Shenzhou (Chinese: 神舟; pinyin: Shénzhōu, /ˈʃɛnˈdʒoʊ/ shen-JOH; see § Etymology) is a Chinese spacecraft developed for the China Manned Space Program. Its design was based on Russia's Soyuz, but larger and modernized. It has conducted 23 flights since 1999, including 17 crewed flights since 2005, the most recent being Shenzhou 23.

China unsuccessfully pursued the Shuguang crewed space program from 1967 to 1972. China signed a deal with Russia in 1995 to transfer Soyuz technology including life support, docking, and spacesuits. Like Soyuz, Shenzhou is a single-use vehicle composed of three modules; a descent module housing the crew during launch and reentry, an orbital module which provides additional living space and storage, and a service module for propulsion and power; the latter two are discarded before reentry. Its Chinese Docking Mechanism is derived from the joint Soviet-US Androgynous Peripheral Attach System. For added safety and aerodynamics, the spacecraft is encased within a fairing and fitted with a launch escape system during liftoff. All Shenzhou missions have launched on a Long March 2F variants from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, in Gansu and landed near Dorbod Banner, in Inner Mongolia.

Two Shenzhou craft are typically docked to China's Tiangong modular space station, complemented by the Tianzhou cargo spacecraft. Shenzhou missions previously docked with the Tiangong-1 and Tiangong-2 space stations. Its maiden uncrewed flight, Shenzhou 1, was on 19 November 1999, with the first crewed mission, Shenzhou 5, taking flight on 15 October 2003. It is slated for replacement by the next-generation Mengzhou, currently in development, with a two module configuration.

The literal meaning of the native name 神舟 (pinyin: Shénzhōu) is "the Divine vessel [on the Heavenly River]", to which Heavenly River (天河) means the Milky Way in Classical Chinese. 神舟 is a pun and neologism that plays on the poetic word referring to China, 神州, meaning Divine realm, which bears the same pronunciation. For further information, refer to Chinese theology, Chinese astronomy and names of China.

China's first efforts at human spaceflight started in 1967, with the Shuguang spacecraft design, projected to launch in 1973. Although China successfully launched an uncrewed satellite in 1970, the Shuguang was cancelled in 1972, and the entire program in 1980, due to a lack of funds.

The Chinese crewed spacecraft program was relaunched in 1992 with Project 921. The Phase One spacecraft followed the general layout of the Russian Soyuz spacecraft, with three modules that could separate for reentry. China signed a deal with Russia in 1995 for the transfer of Soyuz technology, including life support and docking systems. The Phase One spacecraft was then modified with the new Russian technology. The general designer of Shenzhou-1 through Shenzhou-5 was Qi Faren (Chinese: 戚发轫), and from Shenzhou-6 on, the general design was turned over to Zhang Bainan (Chinese: 张柏楠).

The first uncrewed flight of the spacecraft was launched on 19 November 1999, after which Project 921/1 was renamed Shenzhou, a name chosen by then Chinese president Jiang Zemin. A series of three additional uncrewed flights were carried out. The first crewed launch took place on 15 October 2003 with the Shenzhou 5 mission. The spacecraft has since become the mainstay of the Chinese crewed space program, being used for both crewed and uncrewed missions.

Shenzhou consists of three modules: a forward orbital module (Chinese: 轨道舱); pinyin: Guǐdào cāng), a reentry module (Chinese: 返回舱); pinyin: Fǎnhuí cāng) in the middle, and an aft service module (Chinese: 推进舱); pinyin: Tuījìn cāng). This division is based on the principle of minimizing the amount of material to be returned to Earth. Anything placed in the orbital or service modules does not require heat shielding, increasing the space available in the spacecraft without increasing weight as much as it would if those modules were also able to withstand reentry.