers right after their arrival. It marks the first time that non-counter service cash exchange for small currency Kazakh tenge has become available in Bortala.

The facility also supports real-time exchange of the U.S. dollar and tenge, allowing foreign travelers to obtain RMB conveniently and meet their instant payment needs upon arrival. Staff at the exchange point provide bilingual services in Chinese and Kazakh, offering one-stop assistance including exchange rate inquiries, small-change exchange, and procedural guidance.

Meanwhile, the Alashankou business management department of the PBOC's Bortala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture branch has also optimized the placement of self-service currency exchange machines, moving some to downtown commercial areas where there are more foreign visitors. Now supporting 11 currencies, these machines are better positioned to serve areas with higher demand, bringing exchange services closer to where they are most needed.

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