Affiliate Disclosure

Last updated: July 25, 2026

1. Why we use affiliate links

TravelHubChina is reader-supported. Affiliate commissions are our primary revenue source and allow us to keep all content free of charge. We do not run display ads, sell user data, or accept pay-for-play placements.

2. How affiliate links work

When you click a link with a small "affiliate" disclosure next to it (or any link in our "Booking" sections), the partner site sets a tracking cookie or uses another attribution method (e.g., URL parameters) to credit us with the referral. If you complete a qualifying action (a hotel booking, attraction ticket purchase, etc.), the partner pays us a small commission. Your price is the same — sometimes lower, with partner-exclusive discounts.

3. Current affiliate partners

As of this writing, we have active affiliate relationships with:

• Trip.com — Hotels, flights, trains in China and worldwide. We earn 4-7% on hotel bookings, ~1.6% on flights. Trip.com
• Klook — Attraction tickets, day tours, eSIMs. We earn ~5% on bookings. (Affiliate relationship pending final approval at time of writing.)
• Booking.com — Hotel bookings. We earn 25-40% of Booking's commission (typically 4-6% of the booking value). (Application pending — we will not link until approved.)
• 12Go Asia — Overland transport (buses, trains, ferries) in China and Southeast Asia. We earn 50% of 12Go's commission.
• Viator — Guided experiences. We earn 8% on bookings. (Application pending.)
• Airalo and other eSIM providers — China travel eSIMs. We earn ~5% on first purchase.

A full, current list — including the specific commission rates and our tracking IDs — is maintained in our affiliate-links.json (machine-readable).

4. How we mark affiliate links

To make affiliate links transparent, we use one of these patterns:

1. Inline "affiliate" tag — e.g., [Find Beijing hotels on Trip.com →] affiliate
2. Section header — sections titled "Booking", "Get this", or "Where to book" are always affiliate sections.
3. Footer block on every article — see the bottom of any guide for a reminder: "Some links in this article are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you."

5. Editorial independence

Affiliate relationships never influence our recommendations. If a product or service is bad, we say so, even if it costs us the commission. We do not accept payment for positive coverage, and we do not write sponsored posts without prominent disclosure at the top of the article.

Our promise: every recommendation on this site is something we would genuinely tell a friend to use. We periodically re-test our picks and drop underperforming partners.

6. Cookies and tracking

Affiliate links set cookies (or use URL parameters) that identify our referral. These cookies are set by the partner, not by TravelHubChina. Cookie windows vary by partner:

• Trip.com: 30 days (web), 7 days (app)
• Booking.com: session-based (until you close the browser)
• Klook: 30 days
• 12Go: 30 days

You can clear cookies in your browser at any time. Clearing cookies does not affect your relationship with us, only the partner's ability to credit the referral.

7. Compliance with FTC and international regulations

This disclosure is intended to comply with:

• The U.S. Federal Trade Commission's Endorsement Guides (16 CFR Part 255).
• The U.K. Competition and Markets Authority's Online Endorsements Guide (2020).
• The EU Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (2005/29/EC), as transposed by member states.
• Equivalent consumer protection laws in other jurisdictions where the Service is accessible.

8. Material connections

"Material connection" includes any relationship that might affect the weight or credibility of a recommendation — including affiliate commissions, free products, paid travel, and personal relationships. Beyond affiliate links, we occasionally:

• Receive complimentary eSIM data for testing (always disclosed).
• Accept press trip invitations (always disclosed at the top of the article).
• Get early access to apps or features (disclosed when relevant).

None of these affect our editorial judgment.

9. Questions or complaints

If you have questions about a specific affiliate relationship or believe we have not adequately disclosed a material connection, please email us at hello@travelhubchina.com. We take disclosure seriously and will respond.