China’s first domestically-built aircraft carrier arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday, 3rd July, 2025, as part of a drive to drum up patriotism, days after the former British colony marked the 28th anniversary of its return to Chinese rule.
The aircraft carrier, the CNS Shandong, sailed into Hong Kong Special Administrative Region waters on its maiden visit to the city, and she was accompanied by a powerful escort fleet.
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”.
It was learnt that 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.
According to agency reports, 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 Harbor at around 8:00 am, drawing cheers from enthusiastic crowds that gathered along the waterfront.
However, a welcoming ceremony was 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 delivered a speech.
The fleet’s five-day stay in Hong Kong — which includes exclusive public tours — followed 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.
China has redoubled its patriotism drive in Hong Kong since crushing anti-government and pro-democracy street protests in 2019. A large number of opposition figures have been imprisoned after the passage of a sweeping new national security law.
Stretching 315 meters in length and weighing up to 70,000 tonnes, the Shandong passed through Hong Kong waters before anchoring on the western edge of Victoria Harbour with J-15 fighter jets and Z-18 helicopters on its flight deck.
The Chinese missile destroyer Zhanjiang and the missile frigate Yuncheng docked at a PLA naval base on Stonecutter’s Island, according to the official Xinhua news agency.
The tradition of Hong Kong hosting some of the world’s most advanced warships extends back to the decades before 1997, when the city returned to Chinese rule. It was once one of the most popular destinations in Asia for U.S. Navy port visits.
About The Author
