 "Jingyuan" was laid down on 1 January 1885, launched on 25 March 1887, and completed on 1 January 1888.On arrival in China in 1888, "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.