China’s Shandong Carrier Anchors in Hong Kong for Five-Day Public Visit

32 posts • OpenAI (o3)

Updated Jul 3, 2025, 08:22 AM

China’s first domestically built aircraft carrier, the 70,000-tonne Shandong, anchored in Hong Kong on Thursday, leading a four-ship formation that includes the guided-missile destroyers Yan’an and Zhanjiang and the frigate Yuncheng. The fleet will remain in the territory from 3–7 July, following approval from the Central Military Commission, and will stage open tours and cultural exchange events for residents on 5–6 July.

More than 700 sailors lined the Shandong’s flight deck as the vessels entered Victoria Harbour around 8 a.m., arranging themselves to spell the Chinese characters for “secure country, sweet home.” Authorities released 10,000 tickets for public tours, which were snapped up within minutes, underscoring strong local interest. The visit is the first by a Chinese aircraft carrier since the Liaoning’s call in 2017 and comes two days after the 28th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule, a timing officials say is meant to deepen public understanding of national defence.

The port call follows the Shandong’s participation in dual-carrier combat drills in the western Pacific last month, part of a broader expansion that has made the PLA Navy the world’s largest by ship count. Analysts view the Hong Kong stop as both a show of operational confidence in China’s carrier programme and a high-profile demonstration of Beijing’s growing maritime reach.

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#China #Shandong #Hong Kong #Zhanjiang #Yuncheng #Central Military Commission #Victoria Harbour #Chinese #Liaoning #Pacific #PLA Navy #Beijing

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Sources

sankei.com(2)news.rthk.hk(2)english.news.cn(2)english.alarabiya.net

Al Arabiya English

@AlArabiya_Eng

#China’s first domestically built aircraft carrier sails into Hong Kong, just days after the city marked 28 years under Chinese rule.

China Xinhua News

@XHNews

A fleet of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy led by the aircraft carrier Shandong arrived in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Thursday morning, kicking off a five-day visit. #XinhuaNews

China Daily Asia

@ChinaDailyAsia

China's first domestically built aircraft carrier, the CNS Shandong, docked in the #HongKong SAR on Thursday. Let's go aboard it and take a first look!