A room of one's own - for a little while

As for safety concerns, Ye thinks a safe community will ensure the safety of tenants and it's important to communicate with each other before the stay.

"Landlords should separate their personal items from those that are communal. Safety is dependent on one's consciousness. We can request a bond in case of damage, which will be deposited through the rental website," Liu says.

Liu suggests tenants read the landlord's instructions carefully in advance. For example, she requires that tenants do not have a party in the room or play loud music, because her neighbors are elderly.

"The biggest difference between hotels and Airbnb is the social and cultural features connected with local residents. The best part is that you feel like you are at home because you have temporary ownership, especially when you choose somewhere really cool that fits your needs," says Yang Yingfei, 27, who used the service twice in the United States. She is pursuing her master's degree in the country.

According to Yang, guests don't have to worry that all hotels will be booked if they decide to travel on a whim. Owners can really impact a guest experience if they are passionate about creating a really awesome space.

It has also inspired Yang to one day rent out a room herself.

"It's a convenient way of being an entrepreneur by using your spare space as an asset. I might be more motivated to decorate my house, and enjoy my life by expecting someone new in my life for just one day or for a year," she says.

"Tourists have various choices. You can live in some fantastic places, which are like artworks designed by homeowners of different professions, who are also fond of traveling. You can learn about the local lifestyle by talking to them," says, Lei Tao, 27, public relations director of Beijing-based Uniqueway, which designs customized overseas tours for travelers. Sometimes he books accommodation on such websites for customers.

Lei says compared with the United States and Europe, the number of personalized lodgings in China is small, but the gap is gradually closing. Some Chinese houses are stylish, presenting the city's culture and history of the city they are in.

He likes to live next to the vegetable market, because it's the best place to learn about the local people and he can make delicious food in the big kitchen. It's better to bring some condiments of one's own.

"It's good to see similar websites are coming out in China. It makes traveling more interesting and everyone can choose their dream house and talk to the landlords directly."