China's aircraft carrier "Liaoning" has returned to its home port in Qingdao in east China's Shandong Province, after finishing about 40 days' scheduled scientific and training mission in the South China Sea.

Its voyage started on November 26th. This is the first time the carrier has conducted a cross-sea training voyage since it was commissioned into the People's Liberation Army Navy on September, 2012. The Liaoning and its crew conducted a series of tests and training drills, including landing and takeoff by various aircraft, including the J-15 carrier-borne fighter.

Its Captain Zhang Zheng said the South China Sea trial is a normal arrangement in the carrier's scheduled training. He also said long cross-sea voyages are a necessary stage of experimentation and training to test equipment and troops under continuous work and different hydrological and meteorological conditions.