Most of the overnight room bookings made through Xiaozhu are by tourists, followed by business travelers, those on job internships, or people seeking medical treatment or advice in another city, said Wang. He expects demand to continue growing strongly this year.

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Apartment proves a money-spinner by Zheng Xin from China Daily

Zhang Fan, a 28-year-old bank clerk based in Beijing, always hoped to own an apartment in the capital's downtown area, which she could rent out easily when she wasn't there.

And now that possibility has became reality, thanks to Xiaozhu.com, the mainland's answer to the San Francisco-based Airbnb Inc－an online platform that allows people to lease their apartments to travelers.

Zhang said she will welcome more guests, mostly expats, during the upcoming Spring Festival that begins on Feb 8.

"Many foreigners are interested in coming to Beijing during the Chinese Lunar New Year to get a better taste of Chinese culture, while my family will travel to Thailand for the holiday and leave the apartment unused, so it's a win-win for everybody," said Zhang.

"The weekend is a great time for renting as well, as my husband and I sometimes spend two or three days in the city's suburban area or neighboring cities," she added.

Having been on the platform for more than a year, Zhang said she has hosted many guests from around the globe and is still in touch with some of them.

Zhang first got to know about the service when she traveled to Australia two years ago. She booked an apartment in Melbourne and was surprised by the convenience of the service, the comfortable stay and the hospitality of the host.

"For tourists it's better than traditional hotel accommodation and much cheaper at the same time, while the host could earn some pocket money," said Zhang.

"You can get to know more friends while earning some pocket money," she said.