China launched its first domestically constructed aircraft carrier, the Type 001A, on Wednesday morning at the Dalian shipyard in northeast China's Liaoning Province.

The new carrier was transferred from a dry dock into the water at a launch ceremony that started at about 9:00 a.m. at the shipyard of the China Shipbuilding Industry Corp (CSIC).

It is only China's second aircraft carrier, coming after the Liaoning, a refitted Soviet Union-made carrier, which was put into commission in the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in 2012.

China began building its second carrier in November 2013, and dock construction started in March 2015.

While the main body has been completed and major systems have been installed, the new carrier still needs to undergo equipment debugging, outfitting and comprehensive mooring trials.

But putting the carrier into water already marks a big step in China's efforts to design and build a domestic aircraft carrier.

The launch ceremony was attended by Fan Changlong, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, as well as leaders of the PLA Navy and the CSIC.

Though not yet officially disclosed, military enthusiasts in China have already identified some improvements made to the Type 001A.‍

According to unofficial pictures online, the Type 001A features a smaller island than the Liaoning, but that does not mean the new carrier has fewer functions. Improved integration may have helped reduce the island size, leaving more space for other things on the deck.

The radar on the island is fitted a little bit higher and the type of radar is also newer.

The total area of the deck and the size of the hangar are also larger, although the number of aircraft it can carry remains the same, according to information obtained by CGTN.

T‍he Type 001A's performance is still expected to lag behind US-built, nuclear-powered competitors like the USS Carl Vinson, in terms of tonnage and aircraft-carrying capacity, among other things. 

But it shows China's ability to build its own carriers. And with new core technology, the country will be able to further improve it and build more capable and innovative aircraft carriers.

The last decade has seen a major shift for China's navy, from coastal defense to taking on greater responsibilities in the deep sea.

Beijing released in 2015 a naval advancement strategy to become a maritime power. The newly launched carrier reveals the big strides in China's military transformation, but it will still take time to form real capability.‍