China’s first domestically built aircraft carrier, the CNS Shandong, sailed into Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour on 3 July, leading a formation that includes the guided-missile destroyers Yan’an and Zhanjiang and the frigate Yuncheng. The vessels received a ceremonial water salute before anchoring on the western edge of the harbour, while the escorts berthed at the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) naval base on Stonecutters Island. The five-day port call, running through 7 July, features open-day visits, drill demonstrations and cultural exchanges. Authorities allocated 10,000 tickets—2,000 for the carrier itself—with all places snapped up within minutes. On arrival, more than 700 uniformed sailors lined Shandong’s 315-metre flight deck, arranging themselves to spell the Chinese characters for “secure country, good home.” J-15 fighter jets and Z-18 helicopters were visible on deck. The visit comes two days after Hong Kong marked the 28th anniversary of its return to Chinese rule and is the first appearance of a PLA carrier in the city since the Liaoning in 2017. Shandong’s stop follows recent dual-carrier drills in the western Pacific and reflects Beijing’s effort to showcase its 70,000-tonne flagship and the PLA Navy’s growing blue-water capabilities to local residents and regional observers.