As the time flies to 21 century, tipping is no longer illegal in China. Tipping for tour guides and drivers in recognition of their good services has become a common practice. But people may not be sure on when and how much a tip is expected. Here are some suggestions on this issue and they could be of an assistant when you need some reference.
Whom to tip
If you are satisfied with the services from your tour guide & driver, a gesture of gratuity is expected before you conclude the tour. The hotel bellboys would expect a tip after their assistance with your luggage.
How much to tip in China
You may have no idea on how much you should tip in China, and the below suggested amounts would give you a reference (in US$):
Group Size for tour guide for driver for hotel bellboy
2-5 pax $8-10 p.p./ day $4-6 p.p./ day $1 per luggage
6-9 pax $6-8 p.p./ day $3-5 p.p./ day $1 per luggage
10+ pax $3-5 p.p./ day $2-3 p.p./ day $1 per luggage
For active tours like hiking, biking, rafting, or special event groups such as conference or incentive, guide(s) will invest more time/energy/efforts, so we suggest you to double the tipping.
Forms of tips in China
Cash is the most common form of tips. RMB is mostly accepted, and foreign currencies are also very welcomed. As a tradition, Chinese people put money into a red paper packet (红包) as a gift at festivals, weddings, or other happy occasions; therefore, you can also tip your guide and driver with cash in a red paper packet. In addition, a small gift from your country can also be given.
Tipping in Hong Kong and Macau
In Hong Kong and Macau, however, tipping is as common a practice as in many western countries. You need to tip very often. The taxi drivers usually keep the change as tips. HKD 5 – 10 is tipped to the bellboys for each piece of your luggage. Most restaurants charge 10% of the bill as service fee, while in other hotels, you can either tip in cash or by credit card. Hotels will also charge 15 % of the total bill as a service fee.
The above is for your reference only. Again tipping is a personal matter, and you can always adjust the amount based on your satisfaction with the services you get from your tour guides, drivers, bellboys and so on.
