China's aircraft carrier leaves for tests

QINGDAO - China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, Sunday left its homeport of Qingdao in East China's Shandong province on tests and training missions.

The journey is the first of its kind for Liaoning in 2014 and is part of its yearly tests and training schedule, according to sources with he People's Liberation Army Navy.

The aircraft carrier and its crew have conducted a series of tests and trainings, including landing and takeoff by various aircraft on its deck.

The Liaoning is China's only aircraft carrier in operation. It was refitted based on an unfinished carrier of the former Soviet Union. The refitted carrier was delivered to the navy on September 25, 2012.