Privacy Policy

Last Updated: [2026-02-13]

Hi, and welcome to https://www.chinavigators.com.

Trust is the foundation of everything I do here. Whether you are reading a guide, subscribing to my newsletter, or asking me to help plan your trip, you are trusting me with your personal information. I take that responsibility very seriously.

This document outlines exactly what data I collect, why I need it, and how I protect it.

Who We Are

Website Address: https://www.chinavigators.com

Administrator: Rui Yu

The Information We Collect

I collect information in two ways: information you give me, and information the website collects automatically.

A. Information You Provide

  • Newsletter & Guides: If you subscribe, I collect your name and email address to send you the “China Digital Survival Kit” and my updates.
  • Consulting & Bookings: If you hire me to help plan your trip or book tickets, I may require specific personal details, including:
    • Full Name (as it appears on your passport)
    • Passport Number & Expiry Date (Required by Chinese law for train/ticket bookings)
    • Travel Dates and Itinerary
    • Payment Information (Processed securely; I do not store credit card details locally).

B. Information Collected Automatically (Technical Data)

  • Comments: When you leave a comment, the site collects the data shown in the comments form, plus your IP address and browser user agent string. This helps me detect and block spam.
  • Gravatar: An anonymized string created from your email (a hash) may be sent to the Gravatar service to check if you have a profile picture. (Their privacy policy is here).
  • Cookies:
    • For Commenters: If you leave a comment, you can opt-in to saving your name and email in cookies. This is for your convenience so you don’t have to type it again next time. These last for one year.
    • For Login: If you have an account and log in, we set cookies to save your login info (2 days) and screen options (1 year).
    • For Editors: If you edit an article, a cookie with no personal data is saved to track the post ID.

How I Use Your Data

I do not sell your data. Ever. I use your information solely for these purposes:

  1. To Connect: Sending you the newsletter, replying to your comments, or answering your questions via email.
  2. To Facilitate Travel: If you ask me to book a high-speed train ticket or a hotel, I use your passport details to secure that reservation.
  3. To Improve the Site: Analyzing which guides are popular so I can write more of what you need.

Media & Embedded Content

  • Uploading Images: If you upload images to the website (in comments or guest posts), please remove any embedded location data (EXIF GPS). Visitors can download images and extract that location data.
  • Embedded Content: Articles may include videos (YouTube) or social posts (Instagram). Embedded content behaves exactly as if you visited the other website. These sites may collect data about you, use cookies, and monitor your interaction with that content.

Who I Share Your Data With

I run a transparent operation. I only share your data in two specific scenarios:

  1. Service Providers (The “China Connection”):
    If you hire me to make bookings, I must share your relevant details (Name, Passport Number) with the service provider in China (e.g., China Railway, hotels, or local tour operators) to fulfill your reservation. These entities are required by Chinese law to collect this data for travel.
  2. Technical & Legal:
    • Spam Detection: Visitor comments may be checked through an automated spam detection service.
    • Password Resets: If you request a password reset, your IP address will be included in the reset email.

Cross-Border Data Transfer

Since I am based in China and you may be visiting from elsewhere, your information may be transferred to and processed in China. By using this site and my services, you acknowledge and consent to this transfer, which is necessary to help you plan your trip.

How Long I Retain Your Data

  • Comments: Retained indefinitely (so I can recognize you and approve future comments automatically).
  • Travel Data: Personal travel documents (passport copies, etc.) sent for booking purposes are deleted from my local storage after your trip is completed, unless you ask me to keep them for future bookings.
  • Registered Users: For users who register on the website, I store the personal information provided in their user profile. You can see, edit, or delete your personal information at any time.

Your Rights Over Your Data

This is your data, not mine. You have the right to:

  1. Request an exported file of the personal data I hold about you.
  2. Request that I erase any personal data I hold about you.

(Note: This does not include any data I am obliged to keep for administrative, legal, or security purposes).

Contact Me

If you have any concerns about your privacy or want to request a data deletion, please contact me directly. I handle these requests personally.

Email: rui@chinavigators.com