 She became the first American ship to sail from the newly independent United States to China, opening what is known today as the Old China Trade and transporting the first official representative of the American government to Canton.The first American merchant vessel to enter Chinese waters left New York harbor on Washington's birthday, February 22, 1784.The "Empress" returned to New York on May 11, 1785 after a round voyage of 14 months and 24 days.