Carrier tour captivates Hong Kong

Residents warmly praise PLA sailors, call visit an eye-opening experience

Hong Kong residents on Saturday praised the first domestically built aircraft carrier, the CNS Shandong, referring to their tour aboard the warship as an eye-opening experience that lifted their sense of national pride.

They were among 2,000 visitors who secured tickets for a rare public tour of the 300-meter-long carrier and its escort fleet.

The fleet, which includes the CNS Yan'an, a Type 055 destroyer; the CNS Zhanjiang, a Type 052D destroyer; and the CNS Yuncheng, a Type 054A frigate, arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday for a five-day visit.