Gold price per tael: Hong Kong vs mainland China
A Hong Kong tael weighs 37.429 g; a mainland China metric tael weighs 50 g. These are different weights, not different gold prices. Confirm the weight and fineness before comparing a Hong Kong jeweller's quote with a mainland quote.
| Standard | Grams | HKD | CNY | USD | SGD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong tael | 37.429 | — | — | — | — |
| Mainland China tael | 50 | — | — | — | — |
Spot value = USD price per troy ounce ÷ 31.1034768 × tael weight × current exchange rate. Multiply by the tested fineness for jewellery; a 999 hallmark represents 99.9% gold. Local retail premiums, making charges and a buyer's deductions are separate.
Gold market chart
Historical benchmark in GBP per troy ounce; weight conversions are shown in the tables.
Gold Price Chart in GBP per Tael (Shanghai / Mainland China)
Live gold price history in British Pound (GBP) per tael (shanghai / mainland china). Toggle 24H, 7D, 30D, and 1Y ranges to analyze gold trends.
Quick Calculator
Calculate gold value
= 50.0000 grams
= 1.607537 troy ounces
Price per tael (SH): —
Gold price by currency
Fine gold per tael (shanghai / mainland china) · current exchange rates
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Gold price by weight
| Weight | Grams | Spot value (GBP) |
|---|---|---|
| Troy Ounce | 31.1035 | — |
| Gram | 1 | — |
| Kilogram | 1000 | — |
| Pennyweight | 1.55517 | — |
| Tola | 11.6638 | — |
| Tael (Hong Kong) | 37.429 | — |
| Tael (Shanghai / Mainland China) | 50 | — |
| Tael (Taiwan) | 37.5 | — |
| Grain | 0.0648 | — |
| Momme | 3.75 | — |
| Baht | 15.244 | — |
| Chi | 3.75 | — |
| Don | 3.75 | — |
| Mesghal | 4.6875 | — |
Gold price by karat & hallmark
Metal-only melt value; stones and making charges are not included.
What is a Tael (Shanghai / Mainland China)? Gold weight, conversions and local use
Definition. The Shanghai or metric tael is exactly 50 grams, the rounded unit adopted in mainland China after metrication. Locally it is written 市两 (shìliǎng). One tael (shanghai / mainland china) equals 50 grams, or 1.60754 troy ounces, which at today's gold spot price works out to — GBP.
Where it is used. Shanghai Gold Exchange contracts settle in kilograms, but retail shops and traditional dealers still speak in 市两 of 50 g, and 50 g bars are a popular gift and savings format. The unit is the trading standard in mainland China.
Pricing conventions. Mainland quotes are set against the SGE benchmark in yuan per gram; converting to a dollar price per 50 g tael is the usual way to compare Shanghai with London and see whether China is paying a premium. Gold is the metal most often traded in these traditional units, because jewellery and savings demand kept the old weights alive long after industry went metric.
Good to know. The metric tael is noticeably heavier than the Hong Kong tael (50 g vs 37.429 g) — the two are not interchangeable, and confusing them overstates a price by a third.
Gold price per Tael (Shanghai / Mainland China) in GBP — quick conversion table
| Quantity | Grams | Troy ounces | Value (GBP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 tael (shanghai / mainland china) | 50 g | 1.6075 oz t | — |
| 5 tael (shanghai / mainland china)s | 250 g | 8.0377 oz t | — |
| 10 tael (shanghai / mainland china)s | 500 g | 16.0754 oz t | — |
| 100 tael (shanghai / mainland china)s | 5,000 g | 160.7537 oz t | — |
Values are calculated from the live XAU spot price converted into British Pound and refresh with the price above.
Buying Gold in United Kingdom: local market, taxes and premiums
At the live price shown above per tael (shanghai / mainland china), the price you see here is the international XAU spot price converted into British Pound. Physical buyers in United Kingdom pay that reference plus a premium, and local trading is concentrated around London, the world's largest OTC bullion centre. Buyers there generally watch the twice-daily LBMA auction fixed in London as the day's reference.
Taxes and duties. Investment gold is VAT-free in the UK, and UK legal-tender coins such as Britannias and Sovereigns are also free of Capital Gains Tax for residents. Gold is the deepest of the four precious metals markets, so local retail spreads are usually the tightest and buy-back is easiest. That is why the shop price of gold in GBP can sit noticeably above the spot value of the same tael (shanghai / mainland china) of metal.
How people usually buy. The common routes in United Kingdom are Royal Mint bullion, London dealers such as those around Hatton Garden, online dealers and LBMA-vaulted allocated accounts. The products most often quoted locally include Gold Britannia, Sovereign, 1 kg silver bars, allocated vault grams.
Local conventions. London is the pricing centre for the LBMA Gold Price, quoted per troy ounce and settled in loco London good-delivery bars. Before you buy, compare the dealer's asking price per tael (shanghai / mainland china) with the live gold price above, and check the buy-back spread the same dealer offers — that round-trip cost matters more than a small difference in the headline GBP quote.
Market information only, updated with live prices. Not tax or investment advice; tax rules in United Kingdom can change.
Other Precious Metals in GBP
Compare prices across different precious metals
About Gold Price in GBP
What is Gold?
Gold is a chemical element with symbol Au and atomic number 79. It is a dense, soft, malleable metal that has been used as a store of value for thousands of years.
History
Gold has been known and used by artisans since the Chalcolithic age. Egypt and especially Nubia had the resources to make them major gold-producing areas for much of history.
Common Uses
Interesting Facts
- •Gold is one of the least reactive chemical elements
- •All the gold ever mined would fit in a cube about 21 meters on each side
- •Gold is so malleable that a single gram can be beaten into a sheet of 1 square meter
Gold Price Per Tael (Shanghai / Mainland China) in British Pound
The current gold price per tael (shanghai / mainland china) in British Pound (GBP) is updated in real-time based on international market rates. Gold is traded globally and its price fluctuates based on supply and demand, economic conditions, and geopolitical factors.
When buying or selling gold in United Kingdom, it's important to understand that prices are typically quoted in troy ounces on international markets. Our converter helps you easily calculate the price in tael (shanghai / mainland china)s, which may be more practical for local transactions.
The Shanghai or mainland China tael (市两, shìliǎng) is a metric tael equal to exactly 50 grams. It is the standard unit for precious metals trading in mainland China. This unit is commonly used when trading gold in various markets around the world.
Gold Long-Term Returns vs Current GBP Price
How gold has performed over 1, 5, 10, and 20 years against today's spot price (USD/oz). Useful for United Kingdom investors tracking gold in GBP.
| Period | Start date | Price then | Return |
|---|
Historical prices are approximate annual averages, interpolated between anchor years (1980–2026).
Gold price in GBP – FAQ
How many grams are in a Hong Kong tael of gold?
A Hong Kong tael weighs 37.429 grams. Multiply the live fine-gold price per gram by 37.429 for its spot value; adjust for the tested fineness for jewellery.
Is a mainland China tael the same weight?
No. A mainland China metric tael weighs 50 grams, compared with 37.429 grams in Hong Kong. The larger weight has a proportionally higher metal value at the same spot price.
Can I compare gold tael prices in HKD, CNY, USD and SGD?
Yes. The comparison table shows both 37.429 g and 50 g taels in HKD, CNY, USD and SGD using the same live USD gold quote and current exchange rates. Retail premiums and jewellery making charges are excluded.
How much does one ounce of gold cost in GBP today?
One troy ounce of gold currently costs approximately the live spot price shown on this page. This live spot price is refreshed every 5 minutes from MetalflowAPI market data and reflects the international XAU/GBP rate.
What is the current gold rate in United Kingdom today?
The current gold rate in United Kingdom is the live spot price shown on this page per tael (shanghai / mainland china). Prices refresh every 5 minutes and follow the international Gold spot price converted to British Pound.
How much is 1 tael (shanghai / mainland china) of gold in GBP?
1 tael (shanghai / mainland china) of gold equals the live spot price shown on this page today. This is calculated from the live spot price per troy ounce, converted via the GBP exchange rate (1 tael (shanghai / mainland china) = 50 grams).
Do I pay tax or VAT when buying gold in United Kingdom?
Investment gold is VAT-free in the UK, and UK legal-tender coins such as Britannias and Sovereigns are also free of Capital Gains Tax for residents. Always confirm the current rule with the dealer, because the tax treatment changes the real cost per tael (shanghai / mainland china) more than small differences in the GBP spot quote.
Where do people usually buy gold in United Kingdom?
The usual routes are Royal Mint bullion, London dealers such as those around Hatton Garden, online dealers, LBMA-vaulted allocated accounts. Local trading is centred on London, the world's largest OTC bullion centre, and the products most often quoted are Gold Britannia, Sovereign, 1 kg silver bars, allocated vault grams.