China Gets Bling New RMB100 Notes

Yesterday the People’s Bank of China began issuing brand spanking new RMB100 notes that are harder to counterfeit and easier for machines to read.

The revamped notes don’t differ much from the old 2005 design (our suggestions for a new look 100 yuan were sadly rejected), but are essentially a tuhao upgrade, with the 100 denomination embossed in gold lettering.

The new hundies come with enhanced security features like color-changing ink, an additional serial number, a new security line and unevenly printed patterns of the Great Hall of the People. Here's a handy graphic pointing out the changes via the South China Morning Post:

While the old Mao-jamins will remain in circulation, used and broken notes are being collected and pulverized into paper bricks, which are then used to generate electricity.

For more on China's mint, find out why you get 1 RMB coins in Shanghai but bills in Beijing.