Tipping in China
In China, tipping is expected for 1 of the 20 services we track. At a sit-down restaurant, ¥0; 10% service charge sometimes added at hotel/luxury restaurants. Tipping is unusual for 9 services.
Tipping is not traditionally practiced in mainland China and is sometimes refused. Hotels and tour operators catering to international visitors are exceptions.
Tipping in China at a glance
- Sit-down restaurant
- ¥0; 10% service charge sometimes added at hotel/luxury restaurants
- Taxi
- ¥0
- Bar
- ¥0 at local bars; ¥10–20 at high-end Western cocktail bars
- Housekeeping
- ¥10–20 per day at international 5-star hotels; ¥0 elsewhere
- Concierge
- ¥50–100 for substantial help; otherwise none
- Tour guide
- ¥100–200 per day private English guide; ¥50–100 per day for drivers
- Café
- ¥0
Tipping by service in China
| Service | Expectation | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sit-down restaurant | Unusual | ¥0; 10% service charge sometimes added at hotel/luxury restaurants |
| Counter / takeaway | Unusual | ¥0 |
| Café | Unusual | ¥0 |
| Bar | Optional | ¥0 at local bars; ¥10–20 at high-end Western cocktail bars |
| Housekeeping | Optional | ¥10–20 per day at international 5-star hotels; ¥0 elsewhere |
| Porter | Appreciated | ¥5–10 per bag at international hotels; ¥0 elsewhere |
| Concierge | Optional | ¥50–100 for substantial help; otherwise none |
| Taxi | Unusual | ¥0 |
| Rideshare | Unusual | ¥0 — DiDi has no in-app tipping for standard rides |
| Food delivery | Optional | Optional ¥1–5 via in-app "reward rider" (打赏骑手) |
| Grocery delivery | Unusual | ¥0 |
| Hairdresser | Unusual | ¥0 |
| Spa | Optional | ¥20–50 at high-end hotel spas; ¥0 at local foot-massage shops |
| Tour guide | Expected | ¥100–200 per day private English guide; ¥50–100 per day for drivers |
| Tattoo artist | Unusual | ¥0 |
| Valet | Optional | ¥10–20 at international 5-star hotels; ¥0 elsewhere |
| Airport baggage | Optional | ¥5–10 per bag for skycap-style airport porters; no tip for hotel-shuttle drivers |
| Busker | Appreciated | Small change (¥1–10) if you stop to listen; payment via WeChat QR is more common |
| Movers | Optional | ¥0; ¥20–50 per worker for stairs, heavy items, or long hours |
| Tradesperson | Unusual | ¥0 — the quoted price is the price |
Compare one service across every country
Compare China to other countries
Tipping in China: common questions
Do you tip in China?
Yes, for some services. Of the 20 services we track in China, tipping is expected for 1 and appreciated for 2. Tipping is not traditionally practiced in mainland China and is sometimes refused. Hotels and tour operators catering to international visitors are exceptions.
How much do you tip at a restaurant in China?
¥0; 10% service charge sometimes added at hotel/luxury restaurants. Tipping at sit-down restaurants in mainland China is not customary and can be refused.
How much do you tip a taxi driver in China?
¥0. Mainland taxi drivers do not expect tips and may actively refuse them, returning your change in coins.
Do you tip hotel housekeeping in China?
¥10–20 per day at international 5-star hotels; ¥0 elsewhere. Housekeeping tipping is a foreign-tourist behaviour confined largely to international chains (Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, Ritz-Carlton, Park Hyatt) in Beijing, Shanghai, Sanya and Hong Kong-adjacent Shenzhen.
Which services should you tip in China?
A tip is genuinely expected for 1 service: tour guide. For everything else it is optional or unusual.
Where is tipping not expected in China?
Tipping is unusual for 9 services: sit-down restaurant, counter / takeaway, café, taxi, rideshare, grocery delivery, hairdresser, tattoo artist, and tradesperson. Leaving nothing is completely normal in these situations.
Should you tip in cash or by card in China?
Cash is preferred for 9 of the 20 services we track in China, because card tips do not always reach staff. Carrying small notes is worth it.