China's first major cruise ship, Adora Magic City, departed Shanghai port on Monday for its first commercial voyage. On the evening of January 1, the Magic City of Adora left the pier, beginning its journey to South Korea and Japan.

The 135,500 tonne cruise ship is 323.6 meters long and has a total of 2,125 guest cabins that can accommodate up to 5,246 passengers. The ship has 16 floors and a total of 40 thousand square meters of recreational space, Xinhua reports.

The luxury vessel is aimed squarely at China's growing middle class and its “appetite” for international travel.

It is China's first foray into a sector dominated by European shipbuilders. Many of Adora Magic City's components were provided by international suppliers, but China hopes to build its own supply chain in the future. China's first passenger aircraft, the C919, also debuted outside mainland China last month. These complex projects are key to reducing China's dependence on foreign technology.

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