First Domestically Built Aircraft Carrier CNS Shandong Visits Hong Kong

The CNS Shandong, the first aircraft carrier built domestically in China, made its first visit to the waters of Hong Kong on Thursday, flanked by a formidable escort fleet. As the carrier and its accompanying ships — including the Yan'an, Zhanjiang, and Yuncheng — entered Hong Kong waters, they were greeted with a celebratory water salute and the cheers of crowds gathered along the shoreline.

The Shandong, with its towering flight deck that reaches the height of 20 stories and stretches the length of two football fields, displayed ten fighter jets on board. Additionally, over 700 sailors formed a human message spelling out "guoan jiahao," a phrase in Chinese that translates to "a secure nation ensures thriving families." This visit positioned Hong Kong uniquely as the only city to have hosted both active Chinese aircraft carriers, following the earlier arrival of the CNS Liaoning in 2017 to mark the 20th anniversary of the handover.