Tipping guide

Tipping in China

Tipping is not customary in mainland China and is refused about as often as it is accepted. The clear exception is guides and drivers who work with international visitors.

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Tipping in China at a glance

Tipping is rare — a service charge is often already added

  • Restaurant (sit-down)
    Don't tip
  • Cafe / Bar
    Don't tip
  • Taxi / Rideshare
    Round up
  • Food delivery
    Round up
  • Tour guide / Driver
    5-10%
  • Spa / Salon / Barber
    Round up
  • Hotel housekeeping
    ¥10.00 per night
  • Hotel porter / Bellhop
    ¥7.00 per bag
  • Valet parking
    ¥7.00 per car
  • Hotel concierge
    ¥20.00 per request

Mid-range and upmarket places add 10% service automatically. Outside hotels and tour guides, tipping barely exists.

Tipping is not customary in mainland China and is refused as often as it is accepted. Tour guides and drivers working with foreign visitors are the clear exception.

Rates shown are typical amounts, converted to local currency at approximately 27 Aug 2026. Tipping customs evolve and vary from region to region, so treat this as your best starting point rather than a hard rule. Where a bill already shows a service charge, that is usually the tip.

Common questions

Do you tip in China?

Not in restaurants, taxis or ordinary hotels. Attempting to can genuinely cause confusion.

Who do you tip in China?

Tour guides and their drivers on organised trips, where it has become an established expectation. Hotel porters in international chains are the other case.

Is there a service charge in Chinese restaurants?

Upmarket restaurants and hotel dining rooms sometimes add 10-15%. Everyday places do not.

International tipping guides by country

Open the free online tipping calculator — or read the guidance for another destination.