Shanghai: China’s first domestically built cruise ship set sail on its maiden voyage from Shanghai on Monday, a sign of the nation’s growing prowess in sophisticated construction as it seeks self-sufficiency in key technologies.
The Adora Magic City left port on its first commercial cruise late afternoon, en route to South Korea and Japan.
Equipped with a mahjong lounge and hotpot restaurant, the luxury vessel is aimed squarely at China’s expanding middle class and their appetite for international travel.
State media have hailed the 16-deck behemoth as a “major milestone for the country’s shipbuilding industry” and a “crown jewel”.
Its construction was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Lloyd’s Register (LR), which provided marine services for the ship.
It is China’s first foray into a…