In 1944, the official exchange rate was 20 Chinese yuan to 1 U.S. dollar.
Therefore, 10,000 yuan in 1944 was equivalent to 500 U.S. dollars at that time.
However, due to significant inflation and currency reforms in China since 1944, the historical value of 10,000 yuan from that year doesn’t directly translate to its present-day equivalent. For instance, a 1944 1,000 yuan banknote is currently listed for $29 on eBay, indicating that the old currency holds more value as a collectible than as a medium of exchange today.
If you’re interested in the purchasing power of 500 U.S. dollars from 1944 in today’s terms, accounting for U.S. inflation, $500 in 1944 would be approximately $8,000 in 2025.
Therefore, while 10,000 yuan in 1944 was officially equivalent to 500 U.S. dollars, its current value is more accurately reflected in its worth as a collectible or through historical purchasing power adjustments.
Source: ebay, office of the historian