What we keep, and why.
This notice covers slowchinaguide.com. It describes the information the site actually handles, not a generic list. We do not run advertising, we do not use analytics or tracking pixels, and we do not sell or rent personal data.
If you only read
You can read every published guide without signing in. In that case we do not create a record of you. The site stores two things in your browser's local storage: your language choice, and, on guides with a checklist, the items you ticked. Both stay on your device, are never sent to us, and disappear when you clear site data.
If you create an account
Signing in stores an account record with your email address, the display name you give, whether that email is verified, and — if you sign in with Google — the identifier Google returns and your profile picture URL. We never receive your Google password. Sessions record the sign-in time, an expiry date, and the IP address and browser string that made the request, so that a session can be recognised and ended.
If you buy the pass
A purchase creates an order record with the payment provider's checkout and order identifiers, the product, the amount and currency, the status, your email address as the provider reports it, and the provider's raw event payload for reconciliation. Payment is processed by Creem; card numbers never reach this site or its database. We keep order and payment records after a refund because they are the accounting trail for the charge.
Who processes it
The site is hosted on Cloudflare, the database is a managed PostgreSQL service, payments are handled by Creem, and — only if you choose that button — sign-in is handled by Google. These providers process data on our behalf to run the service. We do not add advertising networks, session recorders or data brokers.
Cookies
The only cookie set is the sign-in session cookie, and it exists only after you sign in. It is required to keep you signed in and to know whether your account holds a pass. There is no consent banner because there is nothing optional to consent to: no advertising, no analytics, no third-party tracking cookies.
How long it is kept
Account and order records stay while the account exists, because a pass has no expiry and the order is its proof. Sessions expire and are then deleted. Local storage stays until you clear it. If you ask us to delete your account, we delete the account, its sessions and its pass, and keep only the minimum payment record that accounting requires — with the email removed where the law allows it.
Your choices
Write to support@slowchinaguide.com to see what we hold about you, to correct it, to delete your account, or to ask a question about this notice. We answer in English and Chinese. If you are in the EU or UK, you also have the right to complain to your local data protection authority.
Children
The site is written for adult independent travellers and is not directed at children. We do not knowingly create accounts for anyone under 16. If you believe a child has created one, write to us and we will delete it.
Changes
If what we collect changes, this page changes with it, and the date below moves. Material changes affecting existing accounts are announced by email to the address on the account before they take effect.
Last updated 7 November 2026