A chain of economy inns yesterday appealed a district court's rejection of its lawsuit blaming ctrip.com, China's biggest tour and hotel booking Website, of tarnishing its image by spreading insults in the media.

GreenTree Inn, a company backed by American investors, said ctrip.com withdrew an online reservation service without its agreement and told the media that the problem lay in GreenTree Inn's disorganized price system.

The plaintiff is asking for an apology from ctrip.com in newspapers and Websites to recover its reputation.

The Shanghai No. 1 Intermediate People's Court didn't announce a verdict after hearing the appeal yesterday.

According to an investigation by Xuhui Distirct People's Court, ctrip.com was to provide online reservation services for GreenTree's dozens of outlets.

GreenTree Inn promised the prices it offered to members of ctrip.com would be no higher than its own prices.

On January 1, the inn chain started a promotion on its own Website, offering discount coupons.

Ctrip.com dropped the service and told a business newspaper the chain's price system was to blame.