The Juniata arrived in Canton, China on 7 October 1883. She remained at anchor in Hong Kong area until the day after Christmas 1883 when she began a cruise along the coast of China past Amoy and Matsu arriving in Shanghai on 3 January 1884. The ship remained in Shanghai until 14 February 1884, when she made the 3 day passage across the Yellow Sea for Nagasaki, Japan. Staying in Nagasaki only a few days, the Juniata was again "at sea making passage" for the coast of Korea.