Short-term flat rentals on the rise

Gloria Yang, a magazine editor in Beijing, booked a 61-square-meter loft via Tujia.com, a Chinese accommodation sharing and booking website, to celebrate her 27th birthday last year.

"I love the simple design style of the loft, as it has a blue soft couch, huge French windows and a clean kitchen," Yang said.

"My friends and I played games, chatted, ordered takeout online and sang birthday songs together," she said. "It was an unforgettable birthday party, and we spent 459 yuan ($66) booking the apartment for one day."