For the second time in two months, Hong Kong residents rushed to secure a glimpse of the nation’s naval power, with the first two batches of free tickets to tour two People’s Liberation Army Navy ships during the upcoming National Day holidays being snapped up within seconds of them being released on Saturday.

Members of the public can tour the nation’s homegrown training vessel Qi Jiguang and the landing ship Yimeng Shan on Wednesday --   National Day -- and the following day.

A total of 11,000 tickets are being distributed for free through the PLA Hong Kong Garrison’s official WeChat account, with releases scheduled for 10 am, 3 pm and 8 pm over the weekend.

The first two batches of tickets were snapped up on Saturday within a minute, reflecting the patriotic fervor seen when aircraft carrier CNS Shandong docked in Hong Kong in July.

To families like Li Qiuying’s, the vessels aren’t just naval assets, but living monuments.

READ MORE: Navy fleet visit ignites national pride in Hong Kong

Determined to give her four-year-old son a personal lesson in national history, Li and her husband meticulously prepared to book a tour. They typed in information required by the registration system early and, as the 10am booking window neared, they switched from Wi-Fi to more reliable cellular data to prevent any possible last-minute hitches. Their enthusiasm paid off when her husband successfully secured two tickets.

“This will be our first time on a warship,” the 31-year-old mother said, noting her son’s fascination with the military since the Victory Day parade in Beijing on Sept 3 that showcased a range of advanced weaponry. “I look forward to hearing what he has to say after seeing it all up close.”

For Xi Bin, his successful ticket booking was a moment of delayed satisfaction.

The 32-year-old e-commerce worker said he had “regretfully” missed out boarding the Shandong two months ago although he still felt proud after touring vessels that accompanied the Shandong and seeing the massive carrier from afar.

This time, his approach was tactical -- refreshing the page minutes ahead of the tickets being released.

Xi’s fascination is personal, nurtured by stories from his uncle who had served in the PLA Air Force for 16 years. “He spoke of advanced aircraft, which made me even more curious,” Xi recalled. That childhood yearning has now translated into adult pride -- seeing how far China’s defense capability has progressed. “I’m most moved by our researchers’sheer determination to bridge the gap,” he said.

For college student Jason, the upcoming warship tour will fulfill a long-standing interest. The 25-year-old said he and his sister had carefully prepared for the booking by setting up alarms to remind themselves.

A military fan since childhood, Jason said the great leap in the nation’s military strength on full display during the Sept 3 parade has made him even more eager to see these advanced systems up close.

He said that the namesakes of the warships -- Qi Jiguang and Yimeng Mountain -- are timeless symbols of national resilience. “We must carry their spirit forward, adhere to peaceful development and work for the national rejuvenation,” he said.

The Qi Jiguang, commissioned in February 2017, is 163 meters long with a full displacement of 9,000 metric tons. Its companion, the Yimeng Shan, entered service a year earlier. With a displacement of about 19,000 metric tons, it’s also capable of a range of noncombat missions, including disaster relief and medical assistance.

Their names pay tribute to key chapters in centuries of Chinese resistance. Qi Jiguang was a Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) general renowned for defeating Japanese pirates, while Yimeng Shan is a group of mountains in Shandong province that became a resistance base pivotal to China’s victory in the People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).

Children aged 11 or under do not require a ticket to board the vessels, but must be accompanied by an adult. A special preview for selected students who do not require tickets will be held on Tuesday afternoon as part of Hong Kong’s drive to boost patriotism and a sense of national identity among youth.

According to the Ministry of National Defense, the ships’ Hong Kong visit is part of a scheduled far-sea training mission that will also take in Cambodia, Thailand and Singapore.

The fleet carries about 1,200 PLA soldiers and navy academy students who’ll be going through field training in ship handling, and oceanographic hydrology and meteorology. While in the special administrative region, the soldiers will visit foreign military facilities and meet with their foreign counterparts.

Contact the writer at lilei@chinadailyhk.com