Adil Kaukenov, a renowned Sinologist, sheds light on the tradition of naming Chinese military ships. In response to the question of what names like «Czibo» and «Linyi» mean, he explains:
«Traditionally, Chinese ships are named after geographical locations.
For example, China’s pride, the aircraft carrier ‘Shandong’ (山东), is named after the province where Confucius was born. ‘Czibo’ (淄博), also in Shandong, is famous for its industry and skewers and was the ancient capital of the Qi kingdom, which can be literally translated as ‘Dark Plain.’ ‘Linyi’ (临沂), another district within Shandong, is renowned as the center of communist resistance during the Japanese occupation in World War II, and its name translates to ‘standing by the I River.’
You might notice a lot of references to Shandong, and you’d be correct. Shandong Province holds a significant place in China’s history, and it’s no coincidence that it is the birthplace of Confucius.
‘Urumchi’ is, of course, the capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
‘Jinzhou’ (锦州) is a city in Liaoning Province, and it’s worth noting that China’s first aircraft carrier bears the name of this province.
‘Qiandao Lake’ (Qiandao 千島湖) means ‘Lake of a Thousand Islands,’ located in the eastern province of Zhejiang, is one of the most remarkable man-made bodies of water in the world and a major attraction in Zhejiang.
‘Dongting Lake’ (洞庭湖), the second-largest freshwater lake in China, is known in Chinese culture as the birthplace of the Dragon Boat Festival. That’s a brief overview of it.»
Please note that the names of the ships in the article have been preserved in their original Chinese form, followed by their English translations and explanations.
