Do You Tip in China? What Travelers Need to Know (2026)

Do you tip in China? In most everyday situations, the answer is no.

Tipping is not part of daily life in mainland China. You normally don’t need to tip at restaurants, in taxis, when using DiDi, or at ordinary hotels. Not leaving a tip will not be seen as rude or as a sign that you were unhappy with the service.

In most cases, you simply pay the amount shown on the bill.

Private tour guides, hired drivers, and some staff at international luxury hotels are the main exceptions. Even there, tipping is usually appreciated rather than required.

Is Tipping Part of Chinese Culture?

China does not have the same tipping culture as the United States or some European countries.

There is no general rule that you should add 10%, 15%, or 20% to a bill. Restaurant staff, taxi drivers, and hotel employees do not normally wait for customers to leave extra money.

This is also why tipping may feel slightly awkward in some local places. If you leave cash on a restaurant table, an employee may think you forgot your change and try to return it.

Mobile payment has made the process even simpler. When you pay through Alipay or WeChat Pay, you normally enter the exact amount requested. There is usually no separate tip screen and no expectation that you should make a second payment.

Where You Don’t Normally Tip in China

For most of your trip, you won’t need to think about tipping.

Restaurants and Cafés

At most restaurants in mainland China, pay the amount shown on the bill.

If dinner costs CNY 186, paying CNY 186 is completely normal. The server will not expect you to calculate and add a percentage.

Some high-end restaurants or restaurants inside luxury hotels may add a service charge. If there is one, it should appear on the bill. You do not need to add another tip.

Taxis and DiDi

Taxi drivers do not expect tips. Pay the metered fare, including any clearly listed tolls or other charges.

For a DiDi ride, pay the amount calculated by the app. A good rating and a polite thank-you are enough.

If a driver gave you exceptional help—perhaps carrying several heavy bags or waiting because of a problem you caused—you may offer a small amount, but this is optional.

Ordinary Hotels

You do not need to tip reception staff, housekeeping, breakfast staff, or an employee who brings towels or helps call a taxi.

At a local hotel or guesthouse, a simple “xièxie” is more natural than leaving money in the room.

Food Delivery

Meituan and Ele.me orders are paid through the app. Delivery riders do not normally expect a cash tip when they arrive.

Collect your order, check that it is yours, and say thank you. No additional payment is required.

When Might You Tip in China?

There are a few situations where a tip is more familiar.

Private Tour Guides and Drivers

Private tour guides are the clearest exception.

Guides who regularly work with international visitors are familiar with tipping, and a tip is often appreciated when the service has been good. The same can apply to a private driver who stays with you for a full sightseeing day.

Before giving anything, check your tour company’s policy. Some companies include gratuities in the price, while others provide a recommended amount or collect a separate service fee.

If the company gives no guidance, an optional reference for a full day is around:

• CNY 50–100 per traveler for a private guide
• CNY 30–50 per traveler for a private driver

These amounts are not national rules. Consider your group size, the tour price, the length of the day, and the quality of the service.

Give the guide and driver their tips separately at the end of the service. Chinese yuan is more useful than a small amount of foreign currency.

You can say:

谢谢，辛苦了。

Xièxie, xīnkǔ le.

Thank you for all your hard work.

International Luxury Hotels

Tipping is more familiar at international luxury hotels, especially when staff regularly serve foreign guests.

You may offer a small tip when a bellhop carries several heavy bags or a concierge spends considerable time solving a difficult problem. Around CNY 10–50 is a reasonable optional gesture, depending on the help provided.

It is still not required. If the employee declines the money, thank them and don’t insist.

Tip-Based Walking Tours

Some “free” walking tours are actually funded by participant contributions. The guide may receive little or no fixed payment, so the amount given at the end functions as the tour price.

Check the description before joining. Look for phrases such as:

• Tip-based
• Pay what you want
• Suggested contribution
• Gratuity expected

This is a payment model used by that particular tour. It does not mean tipping is expected everywhere in China.

Is It Rude to Tip in China?

Offering a tip is not automatically rude, but it may be unexpected.

The employee might look confused, refuse the money, or think you left it by mistake. This is more likely in a small local restaurant, an ordinary hotel, or a shop that rarely serves international visitors.

If someone refuses, don’t keep pushing the money back. A polite thank-you is enough.

You should also never offer a “tip” to police officers, immigration officers, government employees, or anyone making an official decision. That is not a normal service tip and could be misunderstood as an improper payment.

How to Thank Someone Without Tipping

In China, you can show appreciation without leaving money.

You can:

• Say thank you sincerely
• Leave a positive review
• Mention a helpful employee by name
• Give a driver a good rating in the app
• Tell the hotel manager that an employee was especially helpful
• Recommend a good guide to other travelers

For tour guides, a detailed review that mentions them by name can be particularly valuable.

The most useful phrase is:

谢谢。

Xièxie.

Thank you.

If someone has worked especially hard to help you, say:

谢谢，辛苦了。

Xièxie, xīnkǔ le.

It means something close to “Thank you for your hard work” and sounds natural in many service situations.

Hong Kong and Macao Are Different

The guidance above mainly applies to mainland China.

Hong Kong and Macao have different service traditions. Restaurants and hotels there are more likely to add a service charge, and rounding up taxi fares or giving small tips to hotel staff is more familiar.

Check the bill before adding anything. If a service charge is already included, an extra tip is usually optional.

Don’t automatically apply Hong Kong or Macao tipping habits when traveling in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Xi’an, or other mainland Chinese cities.