BEIJING: The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy opened its barracks to the public in more than 10 cities nationwide on April 23, in celebration of its 77th anniversary, with over 40 active-duty vessels available for public visits.
A variety of active combat ships are open to visitors, including guided-missile destroyers, guided-missile frigates, minesweepers, missile boats, and amphibious landing ships.
Additionally, auxiliary vessels, including comprehensive supply ships, ocean-going navigation training ships and hospital ships, are also accessible to the public.
Many of the participating ships have conducted major missions, including escort operations in the Gulf of Aden, overseas visits and joint exercises.
The open-ship events are happening in cities including Dalian, Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Guangzhou, and Sanya. Some vessels are opening to the public for the first time, while others are docking in the cities they are named after for the first time.
Visitors can engage with naval personnel and learn about naval culture.
Besides ship visits, naval air force bases and ports are also open, along with themed activities that emphasize the connections between warships and their namesake cities.
Opening active-duty vessels to the public is a long-standing tradition among navies worldwide. In recent years, the PLA Navy has regularly held such events on its founding anniversary and National Day, with growing scale and influence. –The Daily Mail-CGTN news exchange item
