Hordes of Hong Kong residents made use of this weekend’s three-day Dragon Boat Festival holidays, thronging one of the People’s Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison’s barracks, saying their close-up views of armored vehicles and drills have given them a deep sense of national pride and belonging to the motherland.

An open day was held at the Ngong Shuen Chau naval base to mark both the upcoming 29th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on July 1, as well as the garrison’s 29th year in the city.

Three of the PLA Hong Kong Garrison’s barracks are holding open days to mark the events, with the Ngong Shuen Chau naval base welcoming visitors this weekend from 9am to 2pm, to be followed by the Shek Kong and San Wai barracks on June 27 and 28. The Shek Kong barracks will be open from 9am to 2pm, while San Wai barracks will open from 2pm to 6pm.

Up to 25,000 free tickets have been distributed through the Hong Kong Garrison’s WeChat account.

Despite intermittent torrential downpours on Saturday, Ngong Shuen Chau’s open day featured a flag-raising ceremony, a 108-member rifle-spinning performance by an honor guard, military band formations, equipment displays, training drill showcases and tastings of military rations for the public.

Visitors also had a chance to take part in interactive military training, including a simulation enabling them to step into the boots of a naval repair crew and tackle a simulated pipeline burst aboard a military vessel.

PLA officers and soldiers said their intensive preparations for the event got underway early this year.

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Second-class Sergeant Gao Bin said the day’s defining moment for him was when he saw Hong Kong people singing the national anthem -- their faces upturned and voices united, beaming with palpable national pride and affinity.

“It made me very happy and proud,” he said. “The bond between our garrison and Hong Kong people has become increasingly close-knit and integrated.”

The military band’s opening notes were punctuated by a brief rain shower. Second-class Sergeant Li Ze, a trombonist with the band, said he was “deeply moved” after finishing the performance.

He said the garrison’s training routinely simulates different weather conditions. “We have a motto,” he added. “Treat night as day, and rainy days as sunny” so that rain or shine, the troops can be well prepared.

A 10-minute live bayonet practice drew gasps from spectators.

First-class Sergeant Qin Shuangbao, who took part in the display, said it was intended to convey the garrison’s ethos of “charging forward and fearing no sacrifice”. “We hope Hong Kong residents can see for themselves that this garrison has both the capability and the confidence to safeguard the city’s prosperity and stability,” he said.

The crowds included parents holding children by the hand.

A middle-aged woman surnamed Ming said her daughter had remained animated throughout their visit. “I brought her here so she can learn that national security is upheld through great, collective efforts, and that only when the nation is secure can our family be safe,” she said. “Without a country, there’s no home.”

“It was magnificent”, a pupil surnamed Yung said of her visit to the barracks. “The ships are so big, and the soldiers so strong. It honestly makes me feel safer growing up in Hong Kong. I hope our country will keep moving forward and flourish.”

An elderly man surnamed Wan, wearing a cap emblazoned with the name, Fujian (Hull 18) -- the country’s third aircraft carrier -- said he could hardly contain his excitement touring the barracks.

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After seeing the nitty-gritty of the garrison’s daily life at first hand, many visitors couldn’t hold back their appreciation. “I’m deeply grateful to the soldiers for protecting Hong Kong,” said a resident surnamed Shek. “They left their homes to protect us,” he said. “So, I want to cheer them on and wish them the best of health and strength.”

Contact the writer at wanqing@chinadailyhk.com