Carrier CNS Shandong arrives in HK for maiden visit

The nation's first domestically built aircraft carrier, the CNS Shandong, sailed into Hong Kong Special Administrative Region waters on Thursday on its maiden visit to the city, accompanied by a powerful escort fleet.

The sprawling carrier, alongside three escort ships — the Yan'an (Type 055 destroyer), Zhanjiang (Type 052D destroyer), and Yuncheng (Type 054A frigate) — received a grand water salute as they sailed into Hong Kong waters and toward Victoria Harbour at around 8:00 am, drawing cheers from enthusiastic crowds gathered along the waterfront.

The Shandong's massive flight deck — standing 20 stories tall and spanning two football fields — showcased 10 fighter jets alongside a formation of more than 700 sailors spelling out guoan jiahao, a Chinese phrase meaning "a secure nation ensures thriving families".

Shandong's visit makes Hong Kong the only city to have played host to two serving Chinese carriers, following CNS Liaoning's 2017 visit for the handover's 20th anniversary.

A welcoming ceremony will be held at 10 am at the Ngong Shuen Chau Barracks — the People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison's naval base on Stonecutters Island — where Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu will deliver a speech.

The fleet's five-day stay in Hong Kong — which includes exclusive public tours — came on the heels of the July 1 celebrations marking the 28th anniversary of the city's return to the motherland.

The timing also aligns with the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, blending military display with anti-war themes.

Shandong's arrival has been greeted with enthusiasm on social media, as Hong Kong residents eagerly shared tips on prime viewing locations to watch the carrier group's passage through the scenic East Lamma Channel — the waterway separating Hong Kong Island from Lamma Island — before its final docking.

The PLA HK garrison has distributed 10,000 free tickets through its WeChat account, with 2,000 allocated for tours of the Shandong anchored near Victoria Harbour.

The remaining tickets will provide access to the guided-missile destroyer Zhanjiang and frigate Yuncheng docked at Stonecutters Island.

Commissioned in December 2019, Shandong ushered in China's "dual-carrier era", joining the Liaoning, the nation's first carrier commissioned in 2012.

Shandong surpasses the Liaoning with a larger deck, expanded hangar, streamlined control tower, and upgraded radar and weaponry.

The escort fleet underscores China's shipbuilding prowess.

For example, the Yan'an, named after a revolutionary base in Northwest China, features stealth and hypersonic missile capabilities, though it is not open to the public this time.

Meanwhile, the Zhanjiang — nicknamed Chinese Shield — and Yuncheng, a veteran of anti-piracy missions, reflect the navy's global operational reach.

The Ministry of National Defense has said that the visit aims to demonstrate military modernization achievements and the country's commitment to national security.

Hong Kong legislators have praised the event as a "living patriotic lesson" highlighting China's military and industrial advancements.