China's first aircraft carrier harbored in Liaoning's Dalian port was painted with the number "16" on both sides yesterday afternoon, the Legal Daily reported on September 4, 2012.

China's first aircraft carrier was painted with the number "16".

Some military experts think it is the side designation of the carrier, and it had probably completed basic trials and was likely to be commissioned in the near future.

It has been hypothesized that the aircraft carrier will be assigned an official name, and some believe it might be "Liaoning."

A military fan nicknamed "indocile Chinese man" told the Legal Daily that the number painting began in the morning of September 2, and wasn't finished until 3:00 p.m. the next day. Unlike the black side number of other warships, the aircraft carrier's "16" was painted white.

Military observers are guessing that the number "16" was picked to commemorate former vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission Liu Huaqing, who was born in 1916 and is considered the "father of China's aircraft carrier."