As if on cue, at around 9 am on Saturday — the first of two open days — military enthusiasts pulled out their phones and began photographing the Shandong, China's first domestically built aircraft carrier, as their ferries approached the carrier, outlined against the city's iconic Victoria Harbour.

They were among the 2,000 lucky ones to get tickets for a public tour of the colossal warship — stretching over 300 meters in length — and its escort ships, which are in Hong Kong for a five-day visit that started on Thursday.

A total of 10,000 free tickets were up for grab for tours slated for today and Sunday, with 2,000 allocated to those visiting the Shandong and 8,000 to those opting for tours of the Zhanjiang and Yuncheng at the PLA’s Ngong Shuen Chau Naval Base on Stonecutters Island.

Upon boarding the Shandong, visitors ascended via an elevator to the carrier’s expansive flight deck, comparable in size to two soccer fields — where 14 meticulously arranged carrier-based aircraft stood on display.

The impressive lineup included J-15 fighter jets, carrier-based helicopters, and anti-submarine warfare aircraft.

Nearby, white-uniformed People's Liberation Army Navy personnel conducted live demonstrations of weapons and navigational equipment.