This Day, That Year

Item from June 26, 1985, in China Daily: China opened a new sea route linking Shanghai with Japan's Kobe and Osaka ports when the passenger liner began her maiden voyage on Sunday morning. It is expected to spend 48 hours at sea before reaching Kobe.

China has become a major market for the global cruise industry.

Last year, about 2 million Chinese traveled on luxury liners, taking the third position in the world rankings, according to the Cruise Lines International Association.