The Changjiang Qi Hao, a luxury river cruise ship, was launched on July 6, 2026, at China Merchants Industry’s Haimen shipyard. The vessel is described as China’s first luxury river cruise ship powered by methanol as a single fuel source.
The owner, Chongqing Changjiang Shipping, is the Yangtze operator under Chongqing Changjiang Shipping Co., Ltd. (a unit of CSSC — China State Shipbuilding Corporation’s Yangtze river shipping arm).
The Changjiang Qi Hao was designed by the Wuhan Changjiang Ship Design Institute and built by China Merchants Industry Holdings’ Haimen base.
Sources familiar with the project indicate that the ship is 17,000 gross tons with a maximum capacity of 638 passengers.
The Changjiang Qi Hao is positioned for the upscale river cruise segment on the Chongqing–Yichang–downstream corridor, competing with existing players such as Century Cruises and Victoria Cruises.
The launch comes as China’s river-cruise sector is seeing renewed investment, alongside coastal and homeport developments.
The Changjiang Qi Hao’s next milestones include outfitting, sea trials and handover to Chongqing Changjiang Shipping, followed by deployment on the Chongqing-centered premiumriver market.
In addition, Shanghai Wusongkou terminal is preparing for what operators describe as China’s first “river-sea co-berthing” in November, when a domestic large cruise ship and the Changjiang San Hao are expected to berth simultaneously.
The Nantong Langshan International Cruise Port also broke ground on June 25, linking inland river tourism with ocean-going cruise itineraries.
