Tipping & etiquette around money in China
Why tipping is not expected, and what to do instead.
What everyone needs to know
- Tipping is not customary in restaurants, taxis, hotels or bars.
- Attempting to tip is often declined or creates awkwardness.
- Service charges are rare and, where present, are already included in the bill.
- A service fee at a hotel is for the hotel, not distributed as a tip.
The numbers
| Item | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Restaurant tipping | Not expected |
| Taxi tipping | Not expected — round up at most |
| Hotel porterage | Not expected, but ¥10 is never refused |
| Guide gratuity | Genuinely appreciated, ¥50–100/day |
Do it in this order
- Pay exactly the bill; leave the change if you want but do not feel obliged.
- For private guides and drivers, a discretionary gratuity is welcomed.
- Do not tip in a way that singles out staff in front of others.
- Check whether a service fee is already on the bill — it usually is not.
Mistakes to avoid
- Tipping 15–20% out of habit and confusing the server.
- Assuming the absence of tipping means service is poor.
- Leaving cash on the table and walking off — it may be chased after you.
Sources
Tipping & etiquette around money city by city
- Beijing
- Shanghai
- Xi'an
- Chengdu
- Chongqing
- Guilin
- Zhangjiajie
- Hangzhou
- Guangzhou
- Shenzhen
- Harbin
- Sanya
- Lijiang
- Kunming
- Suzhou
- Xiamen
- Zhengzhou
- Taiyuan
- Guiyang
- Fuzhou
- Yiwu
- Tianjin
- Nanjing
- Wuhan
- Changsha
- Qingdao
- Jinan
- Shenyang
- Dalian
- Changchun
- Hohhot
- Urumqi
- Lhasa
- Xining
- Lanzhou
- Yinchuan
- Dunhuang
- Luoyang
- Kaifeng
- Datong
- Pingyao
- Qufu
- Tai'an
- Huangshan
- Hefei
- Nanchang
- Wenzhou
- Ningbo
- Wuxi
- Yangzhou
- Shaoxing
- Zhuhai
- Foshan
- Dongguan
- Haikou
- Nanning
- Yangshuo
- Dali
- Shangri-La
- Xishuangbanna