A fleet of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy led by the aircraft carrier Shandong arrived in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Thursday morning.
The fleet, which also includes the Yan'an and Zhanjiang missile destroyers, and the Yuncheng missile frigate, started its five-day visit to Hong Kong on Thursday.
The naval fleet sailed through the East Lamma Channel, passing by the southern island of Ap Lei Chau. Many local residents were there welcoming and cheering for the fleet's entering to Hong Kong.
The Flagship Shandong will proceed to anchor in the waters west of the Hong Kong Island, while the Zhanjiang missile destroyer and the Yuncheng missile frigate will dock at Hong Kong's Stonecutters Island.
The three vessels will open to public visits on the weekend. The tickets for the weekend tour were booked out within one minute after the online reservation system opened on Monday, and the tickets for the Zhanjiang and the Yuncheng were also booked out in minutes.
A total of 10,000 tickets were issued for visitors -- 2,000 for the Shandong and 8,000 for the Zhanjiang and the Yuncheng.
The Shandong is China's first domestically designed, built and equipped conventionally powered aircraft carrier, with a length of over 300 meters and a full-load displacement of over 60,000 tonnes. Commissioned into the PLA Navy on Dec. 17, 2019 in Sanya, southern China's island province of Hainan, its induction marked China's entry into the "dual aircraft carrier" era.
This visit to Hong Kong marks its first time to open to the public since its commissioning. This event also coincides with the occasion of the 28th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland.
Since Hong Kong's return to the motherland in 1997, vessels of the PLA Navy have paid eight visits to the city in various forms. The first visit occurred in 2002, while the two most recent took place in 2024.
This is the second visit of an aircraft carrier fleet to Hong Kong, with the first taking place in July 2017 led by the Liaoning aircraft carrier.
A series of cultural events will be presented aboard when the fleet opens to the public, aiming to offer Hong Kong compatriots a more direct and in-depth understanding of China's advancements in national defense and military development in the new era.
Shandong carrier-led naval fleet arrives in Hong Kong
An industry observer said that 2026 is poised to be a "year of sequels and cultural stories" in global animation, following a strong 2025 where such films dominated box offices worldwide.
With heavyweights like Toy Story 5, Minions 3, and China's perennial favorite Boonie Bears set for release, along with culturally rooted productions such as The Three Kingdoms: War 1 Luoyang, the coming months are expected to draw large audiences and reinforce animation's central role in cinema.
This optimism is built on a solid foundation from the previous year.
Looking back at China's film market in 2025, animated features emerged as a powerful driving force. Four of the year's top 10 highest-grossing films were animations, three of which were domestic productions.
Total animation revenue exceeded 25 billion yuan (around 3.58 billion U.S. dollars), capturing nearly 50 percent of the annual box office. As the new year unfolds, the animation sector continues to shine with promising highlights.
A key trend driving this momentum is the surge of sequels from major franchises.
"One notable trend is the abundance of sequels to classic animated films, particularly from Hollywood. Several iconic series are releasing new installments, making 2026 a year of animated sequels. Given their strong IP foundation, these sequels are expected to attract more audiences' attention and achieve solid box office results," said Hu Jianli, secretary general of the Chinese Film Critics Society.
Alongside these international sequels, domestic animation IPs are also deepening their influence and expanding their reach. The annual Boonie Bears series will welcome its latest installment, while the popular TV series The Immortal Ascension is set for its big-screen debut.
"It's fair to say that the Boonie Bears series has maintained the most consistent quality among domestic animated film franchises over the years. Its expansion from television to movies, merchandise, and theme parks represents a fully developed industrial chain, greatly strengthening the IP's presence in the public consciousness. As for The Immortal Ascension, it's the first time that the animation IP is adapted for the big screen, which naturally generates exceptional attention—especially following the successful live-action web series last year. If this first animated film adaptation succeeds, it has the potential to become a major film IP in its own right," said Hu.
Beyond the reliance on established franchises, another significant creative trend is the growing number of animated films drawing inspiration from China's rich classical literature and historical epics. This approach aims to connect with audiences through deeply rooted cultural narratives.
A leading example is a prominent Chinese animation studio Light Chaser Animation's upcoming "The Three Kingdoms: War 1 Luoyang", which dramatizes the early power struggles from the famed historical period.
"We are seeing a clear increase in animated films adapted from classic Chinese novels and myths. Light Chaser Animation Studios' 'New Culture Series' has performed exceptionally well in our animated film market—for example, 30,000 Miles from Changan earned over 1.8 billion yuan (around 257.98 million U.S. dollars) at the box office. This series has truly succeeded in creatively transforming and innovatively developing China's outstanding traditional culture for the big screen, while also resonating emotionally with today's young audiences through its storytelling and character adaptations," said Hu.
Beyond sequels and adaptations rooted in traditional culture, original animated films are also carving out their space with unique concepts and distinctive styles, showcasing further creative possibilities.
Titles such as Arco, a 2025 animated science-fantasy film, and Pixar's Hoppers exemplify this trend of innovation.
"I believe animated films will remain a major force in the global box office in 2026. The worldwide top-grossing film of 2024 was Inside Out 2, and in 2025 it was China's Ne Zha 2. So I'm confident that animated films will once again rank among the highest-grossing releases globally this year," Hu said.
Animated films set to dominate 2026 global box office with strong lineup
