China's first aircraft carrier begins sea trials

China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, berths at Qingdao port, file photo. [Photo/Xinhua]

QINGDAO - China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, has left its homeport of Qingdao in East China's Shandong province to conduct scientific experiments and sea training, naval authorities said Tuesday.

This was the first time for the carrier to leave its homeport to conduct training voyage since it anchored there in February, according to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy.

The Liaoning and its crew members had conducted a series of scheduled tests and training drills in the homeport during the period.

Currently, China operates one aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, which was refitted based on an unfinished Russian-made carrier and delivered to the Navy on Sept 25, 2012.