QINGDAO -- A group of Taiwan compatriots on Thursday attended an open-day event celebrating the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in Qingdao, a city in East China's Shandong province.

They boarded active-duty warships open to the public and learned about the ships' weapons and equipment, as well as the work and daily life of the officers and crew.

Opening active-duty vessels to the public is a cultural tradition shared by navies around the world. In recent years, the PLA Navy has held multiple such open-day events on occasions including its founding anniversary and National Day.