You do not need to tip in restaurants, taxis or most hotels in mainland China. Tipping is not customary there and can feel awkward to the person you are tipping[1]. The one place a tip line may appear is a group tour, and that is worth reading carefully before you pay.
Malaysians come from places where service charge and tipping are part of the bill, so leaving nothing can feel like bad manners. It is not. Here is how it works, place by place.
Where do you tip, and where do you not?
Start with this table, then read the details below it.
| Situation | Tip? | What to do instead |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant or hotpot | No | Pay the bill as shown |
| Taxi or ride-hailing | No | Pay the meter or app fare |
| International-standard hotel | Optional | A small thank you to housekeeping or the bellhop |
| Group tour guide and driver | Agreed with the agency | Ask what is in the quote |
| Street food and small shops | No | Pay and say thanks |
Before you go, decide which of these rows matter to you. Most families only need the last two.
What about restaurants?
Staff will not expect a tip, and an offer can cause a polite refusal. Menu prices are the prices you pay, though some restaurants add a service charge, which the bill will show clearly.
If a meal was memorable, say thank you in Mandarin and finish your plate. That is a kinder signal than leaving money behind.
What about hotels?
International-standard hotels may accept small tips, with CNY 20 to 50 suggested for housekeeping or bellhops, but they are never mandatory[2]. Give it to the person directly, because cash left on a pillow can be treated as lost property.
Smaller hotels and guesthouses rarely expect anything. If your group has heavy luggage, a tip to the porter is a gesture, not a rule.
What about taxis?
Taxi fares are metered, and passengers usually pay the exact meter fare[3]. Keep the receipt if you want to claim the cost from your group, and do not round up unless you want to.
How do group tours handle tips?
This is where tipping can surprise you. A guide and driver fee may sit in the agency quote, may be collected on arrival, or may be expected on the last day. Ask three questions before paying:
- Is the guide and driver tip already inside the price?
- If not, how is it collected, and is it per person or per group?
- Who receives it, and is it optional?
Our guide to guide and driver tips on China tours goes through what is normal. Add this line to your comparison when you compare package quotations.
What should you do next?
Treat tipping as a small line in your budget, not a worry on the day. Check what China packages usually leave out, then price your meals with the budget planner. The costs topic page gathers every money question in one place.