5 CNY #116

Front

Representatives of the Tibetan and Hui ethnic minorities of China, depicted as part of the Fourth Series design philosophy celebrating the nation's 56 ethnic groups. The Tibetan man wears a traditional fur-lined robe while the Hui woman wears traditional dress with earrings. This design reflects the People's Republic's policy of recognizing and honoring its diverse ethnic populations. The National Emblem of China appears at upper left, featuring Tiananmen Gate beneath five stars, encircled by wheat ears and a cogwheel.

Back

The Yangtze River Three Gorges (长江三峡), one of China's most celebrated natural landmarks. The scene depicts the dramatic limestone cliffs rising from the river, a landscape that has inspired Chinese poets and painters for millennia. The Three Gorges stretch approximately 200 kilometers through Qutang, Wu, and Xiling gorges. The denomination appears in Mongolian, Tibetan, Uyghur, and Zhuang scripts along the bottom, reflecting China's multilingual policy.

History

The Fourth Series Renminbi was designed in the late 1970s and issued from 1987, though dated 1980 on the notes. It was the first series to feature ethnic minority portraits, replacing earlier designs focused on workers, peasants, and soldiers. The 5 yuan note was printed until replaced by the Fifth Series beginning in 1999. This series was officially demonetized on May 1, 2019, though exchange at banks remained possible.