HONG KONG, July 3 (Xinhua) -- On his 28th birthday, Lieutenant Xie Huigui of the Chinese Navy was on board China's first domestically built aircraft carrier Shandong, bound for a five-day visit to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

He was born on July 1, 1997, the day of Hong Kong's return to the motherland. His given name "Huigui" -- meaning "return" -- marked the historic day.

Xie arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday morning on board the Shandong. The aircraft carrier, leading a formation comprising three other vessels, entered the Victoria Harbour at 8 a.m.

The fleet was escorted by helicopters and vessels sent by the HKSAR government and the Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). More than 700 officers and soldiers spelled out Chinese characters "secure country, sweet home" on the Shandong's flight deck.

The sight of the naval fleet sparked instant cheers from crowds gathered along the coasts of the Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula.

"I feel extremely lucky to be able to see the Shandong with my own eyes. It is truly magnificent," said a retired maritime pilot gazing at the vessels with a binocular.

Atop Hong Kong's various mountains, crowds have started gaining vantage points from as early as 6 a.m. to snap pictures of the fleet's arrival. Many of them came from mainland cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen.

Naval officers and soldiers lined the sides of the aircraft carrier and waved back at the welcoming crowds. Qi Zhengkun, who visited Hong Kong on board the aircraft carrier Liaoning in July 2017, told younger soldiers about the metropolis' iconic spots -- the Golden Bauhinia Square, Hong Kong's tallest skyscraper International Commerce Center and the Victoria Peak.

The aircraft carrier and the Yan'an missile destroyer were anchored near the west end of the Victoria Harbour. The Zhanjiang missile destroyer and the Yuncheng missile frigate docked at the PLA Hong Kong Garrison's naval base in Stonecutters Island, where HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee welcomed the fleet.

Among the welcoming crowd at the naval base were students from Heung To Middle School, who were overjoyed to board the Yuncheng because the opportunity was given as a reward for upstanding students. "My family is from Yuncheng City in North China. My hometown has the same name with the vessel," said a particularly excited eighth-grader surnamed Gung.

From Friday to Sunday, the fleet will host open tours, lectures, drill demonstrations and other exchange activities. Hong Kong residents who signed up for on-board tours will be able to view homegrown fighter jets and helicopters up close on the aircraft carrier's sprawling flight deck. ■