I keep telling people here not to underestimate China's ambitions. People constantly underestimate their progress because they always think conservatively.
China is already 2 times US GDP by PPP terms according many experts. Which means its 60 trillion USD in PPP terms. With China's population and GDP growth, its totally not unrealistic for them to double their GDP PPP in 20 years to 120 trillion USD PPP. That is 4 times current US GDP. With that level of economy, they can and should have the ambition to completely surpass US in naval power.
So, what that surpassing looks like? They can have the ambition to have 20 carriers by 2050 and completely surpass US navy. With that kind of goal, 9 carriers by 2035 is certainly possible.
My thinking is that China will have enough Air and Naval power than the entire western world combined by 2050 and likely twice as much as US does today. Which means atleast 180-200 destroyers, 20 carriers, 4000-5000 fighter jets. If they are following that timeline, then yes, 9 carriers by 2035 is doable and likely even too slow since that leaves them only 15 more years to build 11-13 more, accounting for potential retirement of Liaoning and Shandong by then.