Answers to the most common questions about Chinese investments, CNY/CZK exchange rate and broker selection.
The easiest way is through a regulated online broker — such as XTB, eToro or Trading 212. Simply register, verify your identity, deposit funds and search for the ticker (e.g. BABA for Alibaba). The whole process takes 1–3 days.
Chinese stocks carry specific risks: regulatory interventions by the Chinese government, geopolitical tension (risk of delisting from US exchanges) and currency risk. We recommend diversification — Chinese stocks as part of a portfolio, not its foundation. Only invest funds you can afford to lose.
The current CNY/CZK rate can be found in our live calculator on the homepage. The rate is automatically updated from the reliable Frankfurter API source.
The Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) is a Chinese mainland exchange trading in renminbi (CNY), accessible to foreign investors mainly through Stock Connect. The Hong Kong Exchange (HKEX) trades in Hong Kong dollars (HKD) and is more accessible for foreign investors — for example through Interactive Brokers.
e-CNY is the digital form of China's state currency issued by the People's Bank of China (PBOC). Unlike cryptocurrencies, it is fully centralized — every transaction is traceable by the state. It has a 1:1 value with physical yuan and over 260 million users. It is also being tested in cross-border payments (mBridge project). More in the glossary →
For beginners we recommend XTB (commission-free stocks, bonus up to 2,000 CZK) or Trading 212 (deposit from €1, no fees). For advanced investors, Interactive Brokers is ideal — direct access to HKEX and SSE with the lowest fees (0.08%). Detailed broker comparison →
This depends on your country of residence. In most jurisdictions, capital gains from selling stocks are subject to income tax. Many countries offer tax exemptions after a certain holding period. Dividends are typically subject to withholding tax. We recommend consulting a local tax advisor for your specific situation.
CNY (Chinese Yuan) is the official code for the yuan traded on mainland China, where its exchange rate is controlled by the People's Bank of China (PBOC) within a narrow band. CNH is the offshore version of the yuan traded in Hong Kong and internationally — its rate is more freely determined by market supply and demand. The two rates are usually close but can differ slightly.
The main risks include: regulatory risk (sudden government interventions affecting entire sectors), geopolitical risk (US–China tensions, delisting from US exchanges), currency risk (CNY/CZK exchange rate fluctuations), transparency risk (different accounting standards and corporate governance) and market access risk (restrictions on foreign investment). Always invest only what you can afford to lose.
A-shares are stocks of Chinese companies listed on mainland exchanges (Shanghai SSE, Shenzhen SZSE) and traded in Chinese yuan. They were historically mainly for Chinese residents, but are now also accessible to foreign investors through Stock Connect. H-shares are stocks of mainland Chinese companies listed on the Hong Kong Exchange (HKEX), traded in Hong Kong dollars (HKD) — these are more accessible for foreign investors.