'Airbnb for pets' in China turned a profit last year 
A Beijing-based firm is easing the worries of Chinese pet owners who do not want to house their animals in cramped and overpriced pet stores during public holidays. Goumin.com operates in a similar fashion to Airbnb, offering a platform for pre-vetted homeowners willing to look after people's pets for around CNY50 ($7) per night. CEO Jia Tong said the 10-year-old company, which has 81 employees and 50 million registered users, grew out of the sharing economy and turned a profit for the first time in 2016.

Xu Yingying, a Beijing kindergarten teacher, enjoys taking care of guest dogs along with her own teddy bear dog. Animal-sitting earned her about 7,000 yuan last year during Lunar New Year. Photo: SCMP Pictures