🇨🇳China · Restaurant (Counter Service)
How much to tip at a counter-service restaurant in China (2026 Guide)
Unusual
¥0
No calculator for this service in China— tipping isn't practiced here in a way that maps to a percentage.
Cultural notes
Counter-service venues (noodle shops, fast food, dumpling counters, 兰州拉面) do not have a tipping culture. Payment is by QR code (Alipay/WeChat) and the staff have no mechanism to receive a gratuity. A polite "谢谢" (xièxiè) is the standard acknowledgement.
Common mistakes
Trying to round up the QR-code payment — the system will only accept the exact amount.
Frequently asked questions
Can I leave my small change?
There is rarely any change to leave; transactions are exact. A verbal thanks is sufficient.
What if service was exceptional?
A good review on Dianping/Meituan is far more valued than a cash tip.
Tipping other services in China
- Sit-down restaurant¥0; 10% service charge sometimes added at hotel/luxury restaurants
- Café¥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
- Porter¥5–10 per bag at international hotels; ¥0 elsewhere
- Concierge¥50–100 for substantial help; otherwise none
- Taxi¥0
- Rideshare¥0 — DiDi has no in-app tipping for standard rides
- Food deliveryOptional ¥1–5 via in-app "reward rider" (打赏骑手)
- Grocery delivery¥0
- Hairdresser¥0
- Spa¥20–50 at high-end hotel spas; ¥0 at local foot-massage shops
- Tour guide¥100–200 per day private English guide; ¥50–100 per day for drivers
- Tattoo artist¥0
- Valet¥10–20 at international 5-star hotels; ¥0 elsewhere
- Airport baggage¥5–10 per bag for skycap-style airport porters; no tip for hotel-shuttle drivers
- BuskerSmall change (¥1–10) if you stop to listen; payment via WeChat QR is more common
- Movers¥0; ¥20–50 per worker for stairs, heavy items, or long hours
- Tradesperson¥0 — the quoted price is the price
Tipping at a counter-service restaurant in nearby countries
Last verified: · Sources: chinasurvivalkit.com