China invented the paddle boat in 4 18 AD, which was recorded in a report on the operation of China's navy.

From 494 to 497 A.D., Zu Chongzhi built an improved ship, which was called the "Thousand-Li Ship". In the absence of wind, it can go far in a day. In 552 AD, Xu Shipu, the general of the water army of Liang Dynasty, used a "water boat" (that is, a paddle boat) when fighting with Houman. From 782 to 785, Hangzhou Magistrate Gaoli improved the paddle boat. 1 168, the navy built a warship with a displacement of 200 tons, which was driven by 12 sets of blades. /kloc-in the 20th century, China built a large ship with a length of120m, a width of1.37m and a mast height of more than 24m. The crew on board can reach 200 people. During the First Opium War, China also used this kind of paddle boat.