China's 2nd homegrown large cruise ship to make Hong Kong its homeport in 2027

China's second domestically built large cruise ship, the Adora Flora City, will take Hong Kong as its homeport in 2027, said its operator Adora Cruises on Friday.

According to the new itinerary announced by the operator on Friday, the cruise ship will set sail and visit Hong Kong in November this year. In 2027, it is scheduled to operate nearly 20 voyages.

To enhance passengers' experience, the itinerary also includes three destination-free cruise trips. During these trips, the ship will remain at sea without making any port calls, and passengers can simply pack their bags and board as no visa is required.

"We are deeply honored to bring this cruise ship to Hong Kong, allowing guests from Hong Kong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to experience the charm of the vessel, a true marvel of China's modern engineering innovations. We also hope to expand Hong Kong's cruise options by offering a mix of short, medium, and long-haul itineraries, providing diverse cruise travel experiences for different types of passengers," said Guo Jia, assistant vice president for product and customer experience at Adora Cruises.

The 341-meter-long vessel, with a gross tonnage of 141,900 tons, has 2,130 cabins and suites and can carry up to 5,232 passengers at full capacity. Compared with its sister ship Adora Magic City, China's first homegrown large cruise ship, Adora Flora City has undergone comprehensive upgrades in spatial design, guest experience, and intelligent technology.

The vessel is scheduled for delivery on November 6 and will operate international routes from the Nansha International Cruise Home Port in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province.

An episode of "Unraveling the Vanishing Mystery of the 34th Division," a documentary series by China Global Television Network (CGTN), tells the story of the 34th Division of the Fifth Army Corps, which fought a fierce rear-guard action against pursuing Kuomintang forces during the Long March.

In November 1934, the Battle of the Xiangjiang River took place in southern China. About 86,000 members of the Central Red Army participated in the battle. Only about 30,000 remained. This was one of the most brutal battles on the Long March.

But the Red Army broke through the blockade of the Kuomintang forces and continued its westward advance. This battle ultimately paved the way for the historic 1935 Zunyi Conference and became an important turning point in the Long March.