[speaker001:] Thank you.Steven.That was the most magnificent meal I've had abroad.You 'll have to let me reciprocate the next time you're in Beijing.
[speaker002:] Don't worry about it, Lin.That 's no big deal.You know, Americans appreciate China's rich culinary culture. Just excuse me for a second while I check the number here and figure out how much to give the waiter.Hmm, by the way, what do you do about tipping in China?
[speaker001:] We don't.
[speaker002:] No tipping? Now that's what I call a civilized system.
[speaker001:] At hotels and some restaurants they add a service charge to the bill, but other than that, tipping isn't customary.
[speaker002:] What about cab drivers and porters?
[speaker001:] In a cab you just pay what it says on the meter. I generally tip hotel porters 10 yuan per bag, but in first-class hotels they're instructed not to accept gratuities.
[speaker002:] You'd have a revolution on your hands if you tried to introduce that sort of system here.