CRI听力: Couch Surfing Gains Popularity in China

As China enters its peak holiday season and millions take the opportunity to travel, hotel owners across the country will be rubbing their hands together with glee at this annual opportunity to bump up prices to an often unfeasibly high level. But fear not! There is one way the budget traveler can avoid such expenditure, namely by becoming a "couch surfer".

As CRI's Dominic Swire finds out, the trend is growing increasingly popular in China.

The Couch Surfing network is an online community stretching across the globe with over one and a half million members. The basic concept is to provide a platform for travelers to contact people who are willing to put them up free of charge. Travelers connect with potential hosts online and, if they like each other, swap details to make further arrangements.

Basil is one traveler from Switzerland who is currently couch surfing with a Chinese host in Beijing. (www.hXen.com)

"I thought staying in hostel is nice but you mostly meet foreigners and speak English. If you use Couch Surfing you have chance to meet people living here and really get a chance to know the life of the place you visit."

Basil was speaking during a regular meeting of the Beijing network of Couch Surfing, which boasts a membership of almost 2,000.

Although some people may have concerns about meeting complete strangers and giving them full access to your house, Beijing group member Fred Sharp from California says that the Couch Surfing community is one that generally attracts trustworthy people.

"I have never had a problem with guests and I've really never heard of a problem. I'd say that this Couch Surfing community worldwide is a fairly trustworthy community. Like I say, always take your precautions, make sure that you read everyone's profile that you're considering hosting, and if it doesn't feel right just say 'no', it's ok."

Originally launched in the US as a non-profit organization in 2004, Couch Surfing is growing fast across the world. China is no exception with around 30,000 members and hundreds more signing up each week.

One of them is Beijing resident Hai Yan who joined in November 2009. She says the first time she hosted a guest was a very positive experience.

"My first guest was Daniel from Italy. He was very kind and helpful. He helped me clean the door and the floor and bought me a present from Italy, a handbag. It wasn't cheap, I think. It's a famous brand!"

As the organization grows from strength to strength, hotel owners across the world will be watching very closely and possibly thinking twice about raising their prices too high.

Dominic Swire, CRI news.