In 1899 she was assigned to the China Station,[1] Captain James Henry Thomas Burke in command.

During the Boxer Rebellion in 1900, sailors from HMS Orlando formed part of the force led by Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Seymour attempting to relieve the British Legation in Beijing.

A replica of a bell captured from the Taku Forts forms part of a memorial to HMS Orlando in Victoria Park, Portsmouth.

In late March 1902 she left Hong Kong for Singapore, arriving there on 6 April.

[2] After three weeks, she left Penang in late April, homebound,[3] stopping at Colombo on 5 May,[4] Aden on 14 May,[5] Malta on 28 May,[6] and Gibraltar on 2 June, before arriving at Portsmouth four days later.