About Leaving Tips in China

In China, tipping or gratuities are not common practice in most sectors of life, although it has become the norm to tip the tour guide and driver, hotel bellboy in recognition of their good service. In almost all cases of service in China, it is not expected that you tip.

Below are some practical tips for tipping in China.

Tipping in Restaurants

In fact, the service charge 15 to 18% of the total and it is already included in the bill. The waiters/waitress in China don’t live on the tips, they have a monthly paid salary.

Many restaurants, especially ones frequented by tourist groups, will add a service charge to the bill.

Chinese style restaurants or cafe often have more than one person serving your table and the person you ordered from will not necessarily deliver your food.

 Tipping in Hotels

Bellboys and some staff such as housekeeping may have become used to the international traveler giving small tips in large international hotels, but again, it is not expected or required.

And certainly, as mentioned in the restaurant section, larger hotels and restaurants charge a service fee, e.g. 15%, so any guilt about not leaving a tip can be assuaged with this outrageous fee.

Tipping to the Tour Guides and Drivers

We pay our guides and drivers a base salary plus a performance bonus however we realize that some people might like to tip guides or drivers for their service.

The amount of your tip is your decision. As a guideline, 80-150RMB/day would be usual for the guide and half amount to a driver, given separately to each person is preferable.

Some people who are new to China, your friend let their driver take you around, leave tips to the driver which usually makes them feel weird.

Tipping to the Taxi Drivers

In China, you don’t need to tip the taxi driver. However, if the driver helps you with heavy luggage or takes special ways to reach your destination on time, then RMB 5 or RMB 10 will be ok.

In another case, if you call a cab by DiDi, at the payment page you can see a tiny line said “invite your driver for a cup of tea or help to pay for the gasoline” which means tips the driver in another way. The amount is fixed. It is the same case that if you order a food delivery. However, it is not expected.

Tipping in Spas

Here again, tipping in spas is not required or expected. Even the smaller, local foot massage spa will likely have a service charge associated with your final bill.

If you’re really concerned that the person who gave you your treatment get a tip, then you need to hand it directly to that person. But as mentioned before, this person will likely be confused and ask you to pay at the front reception desk.

Hotel and large spas will most definitely have a 15 to 18% service charge tacked on to the final spa bill so you can look forward to that. Again, in spas, as in hotels and restaurants, it is not customary to leave a tip.

However, it’s ultimately up to you, but tipping is not expected or required. If you would like to leave tips, you can tip in cash, for Chinese it is better to leave with RMB 10. If you leave tips with RMB 1 or 2 like this kind of small changes, it is a bit impolite which is basically people will give it to the beggars.

Also, some small gifts brought from your country would also be appreciated, such as candies.