In early 1903, "Fürst Bismarck" anchored off the mouth of the Yangtze with "Hansa" and "Thetis", remaining there until mid-March before proceeding to Tsingtao. She remained there until late April, when the squadron conducted training exercises through May, during which "Fürst Bismarck" again won the "Schießpreis". The ship visited Japan in company with "Bussard", where Geissler and his staff were received by Emperor Meiji. The two ships then made a visit to the Russian Pacific Fleet, based in Vladivostok, in early August. On 15 November, "KAdm" Curt von Prittwitz und Gaffron replaced Geissler as the squadron commander, after which "Fürst Bismarck" returned to Nagasaki for another overhaul in December.