 Both "Jingyuan" and her sister ship was were laid down at the same time, but despite "Zhiyuen" being launched six weeks earlier than "Jingyuan", she was completed two weeks later than her sister.Following completion, both ships, along with the two armored cruisers and , as well as a newly built Chinese torpedo boat, converged in the solent near Portsmouth in August 1887.Imperial Chinese Admiral William M. Lang, formerly of the Royal Navy, was sent back to Europe to take command of the squadron as they travelled to China.