Registration for public tours of the nation’s domestically built aircraft carrier the Shandong and its escort ships opened on Monday in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, with tickets snapped up in minutes.
Local leaders said the Shandong’s visit from July 3 to 7, its first time in Hong Kong, represents a living patriotic class for local residents and a testament to national industrial strength.
It will open for tours on Saturday and Sunday, allowing visitors to explore designated areas, including its fighter jets and helicopters, and observe training demonstrations. The visit will make Hong Kong the only city in the world to have hosted two Chinese aircraft carriers for public tours.
READ MORE: Naval fleet led by Shandong aircraft carrier to visit Hong Kong
A total of 10,000 visitor tickets, including 2,000 for the Shandong and 8,000 for tours of the guided-missile destroyer Zhanjiang and frigate Yuncheng, which will be docked at Stonecutters Island, will be distributed to the public for free in different time slots from Monday until Saturday.
The distribution on Monday was carried out in three batches at 10 am, 3 pm and 8 pm via the People’s Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison’s WeChat account – all tickets were snapped up in within minutes.
More tickets will be available on the garrison’s Wechat channel today, at the same times.
Gordon Lam Chi-wing, a Hong Kong deputy to the National People’s Congress (NPC), praised the Shandong aircraft carrier, which was fully built and equipped domestically, and said it surpassed the Chinese navy’s Liaoning aircraft carrier as a technological icon. Its design, expanded hangar, advanced radar, and next-generation J-15T/D fighter jets bring out the nation’s manufacturing prowess, he added.
Lam recalled that 2,000 tickets to visit the Liaoning aircraft carrier were snapped up in three hours in 2017 when it visited Hong Kong. This time, first day tickets gave away fast, demonstrating an undimmed local interest in the country’s naval fleet.
For the younger generation, this is not just a warship, it is the embodiment of the nation’s high-intelligence manufacturing, which boosts their recognition of the nation’s technological prowess, Lam said.
The visit coincides with the 80th anniversary of victory in WWII, merging military display with anti-war values. Lam said the carrier fleet not only allows the residents to deepen their understanding of national defense, but also serves as a “security anchor”, providing safeguards for the city and its prosperity.
“To residents, this isn’t just a warship visit, it’s a living classroom of patriotism. Families and students are especially eager to witness China’s domestically built carrier, which crystallizes our technological sovereignty,” Yau Tsim Mong District Councilor Wong Shu-ming told China Daily.
Wong said she has received many inquiries over public tours of the carrier from local residents hoping to see first-hand the nation’s technological achievements.
Wong, who was lucky to get a ticket to visit the carrier, said she plans to organize sharing sessions in the community and at schools following her tour for those who are unable to board the vessel, in a bid to further extend the opportunity for patriotic education.
Notably, the fleet includes the Type 055 destroyer Yan’an — one of the world’s most advanced warships, capable of launching hypersonic missiles — though it will not be open to the public.
READ MORE: CNS Shandong aircraft carrier participates in military exercises
Commissioned in 2019, the Shandong represents a major advance in China’s naval capabilities.
Compared to its predecessor, the Liaoning, it features a more compact control tower, a larger flight deck and hangar, and upgraded radar, electronic warfare systems, and weaponry.
The last such event was in 2017, when the Liaoning and its escorts docked to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, drawing thousands who queued overnight for tickets.
Huang Yawen contributed to the story.
Contact the writer at lilei@chinadailyhk.com
