China’s domestic first-class cruiser the Yangwu once visited Japan in 1875. The first case of sending a Chinese warship to Japan after the two countries signed the “Sino-Japanese Amendment Regulations” in 1871. It is also a national diplomacy after the two countries broke through the non-governmental exchanges in the Edo period. This article introduces the background and process of the cruiser Yangwu’s visit to Japan，quotes the news reports from both China and Japan，and compares the views and evaluations of the two this visit，and reveals the different understandings and interests between them. And the article concludes by summarizing the significance and impact of the visit of the Yangwu to Japan，considering it an important milestone in the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between modern China and Japan，as well as a good start to military exchanges between the two countries.