Three major warships of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy opened to the public in Zhanjiang City, south China's Guangdong Province, drawing large crowds of visitors over the weekend as part of the celebrations marking the 77th anniversary of the PLA Navy's founding.
China on Thursday celebrated the 77th anniversary of the founding of PLA Navy. To mark the occasion, the PLA Navy has opened naval bases in more than 10 cities to the public, with dozens of active-duty vessels on display.
At a naval port in Zhanjiang, long queues of visitors have already queued up early in the morning, waiting to board the ships which are berthed side by side along the pier.
The guided-missile destroyer Nanning (Hull 162), known for its active service record, spends more than 200 days at sea each year. Its rare return to the port has drawn many visitors eager to see this well-known warship up close.
The amphibious transport dock landing ship Kunlunshan (Hull 998) and comprehensive supply ship Ulungur Lake (Hull 893) also attracted significant attention from the public.
In addition to the ship tours, the naval port has operated a variety of interactive activities for visitors to enjoy.
The Nanning, China's first Type 055 guided-missile destroyer, entered service with the Chinese PLA Navy in January 2020, as the first of domestically developed Type 055 10,000 tonne-class destroyers. Fourteen months after its commissioning, it undertook its first air defense and anti-missile mission under actual combat scenarios.
The Kunlunshan is the first of Type 071 amphibious dock landing ship. Commissioned in January 2008, it is capable of carrying helicopters, hovercraft, amphibious armored vehicles and landing forces. The vessel can project power across oceans and is equipped to perform a wide range of missions.
The Ulungur Lake is a Type 903 comprehensive supply ship independently designed and built by China, with a full load displacement of over 20,000 tonnes.
PLA Navy warships open to public to mark founding anniversary
