The new carrier's name and hull code remain unknown as the PLA Navy usually makes public such information when a ship is commissioned.

The ship, the largest and most sophisticated naval vessel in China, was designed and built by the nation on its own.

Its construction began in November 2013 and work in the dry dock started in March 2015. The carrier was launched – moved into water – in April 2017. It has finished the outfitting process, where engineers installed and fine-tuned all of the ship's interior equipment and weapons.

Currently, the Navy operates a sole aircraft carrier, CNS Liaoning, which was originally a Soviet-era vessel that was extensively refitted at the Dalian shipbuilder. The Liaoning conducted 10 sea trials starting August 2011 before going into service in September 2012.

The new carrier has a displacement of around 50,000 metric tons and a conventional propulsion system. Like the Liaoning, it will use a ramp to launch J-15 fighter jets, the spearhead of the Chinese carrier battle group. The ship will also carry several types of helicopters.