Tools · For travellers
Do you tip in China?
Short answer: no in mainland China (with a small list of exceptions), yes in Hong Kong and Macau. Full situation-by-situation table below plus the fastest possible FAQ.
Rule of thumb for mainland China: tip your private tour guide and private driver. Everything else — restaurants, taxis, bellhops, spas — either has a service charge built in (5-star hotels) or does not expect a tip at all (everywhere else).
| Situation | Mainland China | Hong Kong | Macau |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurant server (local Chinese restaurant) | Not expected. Servers refuse or return the money. | 10% service charge usually already added.0 additional | 10% service charge usually already added.0 additional |
| Restaurant server (upscale / hotel restaurant) | Not expected. Some hotel restaurants add a service charge (服务费) of 10–15% — check the bill.0 additional if service charge on bill | Round up if no service charge added.5–10% | Round up if no service charge added.5–10% |
| Taxi driver | Not expected. Round up to the nearest yuan if paying cash. | Round up to nearest HK$5–10. | Round up to nearest MOP$5–10. |
| Ride-hail (DiDi, Alipay taxi) | Not tippable through the app. Not expected. | Not standard on Uber HK. | Ride-hail limited; taxis standard. |
| Hotel bellhop / porter | Not expected at 3-star and local hotels. Optional at 5-star international chains.¥10–20 per bag at international 5-star | Standard at hotels.HK$10–20 per bag | Standard at hotels.MOP$10–20 per bag |
| Hotel housekeeping | Not expected. Some international 5-star chains cite an optional guideline.¥10–20/night at 5-star (optional) | Optional.HK$20–50/stay | Optional.MOP$20–50/stay |
| Private tour guide (full-day) | Expected. This is the main context in which foreign travellers tip in China.¥100–300 per day per group (RMB or USD equivalent) | Expected.HK$100–300 per day | Expected.MOP$100–300 per day |
| Private driver (full-day) | Expected on multi-day tours.¥50–150 per day | Expected on private hire.HK$50–150 per day | Expected on private hire.MOP$50–150 per day |
| Group tour guide (day trip with 10+ people) | Optional. A small tip at the end is appreciated but not required.¥20–50 per person if you enjoyed the day | Optional.HK$20–50 per person | Optional.MOP$20–50 per person |
| Spa / massage therapist | Not expected at local spas. Optional at high-end hotel spas.10% at hotel spas (optional) | Optional.10% | Optional.10% |
| Bar staff (Western-style bar) | Not the norm. In expat districts (Sanlitun, Xintiandi, French Concession), rounding up is appreciated but never expected.Round up (optional) | Round up. Bill may include 10% service.0 additional if service charge added | Round up. Bill may include 10% service.0 additional |
| Food delivery (Meituan, Ele.me) | Not tippable through the app. Not expected. | Not standard.0 | Not standard.0 |
| Barber / hair salon | Not expected. Prices are set. | Round up.5–10% | Round up.5–10% |
| Airport / hotel shuttle driver | Not expected. | Round up.HK$10–20 | Round up.MOP$10–20 |
FAQs
- Is it rude to tip in mainland China?
- Not rude, but often awkward — the server may chase you into the street to return the money, or refuse it at the till. Save tipping for the small number of situations where it is genuinely expected: private tour guides, private drivers on multi-day tours, and — optionally — international 5-star hotel service staff.
- Do restaurants in China charge a service fee?
- Local restaurants: no. International 5-star hotel restaurants sometimes add a 10–15% service charge (服务费, fúwùfèi) — check the bottom of the itemised bill before adding anything. Hong Kong and Macau restaurants routinely add 10%.
- How much do I tip a private guide in China?
- As a rule of thumb: ¥100–300 per day per group for a full-day guide (not per person). Multi-day guides earn cumulatively — a 5-day guide might reasonably receive ¥1,000–1,500 at the end. Local currency is preferred over USD; if paying USD, use crisp new notes.
- Should I tip in cash or through the app?
- Cash. WeChat Pay and Alipay both technically allow tipping through a red-packet transfer, but private guides and drivers usually prefer cash — it avoids WeChat's transfer limits for non-friends and doesn't route through the guide's tour-agency employer.
- Do I tip taxi drivers in China?
- No. Round up to the nearest yuan when paying cash. Taxi drivers in Beijing, Shanghai, and other major cities generally do not expect tips and often insist on giving exact change.
- Is tipping the same in Hong Kong and Macau as mainland China?
- No — HK and Macau follow a Western pattern much closer to the UK. Restaurants add a 10% service charge; hotels expect tips for bellhops and housekeeping; taxi drivers get their fare rounded up. In practice: assume 5–10% at restaurants (or that the service charge already covers it) and treat other services like the UK.
Verified July 2026
Ranges reflect current expat / traveller convention in tier-1 mainland cities plus HK / Macau; small-city and rural mainland norms track mainland practice below (i.e. no tipping).