China's first domestically built large cruise ship Adora Magic City
A floating animation movie cruise is expected this summer.
Adora Cruises announced a collaboration with Shanghai Film Infinity (SFI) on Thursday to launch the "Ne Zha Conquers the Dragon King" summer-themed cruise season on China's first domestically built large cruise ship, Adora Magic City.
As a classic of Chinese animation films, Ne Zha Conquers the Dragon King premiered in 1979 and has become a cultural memory connecting several generations.
During the summer-themed cruise season, Adora Magic City will launch a series of activities with animation themes to take passengers on a maritime journey of Chinese culture.
Deck of the cruise ship
Films to be screened onboard include several classic ones.
The Ne Zha Conquers the Dragon King stage play will premiere, which is adapted from the classic animation by Shanghai Animation Film Studio, reproducing Ne Zha's legendary story and vividly showcasing the unique charm of Eastern aesthetics.
The cruise ship will centrally screen classic works by the Shanghai studio such as Ne Zha Conquers the Dragon King, Havoc in Heaven, and Calabash Brothers, reshaping collective cultural memories.
Havoc in Heaven, a two-episode animation from 1961 depicting the Monkey King's rebellion in the celestial court, is regarded as a classic and one of the best Chinese animation films, having been shown on television for decades.
A stage play of Ne Zha Conquers the Dragon King
A dubbing workshop and Ne Zha's fun parade, themed interactive games, Ne Zha-themed cabins, cosplay and themed photography, will immerse people in the atmosphere of guochao (China-chic) culture.
This summer, Adora Magic City will head to popular destinations in Japan and South Korea such as Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Sasebo, and Jeju Island.
Meanwhile, the second domestically built large cruise ship, Adora Flora City, has now achieved full-ship connectivity. It is scheduled to be delivered in 2026 and launch international routes from Nansha Port in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province.