Chinese pay to stay at others' homes

Many of China's independent travelers - those who do not book trips with travel agencies or groups - are taking to minsu, a new study has found.

The Chinese term is used for accommodations that range from boutique hotels to homestays - and offer opportunities to experience local lifestyles. Bed-and-breakfasts are inside the purview.

Compared with 2015, the growth in demand for such accommodations was huge in the first three quarters of the year, mafengwo.cn, a prominent tourism website, said in its 2016 Hotel Reservation Report of Independent Chinese Travelers. The study was based on big data from the site's partner hotels. It didn't reveal the base figure.