China's New Flattop

We hear these stories from time to time. This report is from India:

China has acquired the Varyag, a Soviet-era aircraft carrier which is several times larger than India's INS Viraat or the second-hand carrier Gorshkov, that is being refurbished in Russia.A Chinese front company called Chong Lot Travel Agency managed to buy the ship as scrap for US$ 20 million and towed it half way around the world, before placing it under high security in the Chinese naval base in Dalian.

...The Varyag is 67,500 tonnes, substantially larger than the Gorshkov which, after refit will be substantially smaller at 44,570 tonnes. The Varyag has a complement of 52 aircraft.

I agree with this last comment:

The Chinese acquisition of the Varyag is part of what is one of the largest and fastest growing fleet expansion plans since World War II and the acquisition of an aircraft carrier is being seen as a logical step forward in its naval evolution. But naval analysts point out that buying an aircraft carrier is all very well but learning to operate it effectively may take several years.

Here is a photo and more info of Varyag.