Just checking in

Location-based social networking is fast catching on, helping busy Chinese stay connected, while also earning them freebies from businesses. Gan Tian reports

Location-based social networking services have emerged as the latest fad among tech-savvy Chinese. The service, which pinpoints the location of smartphones, allows users to "check in" at restaurants, gyms and stores, to share their whereabouts with friends.

Beijing freelancer Luo Xuehan uploads her location via her iPhone on Jiepang.com (the mainland's biggest such service) everywhere she goes, whether jogging in Chaoyang Park, or writing a food review at Starbucks in Sanlitun.