The short version
In mainland China, you generally do not tip. The price on the menu, the meter or the app is the full price.
| Where | Tip? | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants, cafés, street food | No | Pay the bill. Check it for a service charge. |
| Taxis and DiDi | No | Pay the fare. No need to round up. |
| Hotels | Usually no | Optional RMB 10–20 for a porter at luxury hotels. |
| Private tour guide | Optional, common | About RMB 100–200 per day for the group. |
| Private driver | Optional, common | About RMB 50–100 per day. |
| Shared group tour | Optional | A smaller amount per person, at the end. |
| Massage and spa | Usually no | Optional at upscale spas. |
These amounts are common practice among international travelers, not rules. Tip only when you are happy with the service.
Why tipping is not part of Chinese culture
Service staff in China are paid a wage, not a wage topped up by tips. Chinese customers do not tip, so there is no expectation that visitors will.
Guides are specifically not allowed to ask. China’s Tourism Law (Article 41) says tour guides and tour leaders must not ask travelers for tips (索取小费), or pressure them into shopping or paid extras. A tip you choose to give is fine. A guide asking for one is not.
Restaurants and food
No tipping in restaurants, noodle shops, hotpot restaurants, cafés, bars or food stalls. Many places use QR-code ordering, where you order and pay on your phone, so there is no one to hand a tip to.
Check the bill for a service charge. Some hotel restaurants and upscale restaurants add a service charge, often 10% to 15%. It will be printed on the bill. You do not need to add anything on top.
If you leave money on the table, staff may run after you to return it. See how to order food in China.
Taxis and DiDi
No tip. Pay the meter in a taxi or the app fare in DiDi.
On busy nights, DiDi and other ride-hailing apps may offer to add an optional extra fee to find a car faster. That is a booking surcharge, not a tip. See How to get a taxi in China.
Hotels
- Most hotels: no tipping.
- International and luxury hotels: some add a service charge to room service and restaurant bills. A porter who carries heavy bags may get RMB 10 to 20, but many guests give nothing.
- Housekeeping: leaving money in the room is not a local custom, and staff may treat it as something you forgot.
Tour guides and drivers
This is where tipping is most common, especially with private tours used to international visitors.
Private tours
| Service | Typical tip |
|---|---|
| Private guide, full day | About RMB 100–200 for the group |
| Private guide, half day | About RMB 50–100 for the group |
| Private driver, full day | About RMB 50–100 |
| Airport transfer driver | Not expected; RMB 20–50 if they helped a lot |
Adjust for the length of the day, the size of your group and how much the guide did. Give the tip at the end of the service, not the start.
Shared group tours
On a coach tour, a smaller amount per person at the end of the trip is normal, if the guide was good. If a guide demands tips, or if the tour includes stops at shops where you are pressured to buy, that breaks the Tourism Law. Read do you need a tour guide in China? to choose a tour without hidden shopping stops.
Massage, spas and other services
- Local foot massage and massage shops: tipping is not expected.
- Hotel and resort spas: a service charge may be included. A tip is optional.
- Hairdressers: no tip.
How to tip when you pay everything by phone
This is the practical problem for visitors. Alipay and WeChat Pay linked to a foreign card are designed for paying merchants. Sending money to a person, or sending a red packet, usually needs a Chinese bank account. See Alipay for foreigners.
What works:
- Bring cash for tips. Keep a few RMB 50 and RMB 100 notes set aside. See cash and ATMs in China.
- Use an envelope. Handing a tip in a small envelope, or discreetly with both hands, is polite.
- Ask about a payment QR code. Some guides and drivers have one you can scan like a shop’s. It may not accept every foreign-card wallet, so do not rely on it.
- Say thank you in writing. A good online review with the guide’s name helps their career more than you might think.
Hong Kong and Macau are different
In Hong Kong and Macau, many restaurants add a 10% service charge, and leaving small change for staff is common. The advice in this guide applies to mainland China.
Plan a private tour with clear prices
Whoever you book with, ask for a written quote that lists the guide, driver, tickets and transport separately, and confirms that there are no shopping stops. Then a tip is simply a thank-you at the end. For help building a route with a guide and driver where you need them, start with a free trip plan, or see what a trip to China costs.
Editorial update: . Check the linked source for current provider terms or official rules.