That all just depend on which site you want to visit, and how far you want ride to ur destination, down town tour or have to pick up/drop off at the Xi'an airport?

Unfortunately it would seem that tipping has become the norm in China. I always feel that tipping some guides who are university qualified is a demeaning thing to do. Anyway - what is reasonable is up to you. How much extra effort did this person make? If you don't think they did anything extra than why tip them? Were you being driven in a comfortable and safe vehicle? If you decide to tip - place the money in an envelope. That will save any embarrassment if you don't get it right. When we went to the wall our guide said that he had a bad leg and could not accompany us - would you tip that person? So to me - tipping should definitley not be an automatic gesture.

Tika2: We did several all-day excursions in China, one to Jinshanling/Simitai Great Wall. Generally, we tip as we do in New York--15 to 20 percent according to service even though everyone told us that's too much in China. The idiots who write the Lonely Planet Guide said it would take 3 hours to walk the Jinshanling/Simitai section of the wall which has no level section and crumbling rocks; since we're older, we asked our driver to wait four hours. It took us 5 1/2 and he not only waited for us, but he helped two exhausted tourists to his car, handed us towels because we were sweating and worried over us. We gave him nearly $25 U.S. over the $100 we were charged for the excursion. He was delighted. Here's something you have to consider: If you book the excursion through the hotel, that driver isn't getting the full amount you paid. If you can't afford to tip extravagantly as we did, I think 10 percent is enough and definitely appreciated.

Thank you all. Another question - where in Xian are the very best dumpings?

I had excellent dumplings in the Muslim quarter.

I don't think there is any need to tip. Agree the price beforehand and pay that at the end of the day.

Xi'an is tour city in China.there are many private guides.Some of them are drivers.Best dumping place are DeFaChang and Sunny LiDou(also can see the Tang Dynasty Music And Danceing Show there)

We found that in usually no tipping was necessary and in some places the people had strange reactions to accepting tips. So I don't think it depends on where you are going and whether you are getting picked up at your hotel.

Dumping place? I presume you mean dumpling place. :P

Try Defachang restaurant which's on the Bell Tower square: 德发长饺子馆，钟鼓楼广场西大街3号(近世纪金花)

China's not a tipping society. I'd only tip if I felt that the person in question went beyond his job scope to help me with something.

NewYorkCityStickler: I beg to disagree with your calling of names ("The idiots who write the Lonely Planet Guide"). Lonely Planet guidebook authors are usually younger and more backpackerish/outdoorsy, and their intended audience tends to be similar. If they're more fit, then they would usually take less time to complete a hike than you would. If you asked around on this forum before you went, and stated your physical conditions, you might have gotten replies telling you that it would be somewhat of a stretch for you to expect to complete it in a similar amount of time. I know I took almost 6 hours!