 "Bayard" took no part in the Battle of Fuzhou (23 August 1884), the opening battle of the Sino-French War, as she drew too much water to enter the Min River.Instead, she was left to guard the telegraph station at Sharp Peak near Matsu that allowed the squadron to communicate with France.On 1 October 1884 "Bayard" and several other French warships supported the French landing at Keelung with a naval bombardment of Chinese shore positions.