[QUOTE=But even in the best hotels in China, tipping is anappropriate, and you'll likely find something in the information in your room reminding you all this (at all Shangri-La hotels, to take one example). Bell boys etc., discovered asking for tips are fired.
Peter N-H[/QUOTE]

I can't recall ever not tipping the bell boys. I have tried not to and they won't leave the room.

On some occasions I have had locals book the room, check in, and go up to the room. They were not at all familiar with why the bell boy wouldn't leave..so they said they had to give him some money. I don't think they were lying just to get 5 kuai.