Tipping is no longer illegal in China since 1980s, now it is enormously appreciated. For a person who earns US$ 100 per month, a US$ 10 tip is about 3 days' wages. Up-market hotels and some restaurants may slap a 5% service charge on top of the government's 10% value-added tax (VAT). This service charge might be considered a mandatory tip, though it's doubtful that much of it reaches the employees.

You should consider tipping drivers and guides. After all, the time they spend on the road with you means time away from home and family, especially when they accompany with you at night for overtime. Ditto if you take a day tour with a group - the guides and drivers are paid next to nothing. Typically, travelers on minibus tours will pool together to collect a communal tip separately for guide and driver. Tipping for tour guides and drivers in recognition of their good service has become a common practice.

Hotel bellboys and house keepers expect your tips as well. In general, if you stay a couple of days in the same hotel it's not such a bad idea to tip the staff who clean your room - US$2 to US$4 should be enough, and about US$2 to US$4 for hotel bellboys as a gratitude for their service.

Sinoway Travel does not include tipping in our quotation as tipping is a personal matter. If you don't know what the proper amount for tipping would be, the following standard is for your reference:

For group of 1-5 passengers, recommend tipping is:
About US$6 to US$9 per day per tourist for guide, US$3 to US$4 per day per tourist for driver is standard. Of course, give more if you're feeling generous, but if you find a genuine reason not to tip, don't.

For group of 6-9 passengers, recommend tipping policy is:
About US$4 to US$6 per day per tourist for guide, US$2 to US$3 per day per tourist for driver is standard. Of course, give more if you're feeling generous, but if you find a genuine reason not to tip, don't.

For group of 10 passengers and above, recommend tipping policy is:
About US$2 to US$3 per day per tourist for guide, US$1 per day per tourist for driver is standard. Of course, give more if you're feeling generous, but if you find a genuine reason not to tip, don't.

But, for active tours like hiking, biking, rafting, we suggest you double the tipping.

The above tipping is for your reference only, again tipping is a personal matter, you can always adjust the amount based on your satisfaction with the service you get from your tour guides, drivers, bellboys and so on.