How much to tip an airport porter in China (2026 Guide)
¥5–10 per bag for skycap-style airport porters; no tip for hotel-shuttle drivers
Tipping calculator
Cultural notes
Beijing Capital (PEK), Beijing Daxing (PKX), Shanghai Pudong (PVG), and Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) all have paid trolley-porter services (counters with fixed posted fees), which are transactions rather than tip-based. For unofficial help — a hotel-shuttle driver loading bags into a van or a Premier-class lounge attendant carrying for you — ¥5–10 per bag is appreciated at international-facing properties. Free curbside porters are uncommon.
Common mistakes
Confusing the airport's paid porter desk (where a fee like ¥30–50 is set per cart) with a tippable interaction. Pay the posted price; no separate tip is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Are there free airport porters in China?
Rarely. The posted-fee porter desks at PEK/PVG are the standard model.
Should I tip the lounge attendant?
No.
Tipping other services in China
- Sit-down restaurant¥0; 10% service charge sometimes added at hotel/luxury restaurants
- Counter / takeaway¥0
- Café¥0
- Bar¥0 at local bars; ¥10–20 at high-end Western cocktail bars
- Housekeeping¥10–20 per day at international 5-star hotels; ¥0 elsewhere
- Porter¥5–10 per bag at international hotels; ¥0 elsewhere
- Concierge¥50–100 for substantial help; otherwise none
- Taxi¥0
- Rideshare¥0 — DiDi has no in-app tipping for standard rides
- Food deliveryOptional ¥1–5 via in-app "reward rider" (打赏骑手)
- Grocery delivery¥0
- Hairdresser¥0
- Spa¥20–50 at high-end hotel spas; ¥0 at local foot-massage shops
- Tour guide¥100–200 per day private English guide; ¥50–100 per day for drivers
- Tattoo artist¥0
- Valet¥10–20 at international 5-star hotels; ¥0 elsewhere
- BuskerSmall change (¥1–10) if you stop to listen; payment via WeChat QR is more common
- Movers¥0; ¥20–50 per worker for stairs, heavy items, or long hours
- Tradesperson¥0 — the quoted price is the price
Tipping an airport porter in nearby countries
Last verified: · Sources: chinadiscovery.com