DONGGUAN – The 2026 Greater Bay Area Maritime Summer Camp opened on Wednesday at the Humen Naval Battle Museum in Dongguan, welcoming 45 youngsters from Chinese mainland and Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions for a weeklong, immersive journey.
The campers will visit 15 maritime-themed study sites across four cities — Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan, and Huizhou — in an itinerary designed to give participants a firsthand experience of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area’s marine culture and to deepen exchanges among young people.
The journey began in Dongguan’s Humen, a location steeped in history. The campers visited the Humen Naval Battle Museum, attended a flag-raising ceremony and toured the historical Weiyuan Fort to learn about the region’s naval defense history. The experience culminated in a traditional dragon boat race on the water, allowing the youths to experience the spirit of unity and teamwork.
The exploration will continue across the region.
In Guangzhou, the campers are scheduled to visit key sites, including Guangzhou’s vessel traffic service center, the seamen’s competency assessment and demonstration center, the Nansha Guangchuan International Shipyard and the Nansha Port Area.
In Huizhou, the itinerary includes a trip to a mangrove wetland park, a sailing experience base, and the CNOOC Oil Spill Emergency Response Center, where participants will learn about marine ecology and the safe operation of the petrochemical industry.
The Shenzhen leg of the journey will feature a visit to the West Artificial Island of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link and a cruise on the Greater Bay Area No 2 through the Lingdingyang sea, offering a close-up view of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.
This year’s camp is the fifth edition of an event that has now engaged more than 350 young people in total. Organizers include the state and provincial maritime safety administrations, the Hong Kong Marine Department, the Macao Maritime and Water Bureau and the Southern Navigation Service Center.
