Navies invite public on board for tours

"I feel very proud visiting our own warship," he said.

"I was welcomed by foreign ships as well. Besides military capability, it is an opportunity to display their culture and tradition."

Girish K. Warrier, an officer from Shivalik, waited by the gangway distributing ship caps and pamphlets to visitors. Commissioned in 2005, the 114-meter-long Shivalik is capable of reaching speeds up to 30 knots.

"It is like a brand of the Indian navy," Warrier said.

"I am glad to see so many people visiting her and getting to know India through this ship," he added.

Sports games, including basketball, soccer and boat racing, were also held among the navies on the open day.

"We played for friendship's sake. It doesn't matter whether we win or lose. The point is that we all enjoyed the game," said Khalid Alimbong, an Indonesian mariner who played basketball with Chinese sailors.

Although Australia didn't send a ship for the event, a military band flew to Qingdao from Sydney to give a show at the port.

"The event is very well organized. It is fantastic visiting Qingdao," said Paul Cottier, the band's conductor.

"We played a Chinese folksong for our local visitors," he said.

Contact the writer at pengyining@chinadaily.com.cn