The first five-star luxury cruise boat in China, Jiari (Holiday) is a floating hotel of romance and comfort.

The vessel, which is making it possible for Shenzhen residents to feel the sea wind in their hair and enjoy the raw beauty of the sea at night, is expected to attract tourists from beyond Shenzhen.

Guestrooms ranging from standard cabins to those with sea views, and even presidential suites, can handle more than 400 passengers. All the guestrooms are finished to the standards of a five-star hotel, according to Wu Wen, assistant manager of the liner. There are both Chinese and western restaurants on Jiari, serving a wide variety of food.

The ship sets sail at 7 pm from Shekou port in Shenzhen (4 pm on weekends), cruises past Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour at 9 pm and sails to the waters near Macao and Zhuhai, at 10 pm.

The ship passes the big cities, where passengers enjoy the dazzling lights and sparkling skyscrapers. The night life offerings on board include the disco, karaoke, movies and video games. The ship has a pool for swimming fans. The ship also has a business centre, small meeting rooms and a conference hall equipped with satellite telephones.

Since its first trip on January 9, the cruise boat has become a holiday resort for many Shenzhen people. At present, the ship carries more than 200 pleasure-seekers every day.

(China Daily March 30, 2002)