A complete guide to tipping in China

Nothing’s more awkward than being abroad and tipping someone when it’s not customary or forgetting to tip when it’s expected and appreciated, especially if those tips support people working in low-paid industries. These days, we’re also much more aware of specific cultural traditions and sensitivities – and for very good reason.  
 
While tipping is customary in the US, across parts of Europe and in a few Asian destinations, in the Chinese Mainland it’s not so common. But as tourism grows, tipping has become standard practice in many service industries. Planning a holiday to China? We’ve forked out our small change to help you navigate the right techniques for giving a little extra in hotels, restaurants, taxis and spas.

Tipping at Chinese hotels

It’s not mandatory to tip in mid-range or luxury hotels, but the culture is starting to change. You can always tip staff working in front-of-house services an extra CN¥20–50, especially housekeeping staff or bellhops. You can also tip the receptionist upon checkout. 

Restaurants, cafés and bars

At most high-end restaurants in China, a service charge of 10 per cent is added to your bill. This means no gratuity is necessary. In the case of family-style or specialty restaurants, you can leave a small tip as a gesture of gratitude if the service was appreciated. Tipping at bars is not expected.

Taxi drivers and other transport

Besides taxis, online ride-hailing service platform DiDi is common across the Chinese Mainland. Here, tipping is optional. But if the driver helps you with your luggage, you can give them an extra CN¥10–20 or round up the fare if you prefer to be more discreet. Check out our guide on how to travel around China for more information.

Spas and salons in China

The culture of tipping is uncommon in most beauty salons or spas in China, but at brand name and high-end places it’s okay to tip up to CN¥100 for especially professional and personal service.  

Tour guide gratuity

Many personal as well as business travellers hire tour guides when they visit the Chinese Mainland, and it’s common to tip them. At the end of the tour, feel free to offer your guide an extra CN¥10–20 if their professionalism and translation services were especially good.