I understand that you should not tip in China as a general rule. However, our tour company recommends tipping local guides, porters, etc. Should we tip the tour people only? What have others on tour done?

Thanks!

Yes, pretty much all the tour companies "recommend" that you tip the guides.....ALL the guides!

One is not required or expected to tip in China. This was our experience in March 2003. Why tip when it is not their country's practice?

We took some small gifts from home & gave people who went "above & beyond the call of duty" something from our home country. Don't feel pressured. Just do what you want to do!

Lyndie - That was exactly my thought. In the western world we are used to tipping but that doesn't mean it is done everywhere. My concern is that the tour company is paying the guides less with their expectation of receiving a tip. The tour company also recommends we tip the tour manager $3-5 per person per day. I think this is crazy especially in China. I just wanted feedback from others. Thanks!

As tipping is not customary in China, I would NOT tip.

I have observed tour companies suggesting that we tip. In fact, on a trip in China the tour company "host" explained to us in "engrish" that tipping was appreciated and also suggested tipping in US dollars.

This particular instruction was noticably NOT repeated in Chinese or Mandarin to the chinese speakers in the group.

I had my chinese friend who was with me, ask the host (in chinese) about this as an aside. The host's reply was that only english speakers are given that message because if she suggested it to the chinese speakers there would be a problem because chinese know better than to think they have to tip!

Bottom line, the host was taking advantage of the english speakers expectation that tipping for service is the norm even though it is not.

Please follow the local norm of not tipping. And if you just "have to give a little something" please do NOT use US or other non local currency. If you insist on tipping regardless of local customs plese be sure to do it in the local currency!!!

OK, if it's customary not to tip, then why do so many restaurants in China already include the tip in your bill??

Some countries allow a service charge to be added to food & beverage bills.

I've queried it and it has been removed, although I must admit I did not notice any service charges in China. You can either pay it or stir up a fuss, however a tip is a gratuity and usually it's given to the server direct. I cannot understand why anyone would want to tip when it's not a custom of the particular country. Guilt? Tourists/travellers pay over the odds everywhere so if you've got money to burn, then throw it a waiter!

BigJim,
I don't think the included service charge goes to the staff.

Probably the only instances in China where you may feel somewhat pressured to tip are on organized group tours for US/western travelers and from bell staff at 5* hotels. The same tour guides working with Chinese groups would not expect a tip.

I suspect that these guides receive very little, if any, compensation from the tour company. Rather they rely on kickbacks from merchants and/or tips. Even the Chinese group tours can be very pushy when it comes to shopping stops.

I never encountered a service charge in 3 weeks in China - maybe it's more common in high-priced hotel restaurants patronised by foreigners?