On June 26, 2021, Zhuhai Destroyer (Hull 166) was berthed at Jianshe Wharf in Jiulongpo District. During the last year, 600,000 tourists boarded it to understand China's naval history and feel the patriotic enthusiasm inspired by this experience.
What kind of memory did Hull 166 evoke for the veterans who had served on the ship?
Hull 166 received 600,000 tourists last year to display China's naval history (Photo provided to iChongqing)
Li Hengli: My home for 14 years
In 1990, Li Hengli, then aged 21, headed for Dalian with comrades-in-arms to "pick up" Hull 166 from the shipyard.
"What impressed me most was the destroyer's large size. I felt very proud of it." Li said he and other soldiers were assigned to different posts for study and training. After they knew how to operate the naval ship, Hull 166 was officially listed in the navy fleet in November 1991. Not until 2004, when retiring did Li leave home where he had lived for 14 years.
A group photo of Li Hengli with foreign seamen during Li's mission (Photo provided to iChongqing)
Li served as the leader of the First Boiler Squad on Hull 166, whose task was to power the destroyer. In 1994, Li went abroad for the first time to Russia with Hull 166. In 1997, Hull 166 visited five ports in the United States, Mexico, Peru, and Chile within 100 days. It was the first main warship of the Chinese navy to cross the Pacific Ocean, setting new records such as the longest visiting time, the longest voyage, the most countries and ports visited, and the most visitors it carried.
Li retired in 2004. After that, he was never daunted by any challenges "because of his experience on Hull 166," as he said. Li noted that he would visit the naval ship to reminisce about his years of military service.
I saw the vast ocean and understood the country's greatness
At the end of 1997, 17-year-old Ma Bing boarded Hull 166 and became a soldier of the Electrician Squad.
"When performing maritime missions with the naval ship, I saw the vast ocean and understood the country's greatness," said Ma.
Ma Bing (left) and his fellow soldier Zhang Wei (Photo provided to iChongqing)
He recalled, "Without smartphones and cameras, I did not take many photos back then. My first photo with Hull 166 was taken on the third day of the Lunar New Year in 1998, with my team-mate Zhang Wei at the rear missile launcher."
During the year when Hull 166 was berthed at Jianshe Wharf, Ma's teammate asked him to meet there several times, but because of his busy work, he has not been able to make the trip. Ma said he hoped that he could take another photo at the same location with his teammate later.
Zhang Wei still keeps his badge
Zhang Wei began to serve on Hull 166 together with Ma Bing.
"Back then, Hull 166 was the most advanced destroyer in the South Sea Fleet of the People's Liberation Army Navy. When we boarded the naval ship, it had just finished the mission to visit the five ports in the United States, Mexico, Peru, and Chile." Zhang recalled that old soldiers shared exciting things during the mission and gave them some souvenirs — cash of small denominations, which were lost later. Despite that, Zhang still remembers his amazement at seeing Peru's banknotes in the denomination of over 10,000 for the first time.
Zhang keeps an "Excellent Soldier" medal and a badge. He said that each soldier had a badge with his name on it, an embodiment of that period, but the medal was a recognition of his hard work.
"At first, I missed my family. But later, I realized my responsibilities as a serviceman." Zhang said boys became brave like real men in the army. For his outstanding performance, Zhang joined the Communist Party of China and became an honorable Party member in 1999. All of these prompted Zhang to forge ahead after he retired in 2001.