Tip Guide - China

Tipping is a bit complicated in China. Until about 20 years ago, tipping was not common in China, even frowned upon. Even today, tipping waiters or taxi drivers can be met with astonishment or even mild indignation. In communist China, tipping was considered an imperialist gesture, a way of highlighting the difference between giver and taker (“I am rich and you are poor”). In a society where everyone is equal, there should be no such thing (it would mean “loss of face”). In recent years, people have become increasingly accustomed to tipping. It has become established as part of the earnings, especially for tour guides and drivers. In addition, the more exclusive a hotel or restaurant, or the more international the orientation and the audience, the more likely it is that a tip will be expected, based on American rules.