A deck reception will be held on Thursday night aboard the nation’s first domestically built aircraft carrier, the Shandong, with community representatives from Hong Kong and Macao in attendance, according to a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy officer overseeing the warship’s visit to the city.

The event is part of a five-day visit by the Shandong and its three escort ships — the Yan’an (Type 055 destroyer), Zhanjiang (Type 052D destroyer), and Yuncheng (Type 054A frigate) — which officially began on Thursday.

Following a welcome ceremony at the Ngong Shuen Chau Barracks, the PLA Hong Kong Garrison’s naval base on Stonecutters Island, Captain Wu Kang announced that Hong Kong students would be given a special tour of the Shandong on Friday morning.

The tour will be followed by a national-defense-themed lecture delivered by the fleet’s officers at the barracks.

Anchored near Victoria Harbour, the Shandong will open to the general public on Saturday, while the Zhanjiang and Yuncheng will receive visitors on Sunday at Stonecutters Island.

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The PLA Hong Kong Garrison has distributed 10,000 free tickets for the tours via its WeChat account, including 2,000 for the Shandong.

The Yan’an, anchored near Victoria Harbour, will not be open to the public during this visit.

Wu emphasized that this is a rare opportunity for local residents to see China’s modern naval advancements up close, noting that all vessels in the fleet are active-duty warships of the Chinese Navy.

He described the strike group as a “fully equipped, highly capable, and visually impressive” naval force that has sailed vast oceans, demonstrating China’s maritime strength.

During public tours, naval personnel and marines will engage with visitors through interactive sessions, such as demonstrating small arms handling, signal flag communication, and navigational instruments.

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The visiting naval officers will also participate in friendly soccer matches, tug-of-war competitions, and cultural exchanges with the PLA Hong Kong Garrison and the disciplinary forces of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government to strengthen camaraderie and mutual understanding.

Wu expressed his excitement upon seeing Victoria Harbour’s stunning skyline and the enthusiastic crowds gathered at the docks when the fleet arrived in the morning.

As the fleet sailed into Hong Kong waters at around 8 am, the Shandong’s massive flight deck showcased 12 carrier-based aircrafts alongside a formation of more than 700 sailors spelling out the characters “guo an jia hao”, a Chinese phrase meaning “a secure nation ensures thriving families”.

Wu said the arrangement was intended to convey their patriotic sentiment, as well as their love for Hong Kong and best wishes for its residents.