PLA Navy's crucible of future warship leaders
For almost four decades, the Zheng He has served as an operational classroom and floating instrument of China's maritime diplomacy
As the sun sets at a naval port in Dalian, Northeast China's Liaoning province, the massive hull number "81" gleams along the side of the Zheng He, an oceangoing vessel operated by the People's Liberation Army Dalian Naval Academy.
The number "81" is no ordinary designation. It serves as a direct tribute to Aug 1, 1927 — the date of the Nanchang Uprising that marked the founding of the PLA. Commissioned in 1987 as China's first purpose-built, indigenously designed Type 679 training ship, the 132-meter-long, 5,000-metric-ton vessel serves as the operational crucible for China's modernizing surface fleet.
The ship belongs to the Dalian Naval Academy — established in 1949 as the PLA's first formal naval school and widely regarded as the nation's premier training ground for surface warship commanders. While the Zheng He is primarily dedicated to the at-sea practice of officer midshipmen, its mission extends well beyond officer candidates. With 18 living quarters and four activity areas, the ship accommodates up to about 200 cadets at a time, providing hands-on operational experience for enlisted technicians, non-commissioned officers and junior midshipmen alike.
In recent days, Zheng He deck officer Zhang Zecong was tasked with organizing teaching models and equipment in preparation for the arrival of a new cohort of cadets. Now in his sixth year aboard the Zheng He, Zhang carries out his duties with precision.
"I heard plenty about the Zheng He's illustrious history when I was a cadet at Dalian Naval Academy," Zhang said. "It fills me with pride to carry on this ship's fine traditions and contribute to nurturing talent for the PLA Navy."
Named after the legendary Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) imperial envoy who commanded China's 15th-century treasure fleets, the Zheng He has earned the moniker "talent carrier" for the PLA Navy. Over nearly four decades of service, it has delivered more than 50,000 military professionals. Two out of every three active-duty surface warship commanding officers in the PLA Navy have completed at-sea training aboard its decks, as have more than half of all flag officers and senior fleet commanders.
In addition to its domestic training role, the vessel functions as an instrument of naval diplomacy. The ship has sailed beyond national waters 16 times, traversing all three major oceans and visiting 29 countries and regions across six continents. Its cumulative log exceeds 600,000 nautical miles — equivalent to 27 complete circumnavigations of the globe. Cited as an "Advanced Unit of the PLA" in 2012 and awarded the title "Meritorious Training Ship" in 2015, it holds a unique position in China's maritime development.
