Qunar's name asks a question in Chinese: where to go. In 2005 three founders launched it as a travel search engine on a domain registered in CC Zhuang's own name. By 2013 millions of Chinese were taking their first flights and hotel trips, and Qunar compared prices across hundreds of sellers. Baidu, China's biggest search company, owned most of it. Baidu founder Robin Li chaired its board when it listed in New York.

A Search Box for Trips

Frederick Demopoulos, Chenchao (CC) Zhuang and Douglas Khoo launched Qunar.com in May 2005. Online travel agencies like Ctrip sold tickets and kept a cut. Qunar searched the agencies, airlines and hotels together and showed every price on one page. It made money from clicks and ads, and later took bookings itself. Zhuang became chief executive. In 2011 Baidu bought a majority stake, which gave Qunar a steady stream of searchers.

From Rival to Ctrip's Family

Qunar priced its IPO at $15 per American depositary share on November 1, 2013, on Nasdaq. It spent heavily to win hotel bookings, and its fight with Ctrip cost both companies money. In 2015 Baidu swapped much of its Qunar stake for shares of Ctrip, and the rivals became partners. A buyer group then took Qunar private for $30.39 per American depositary share. Its shares left Nasdaq in early 2017.

Cover: Poetic Travel, Shibata Zeshin. Art Institute of Chicago, public domain. Chosen for poetic travel (where to go).