Two luxury custom-designed cruise ships, the Shanghai Star and the Tiger Beach – built by China Ship Scientific Research Center's base in Jingjiang city, in East China's Jiangsu province – are due to be delivered in April.

The Shanghai Star maneuvers carefully into position. [Photo/zhjjwx.jsjjw.cn]

The bespoke vessels are said to represent a significant advancement in China's luxury water tourism industry.

They'll serve renowned coastal destinations such as the Huangpu River in East China's Shanghai and the Tiger Beach Scenic Area in Dalian, in Northeast China's Liaoning province.

As of early March, both ships had completed their main construction and were undergoing equipment installations, commissioning and interior finishing work.

Scheduled to launch operations on May 1, the Tiger Beach is expected to provide an entirely new sea tour experience.

For its part, the Shanghai Star is the first five-star excursion ship under the Shanghai Oriental Pearl brand, boasting a length of 49.65 meters and accommodating 300 passengers.

Its innovative design includes an interactive light show system that synchronizes with the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, enhancing the sightseeing experience for tourists.

The increasing demand for high-end ships in the yachting cruise industry has prompted the 702 Institute of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation and Jingjiang city to collaborate on constructing a high-end boat industry construction base.

The joint effort, initiated in June 2018, aims to establish the largest cruise ship sector hub in the Yangtze River Delta.