Answer Brief
The Answer, Briefly
You do not need to tip in everyday life in China. Restaurants, taxis and most hotels do not expect it. On a private tour, however, tipping your guide and driver at the end of the day or trip is a recognised courtesy, and many international visitors do it. It is a thank-you, not a requirement, and you should give it for service you appreciated.
What People Commonly Give
Published guidance varies, and most of it comes from tour operators, so treat these figures as conventions rather than rules. The most commonly quoted range is below, with lower figures also cited by some sources.
| Who | Commonly quoted | Lower end cited | Paid by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private guide | RMB 100–200 per day | RMB 50–100 per day | The group, not each person |
| Private driver | RMB 50–100 per day | RMB 30–50 per day | The group, per vehicle |
| Restaurant, taxi | Not expected | - | - |
| Hotel porter | Optional small amount | - | You, if you wish |
Lonely Planet notes that guides and drivers in China do not expect tips, while operator guides describe a tip as a highly appreciated gesture that has become customary for international groups. Both are true: it is welcome, not demanded.
A Worked Example
On a ten-day journey with seven guided days, using the commonly quoted range, a group might give roughly RMB 700–1,400 to the guide and RMB 350–700 to the driver across the trip. That is a total for the whole party, so a family of four divides it. If your guide changes between cities, divide the amount by the days each person worked with you.
How To Give It
- Use cash in RMB. Foreign currency is hard for staff to spend, and tipping through payment apps is not straightforward for visitors.
- Put it in an envelope. A plain envelope handed over discreetly at the end of the day or the trip is the usual way.
- Give it directly. Hand it to the person who served you, not to the office.
- Say thank you. A short, warm comment about what you enjoyed is often valued as much as the money.
What Our Proposals Say
Gratuities for hosts, guides and drivers are listed as not included in our proposals, so they never appear as a hidden charge. You decide whether and how much to give. If you are unhappy with a guide or driver, tell us during the trip so we can fix it; do not use a tip as the only signal.
