What It Is
eLong was a prominent Chinese online travel agency (OTA) founded in 1999 and listed on NASDAQ in 2004. It provided hotel and air ticket bookings via website, mobile apps, and a 24-hour call center, serving both domestic and international travelers. eLong merged with Tongcheng in 2018 to form Tongcheng-eLong, which was subsequently rebranded as Tongcheng Travel in 2021.
Who It Serves and How to Connect
eLong historically served Chinese domestic travelers as well as outbound tourists seeking international hotels. Properties distributing through eLong gained access to a large base of Chinese consumers. Connectivity was available via standard OTA extranet or through channel manager integrations. Today, distribution to this audience is managed through the Tongcheng Travel platform, which continues to serve millions of Chinese travelers via the WeChat Mini Program and its own app.
Notable Specialty
eLong was particularly strong in the Chinese hotel market, offering over 30,000 hotels domestically and more than 150,000 internationally. Its deep integration with Chinese internet infrastructure and mobile platforms made it a significant channel for properties seeking Chinese inbound guests. The successor platform, Tongcheng Travel, remains one of China's leading travel OTAs.