The RMS Empress of China was an ocean liner constructed between 1890 and 1891 by Naval Construction & Armament Co. in Barrow, England, for Canadian Pacific Steamships. She was a 5,905-ton vessel measuring 455.6 feet in length with a beam of 51.2 feet. The ship featured a distinctive design with a clipper bow, two buff-colored funnels with black bands, and three lightweight schooner-type masts. Powered by reciprocating engines and equipped with twin propellers, she achieved an average speed of 16 knots, making her a swift vessel for her era. The Empress of China was designed to accommodate 770 passengers, with a passenger configuration of 120 first class, 50 second class, and 600 steerage. Her elegant white-painted hull and graceful lines made her a prominent figure on the trans-Pacific route, which she served regularly between the west coast of Canada and Asia. Her maiden voyage commenced from Liverpool on July 15, 1891, traveling via the Suez Canal to Hong Kong and Vancouver, establishing her as a key player in the early Canadian Pacific trans-Pacific fleet alongside her sister ships, RMS Empress of India and RMS Empress of Japan. Throughout her service, the Empress of China was involved in routine maritime activities including passenger transport, cargo operations, and quarantine procedures, such as when a passenger with smallpox led to her being held in Yokohama harbor. Notably, she carried distinguished passengers, including Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in 1893 and Canadian political figure William Lyon Mackenzie King in 1901. Her career ended in 1911 when she struck an underwater reef near Tokyo Bay amid fog and rough seas while attempting to navigate into Yokohama. The ship was abandoned with no loss of life, but the damage was extensive. She was later re-floated in 1912 and subsequently dismantled and scrapped in Yokohama. The Empress of China's service established her as a significant vessel in early Pacific maritime history, exemplifying the technological and passenger-service innovations of her time.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.