Cruise ship Zhao Shang Yi Dun [Photo provided by the interviewee]

Pingtan is gearing up for a significant boost in its tourism sector as it welcomes new coastal cruise itineraries from September to November. The Zhao Shang Yi Dun cruise ship, the first ocean-going cruise ship registered in China, will be at the forefront of this nautical venture, offering a unique journey along the southeast coast of China.

The Zhao Shang Yi Dun, with 930 passengers and 465 staterooms (all with private balconies, including 47 suites), is equipped with an array of amenities. It features seven restaurants and bars offering a variety of international cuisines, four distinctive bars, a fitness center, an open sports deck, a Nordic spa, a heated pool, a theater, a cinema, and an extensive collection of over 2,500 selected books and more than 400 pieces of art.

According to Lin Binbin, a reporter from Pingtan CMC, the cruise will start and end in Shanghai and Shenzhen, with stops  in Zhoushan, Wenzhou, Pingtan, Xiamen, and other locations. This 10-day, 9-night journey is the industry's first coastal cruise route that connects various destinations along the Chinese coast, focusing on in-depth cultural experiences.

Chen Jianxiang, deputy director of the Pingtan Tourism and Cultural Service Center, expressed excitement about the new route: "This is the first time Pingtan has opened a domestic cruise route, and it's also the longest-spanning cruise product Pingtan has welcomed." He anticipates that the eight voyages will bring over 5,000 international visitors to Pingtan, who will explore sites such as the Haitan Ancient Town, the Pingtan International Research Center for Austronesian Archaeology, Tannan Bay, and the 68-Nautical-Mile Scenic Area.

Since the opening of the Pingtan International Cruise Center in November 2023, it has operated six voyages, including routes to Subic Bay in the Philippines, Okinawa in Japan, and Jeju Island in South Korea, receiving a total of 8,850 tourists with an average occupancy rate of 80%. These figures highlight the substantial potential and allure of Pingtan's cruise tourism market.