A meal line in a China package tells you only part of the story. “Meals included” can mean breakfast at the hotel, a set group lunch and a set group dinner, or a mix of all three with a few meals left to you. Count the meals day by day, and ask about drinks, dietary needs and extra dishes before you pay.
It is a fair worry when you travel with seniors, children or a halal requirement. The meal is not a small detail for them.
How do you read the meal lines?
Itineraries use B, L and D for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Read each day separately and count the meals actually included.
- Arrival and departure days usually have fewer meals.
- A free evening means dinner is yours to buy.
- A hotel breakfast may be buffet or set, depending on the hotel.
- A “local flavour” meal means a restaurant of the agent’s choice.
Our guide to what China packages usually leave out lists the other lines that go missing.
What does a group meal look like?
Group lunches and dinners are usually shared dishes on a round table, with rice and soup. The menu is set in advance. You eat what is brought, so say early if someone cannot.
Drinks beyond tea or hot water are normally paid on the spot. Read drinks and extras at China meals so you know what to expect, and see child meal pricing if you travel with young children.
How do you raise halal and dietary needs?
Raise it in writing at booking, not at the table. Ask how each meal is arranged and whether it needs a surcharge. Our guide to halal meal surcharges on packages explains what to ask.
Look for the green Arabic sign and the characters 清真 (qingzhen). The Hui follow Islamic dietary laws and avoid pork[1], so Hui-run restaurants are a good starting point. Muslim-owned is not the same as certified.
In February 2025 JAKIM removed the China Islamic Association from its list of recognised foreign halal certification bodies, so Chinese halal labels cannot be assumed to meet Malaysian recognition[2]. Check halal.gov.my.
Should you upgrade a group meal or eat on your own?
Some travellers prefer to skip a group dinner and eat freely. Others like the certainty. Read upgrading group meals or eating on your own to decide, and use the daily food budget to size the cost of meals you buy yourself.
Do you tip at meals?
No. Tipping is not customary on the Chinese mainland[3]. See restaurant tipping in China for the full picture.
What should you do next?
Count the meals in your quote, list the ones left to you, and send your dietary needs to the agent in writing. Then use the budget planner for the meals you will buy yourself. If you want a second pair of eyes on the quote, message us on WhatsApp.