A retired KLM flight was refitted into a hotel (File photo)
Zhang Jing, 28, an administrative staff member at a university in Shenzhen, had a different accommodation experience when she traveled to Taipei, Taiwan, last month.
She booked the bedroom of an apartment in Ximending, the most prosperous and bustling district in Taipei, for 522 yuan ($80) per night through Airbnb.com.
"Before arriving at this apartment, I was worried about my stay because I always stayed at hotels on my previous trips. However, I am thrilled by my decision," she said.
"The apartment is very close to the subway station and there are a lot of stores nearby. What's more, the host, Kelvin, was very nice, met me and my friend downstairs in the building, and prepared slippers, toothbrushes and almost everything for us. He even cooked breakfast for us."
The host's kind and graceful attitude relieved her anxiety, and she felt very comfortable staying there.
"It was the most unforgettable accommodation experience," she added.
Bed-and-breakfast facilities - private homes that offer overnight accommodations and breakfast for paying guests - have become an attractive lodging option for young mainland travelers in recent years as they can be closer to local communities and allow guests to immerse themselves in the local culture.
The rapid growth of the Chinese outbound tourist market is bringing about huge opportunities for U.S.-based lodging website Airbnb.
The Chinese mainland is the fastest growing market for Airbnb, as more and more mainland travelers prefer a unique traveling experience.
"The number of Chinese mainland outbound tourists that book accommodation through Airbnb increased by 700 percent in 2015," said Varsha Rao, vice-president of global operations at Airbnb.
She is optimistic that its business in China will maintain rapid growth this year as it has become the world's largest outbound tourism market. "We have a very positive outlook for business with outbound travelers in 2016," said Rao.
"We are still cultivating people's awareness of B&B, and mainly focusing on millennial travelers born between the early 1980s and 2000s traveling to other parts of the world."
"It is different from staying in a hotel. It's about creating stories that you can share with your families and friends when you come back," Rao added.
