Privacy Policy
Last updated: 5 November 2026
CNTripGuide is operated by Minitrip Technology Inc., a Delaware corporation (“we”, “us”), which is the data controller for the information described here. We help travellers plan trips in China and book hosted experiences. This policy explains what we collect, why, and what you can do about it. It applies to cntripguide.com and to the CNTripGuide apps for iOS and Android.
The short version. You can browse and use the AI trip planner without an account. Signing in (Apple, Google or an email code) is optional and only syncs your trips and orders across devices. We ask for an email address when you book an experience, so we can send you the confirmation and put you in touch with your host. We do not sell your data and we do not track you across other companies’ apps or websites.
1. What we collect
| Data | When | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Email address | When you book an experience or contact support | Send the confirmation, share the host’s contact details, handle changes and refunds |
| Booking details (date, party size, notes, promo code) | When you book | Fulfil the booking with the host |
| Messages you send to the AI trip planner | When you use the planner | Generate your itinerary and improve answer quality |
| Trip list you build in the app | As you add places | Stored on your device; sent with your next question so the planner has context. If you are signed in, also saved to your account so it syncs across devices |
| Account details (name, email, account ID from Apple or Google) | Only if you choose to sign in | Keep your trips, orders and coupons with you across devices |
| Mobile phone number and text messages | Only if you call or text our support number +1 (302) 208-8635 | Reply to your support request about your trip, booking or payment |
| WeChat or WhatsApp ID | When you book an experience | So your host can reach you on the day |
| Review text and photos | Only if you write a review after an experience | Shown on the experience page with the name you choose |
| Your city (approximate location) | Only if you allow location in the app’s Radar tab | Show nearby places first. Only the city name is sent to us, never your coordinates |
| Voice | Only when you hold the mic button in Radar | Turned into text on your device by Apple’s speech recognition; we receive only the text |
| Search requests from AI assistants (city, keywords, date, party size, language) | When you use CNTripGuide inside ChatGPT or another AI assistant | Find matching experiences and build a link to book on our site. We receive no name, email, chat history or account details from the assistant |
| Usage and device data (pages viewed, approximate region, device type) | On our website | Understand what is useful and fix what is broken |
We do not collect your payment card details. Card data goes directly to Stripe; we only receive whether a payment succeeded and the last digits of the card.
Location, microphone and photo access are optional and only requested when you use the feature that needs them. We never access your contacts or camera.
2. Legal basis and how we use it
We use your information to provide the service you asked for (planning trips, booking experiences), to communicate with you about a booking you made, to keep the service secure, and to comply with our legal obligations. Where we rely on consent — for example non-essential analytics cookies — you can withdraw it at any time.
We do not use your data for advertising, profiling, or automated decisions with legal effects.
3. Who we share it with
We share only what each provider needs to do its job:
| Provider | Purpose | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Stripe | Payment processing | US / global |
| Google Cloud & Firebase | Hosting, database, application logs | Asia / US |
| OpenAI and Google (Gemini) | Generating trip plans from your questions (users outside mainland China) | US |
| Alibaba Cloud (Function Compute) | Relaying requests for users of our mainland-China service | China |
| Volcano Engine (ByteDance Doubao) | Generating trip plans for users of our mainland-China service | China |
| Apple and Google sign-in | Verifying your identity if you choose to sign in | US |
| Twilio | Receiving and replying to support text messages and calls | US |
| Resend | Sending confirmation and support email | US / EU |
| Google Analytics | Website usage measurement | US |
| The host of the experience you booked | Running your experience | China |
Model providers process your questions to produce a reply. We do not send them your email address, payment details, or booking record.
We may disclose information if the law requires it, or to protect the rights and safety of our users. We do not sell personal information, and we do not share it for cross-context behavioural advertising.
Text messages (SMS)
Our support number +1 (302) 208-8635 is shown in the footer of every page. When you text it, you agree to receive replies from CNTripGuide about your request (for example your itinerary, ticket booking or payment). We only reply to people who texted us first and we do not send marketing texts. Message frequency varies; message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP at any time to stop receiving messages, or HELP for help.
No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Text messaging originator opt-in data and consent are not shared with any third parties. Your number and messages are processed only by Twilio to deliver the messages.
4. International transfers
We operate across borders: our servers are in Asia and the United States, our hosts are in China, and our users are worldwide. When we move personal data out of the EEA or the UK, we rely on the European Commission’s standard contractual clauses or an equivalent safeguard.
5. How long we keep it
- Booking records — 7 years, because they are financial records.
- Support email — 2 years after the conversation ends.
- Planner conversations — up to 12 months, then deleted.
- Trip list in the app — kept on your device until you clear it or delete the app.
- AI assistant requests — not stored; server request logs are deleted after 30 days.
- Analytics — 14 months.
6. Your rights
Wherever you live, you can ask us to give you a copy of your data, correct it, or delete it. If you are in the EEA, the UK, California, or Canada you also have rights to object to or restrict certain processing, and to complain to your local data protection authority.
Email [email protected] and we will respond within 30 days. We may ask you to confirm the email address used for a booking so we do not disclose someone else’s data.
You can delete your account at any time in the app: Account (avatar, top right) → Delete account. This removes your account, saved trips and chat history from our servers. Booking records are kept only as long as tax and refund rules require, with the link to your account removed. Deleting the app removes data stored on your device.
7. Cookies
Our website uses cookies that are strictly necessary for it to work, plus Google Analytics to measure usage. The apps do not use cookies or any advertising identifier.
8. Children
CNTripGuide is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect their personal information. If you believe a child has given us data, email us and we will delete it.
9. Security
Traffic is encrypted with TLS, payments are handled by Stripe (PCI DSS Level 1), and access to production data is limited to the people who need it. No system is perfect; if a breach affects you, we will notify you and the relevant regulator as the law requires.
10. Changes
If we make a material change we will update the date at the top of this page and, where the change affects an active booking, email you.
11. Contact
Minitrip Technology Inc.
1111B S Governors Ave, Dover, DE 19904, United States
[email protected]
CNTripGuide is a product of Minitrip Technology Inc., a Delaware corporation registered in the United States.