View source for Taiping (steamer)

{{Merge|SS Taiping (1925) |date=August 2024 }}
{{Short description|Chinese steamer, sank in 1949}}
{{expand Chinese|topic=transp|date=December 2015}}
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[[File:The memory bud of Taiping steamer in Keelung.jpg|thumb|200px|Memorial to the sinking in [[Keelung]].]]
'''''Taiping''''' was a Chinese [[Steamship|steamer]] that sank after a collision with a smaller cargo ship, ''Chienyuan'', while en route from mainland [[China]] to [[Taiwan]] on 27 January 1949.  With an estimated death toll of over 1,500 people, it ranks as one of the [[List_of_accidents_and_disasters_by_death_toll#Maritime|ten deadliest maritime disasters in history]].

==Final voyage==
''Taiping'' was packed to nearly twice her rated capacity, carrying over 1,000 refugees fleeing advancing [[Chinese Communist Party|Chinese Communist]] forces during the [[Chinese Civil War]], when she departed [[Shanghai]], [[China]] on 26 January 1949, bound for [[Keelung]], [[Taiwan]].<ref name=BTLetu>Letu, Xinji. 8 July 2011. "The Sinking of the Chinese Titanic" ''[[Beijing Today]]''. p. 14.</ref> Some estimates put the number of passengers on board at over 1,500,<ref name=TTloa>{{cite news | url = http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/01/28/2003399179/1 | title = ''Taiping'' sinking recalled | first = Loa | last = Iok-sin | date = 28 January 2008 | access-date = 20 May 2012 | work = [[Taipei Times]]}}</ref> although the ship was only rated to carry 580 passengers.<ref name=BTLetu/>

After midnight on 27 January 1949, ''Taiping'' was steaming at night with her lights out, owing to a [[curfew]], when she collided with the smaller [[cargo ship]] ''Chienyuan'' near the [[Zhoushan Archipelago]].<ref name=TTloa/> She sank, killing over 1,500 passengers and crew members. Only 35 survived, including 2 people from ''Chienyuan''. They were rescued by [[HMAS Warramunga (I44)|''HMAS'' ''Warramunga'']].

==Commemoration==
''Taiping'', which made many journeys between mainland China and Taiwan before her tragic end, has been compared to the ''[[Mayflower]]'' for her role in bringing Chinese immigrants to Taiwan.<ref name=TThsu/> She has also been compared to {{RMS|Titanic}}, which sank in 1912, owing to the similar loss of life in her sinking.<ref name=variety /> A memorial to the ship and those who died aboard her was established at [[Keelung Harbor]] naval base on Taiwan.<ref name=TThsu>{{cite news | url = http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2009/01/18/2003434015 | title = Descendants of victims mark ''Taiping'' tragedy | first = Jenny W. | last = Hsu | work = [[Taipei Times]] | date = 18 January 2009 | access-date = 20 May 2012}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
''[[The Crossing (2014 film)|The Crossing]]'', a 2014 film directed by [[John Woo]], is about the sinking of ''Taiping''.<ref name=variety>{{cite web|last1=Lee|first1=Maggie|title=Film Review: ''The Crossing: Part 1''|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/film-review-the-crossing-part-1-1201367911/|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=26 January 2015|date=4 December 2014}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{1949 shipwrecks}}
{{Chinese Civil War}}
{{Cross-Strait relations}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:1949 in China]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1949]]
[[Category:Ships sunk in collisions]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks in the East China Sea]]
[[Category:1940s ships]]
[[Category:History of Zhoushan]]