The People's Bank of China is planning to issue a new 100 yuan banknote with improved anti-counterfeiting features in November, the first upgrade of the bill since 2005.

While the portrait of Mao Zedong will remain, the new notes will include features to combat counterfeiting, which is rampant.

The face value of seized counterfeit money on the mainland rose from 329 million yuan (HK$410.million) in 2012 to 532 million yuan last year.

The central bank said on Monday the note's design had been updated so it could be more easily identified by vending machines and automatic teller machines, which have proliferated across the country.

The new note will be the third edition of the fifth series, which was introduced in 1999. The second edition was issued in 2005.

Its look will stay largely the same as the second edition except for changes to the colour and design of some graphic elements.

Colour-changing ink will be applied to the pattern of the number 100 in the centre of the note to make it more difficult to counterfeit. The colour will change from golden to green when the angle is adjusted.

New notes will feature additional serial numbers on the right-hand side to ensure they are still identifiable even if the serial number on the left has worn off.

Other new features include a security line on the right of the bill, which will change from hot pink to green when the viewing angle is adjusted, and a textured pattern across the image of the Great Hall of the People on the back of the note.

To read the complete article, see:
China to issue new 100 yuan note to counter the counterfeits (www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1848161/china-issue-updated-100-yuan-banknote-design-november)