Sailors from two visiting PLA naval vessels have shown their softer side by sharing their experiences touring Hong Kong during the National Day celebrations and revealing how the city’s pop culture has influenced them.

Thousands of residents also headed to Stonecutters Island to board the training vessel Qi Jiguang and amphibious assault ship Yimeng Shan on Thursday, the final day they were open to members of the public able to secure one of the 11,000 tickets the People’s Liberation Army gave out earlier.

Naval students shared more details about their time off the ships. Zhang Zihan, a student at the PLA Dalian Naval Academy, said coaches had taken students to Mong Kok, where they were allowed to explore freely.

Zhang, who toured the city on Tuesday, tried curry pork chop rice and Hong Kong-style milk tea there.

“I also went to Tsim Sha Tsui, where I bought some cosmetics for my mom and girlfriend,” he said. “Hong Kong is such an international city with diverse products that are available at good prices.”

The sailors also said they watched the fireworks display staged over Victoria Harbour on National Day on the vessels’ decks and in the naval base.