 "Laiyuan" was laid down on 1 January 1885, launched on 3 January 1887, completed on 1 January 1888.On arrival in China in 1880, "Jingyuan" and "Laiyuan" were both assigned to the Beiyang Fleet.In the summer of 1889, both vessels were part of the flotilla let by Admiral Ding Ruchang, calling on the Russian naval base of Vladivostok.