Yes, that's broadly true — mainland China does not have a traditional tipping culture, and in most everyday situations, tipping is not expected and can even be awkward. However, there are some exceptions, particularly in sectors that cater heavily to international tourists.

Here's the breakdown:

Why no tipping culture? Several factors explain this: service workers receive fair wages rather than tip-dependent income; hospitality is viewed as a professional duty rather than something requiring extra payment; and historically, tipping carried associations with condescension or capitalist exploitation.

Note on Hong Kong and Macau: These are different due to British and Portuguese colonial influence — tipping is more common there, and service charges are frequently added to bills.

So yes, for the vast majority of services in mainland China, you can safely skip the tip. The listed price is usually the final price, which actually makes traveling there simpler in that respect.