Hong Kong: The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has showcased its growing naval power with the maiden visit of its first domestically built aircraft carrier, the Shandong, to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The Shandong, accompanied by three escort vessels, arrived on Thursday, July 3, 2025, for a five-day visit, drawing large crowds and a grand water salute as it sailed into Victoria Harbor.
The fleet, comprising the aircraft carrier and its escorts – the guided-missile destroyers Yan’an (Type 055) and Zhanjiang (Type 052D), and the guided-missile frigate Yuncheng (Type 054A) – received a warm welcome. On the Shandong’s massive flight deck, fighter jets (J-15s) and helicopters were visibly lined up, alongside a formation of over 700 officers and soldiers who spelled out the Chinese characters “Guo An Jia Hao” (secure country, sweet home).
This visit marks a significant display of Chinese military strength and patriotic sentiment in Hong Kong, coming just days after the city marked the 28th anniversary of its return from British to Chinese rule. It is only the second time a Chinese aircraft carrier has visited Hong Kong, following the Liaoning’s visit in 2017.
The visit includes open tours for the public on Friday, July 4, 2025, through Sunday, July 6, 2025, allowing residents to experience the modern naval vessels firsthand. Tickets for these tours were reportedly snapped up within minutes of becoming available, highlighting intense public interest.
The Shandong, commissioned in 2019, is a symbol of China’s rapidly modernizing navy and its ambition to project power in the region and beyond. Its presence in Hong Kong is seen as a message reinforcing the mainland’s commitment to the city’s security and stability, as well as a demonstration of China’s status as a maritime power.
