China’s first domestically built aircraft carrier, the Shandong, arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday, marking a symbolic visit just days after the city observed the 28th anniversary of its return to Chinese rule. Measuring over 300 meters (approximately 1,000 feet), the Shandong is the second aircraft carrier in China’s naval fleet and was officially commissioned in 2019. The vessel plays a pivotal role in President Xi Jinping’s vision to expand China’s naval capabilities, a strategy that has heightened regional tensions across Asia.
The Chinese government announced that the Shandong, accompanied by its escort group—including the destroyers Zhanjiang and Yanan, along with the frigate Yuncheng—will remain in Hong Kong for a five-day goodwill mission. During this time, the flotilla will engage in public tours and cultural exchange activities aimed at promoting military-civil interaction.
This high-profile port call follows the Shandong’s recent participation in combat exercises conducted in the western Pacific Ocean, where it operated alongside China’s first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning. Upon its arrival in Hong Kong, the Shandong anchored off the western side of Victoria Harbour, while its escorts docked at the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) naval base located on Stonecutters Island, at the northern side of the iconic harbor.
