The maiden voyage of what is claimed to be the world’s most luxurious inland cruise ship started from Chongqing on 22 May.

The Yangtze River Gold No. 1 is designed to five-star hotel standards and contains conference facilities, sight-seeing elevators and a helipad for VIPs.

The cruise ship, which cost Rmb130m to build, is 136 metres long and can accommodate up to 350 passengers. There are 160 guest rooms with a starting price of Rmb3,000 for a four-day trip from Chongqing to Yichang, Hubei province. Accommodation in the presidential suite will cost about four times as much.

Mr Tang Guanjun, Director of the Yangtze River Administration, promised in his congratulatory note that the central government would support the development of river cruises.