China: Snapshot of the Internet around 1990

2004.6.26/2012.7.11/10.28

[from CNNIC, 2004]

1. August 25, 1986, Geneva, Switzerland, time 4:11:24 (GMT 11:11:24), Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of High Energy Physics in Beijing, Wu Weimin for Institute 710 by a IBM-PC machine, remote login to VXCRNA CERN Geneva Shuqin's account sent an e-mail to the Geneva-based Steinberger via satellite link.

2. In September 1987, with the support from a scientific research group led by Professor Werner Zorn of Karlsruhe University in Germany, a working group led by Professor Wang Yunfeng and Doctor Li Chengjiong built up an Email node in ICA, and successfully sent out an Email to Germany on Sep 20th. The Email title was "Across the Great Wall we can reach every corner in the world."

3. From November 9th to 11th, 1987, a Chinese delegation was invited to participate in the sixth International Academic Networkshop held in Princeton, U.S. During the conference, the local organizer forwarded congratulatory letter of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to Chinese representative - Mr.Yang Chuquan, welcoming the extension of BITNET and CSNET electronic mail to China.

4. In early 1988, China's first X.25 PAC – CNPAC has been established. Major cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenyang, Xi'an, Wuhan, Chengdu, Nanjing, and Shenzhen had been covered.

5. In March 1988, the China Academic Net (CANET) project was launched with the objective of organizing universities and research institutes to connect their vast computers to the global computer networks.

6. In July, 1988, through satellite lines of Radio Austria, the Institute of High Energy Physics of Chinese Academy of Sciences adopted X.25 protocol, making a VAX785 computer as one of descendant nodes of European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva, Switzerland.

7. In December 1988, the college network of Tsinghua University was connected to Canada's University of British Columbia (UBC) through X.25 network and initiated the E-mail applications by adopting X400 protocol E-mail software pack, which was introduced by Professor Hu Daoyuan from UBC.

8. In May 1989, the Chinese Research Network (CRN) was connected to the German Research Network through the pilot X.25 net. Members of CRN include: the No. 15 Institute of Electronic Science of the Ministry of Electronic (located in Beijing), the No. 30 Institute of the Ministry of Electronic (located in Chengdu), the No. 54 Institute of the Ministry of Electronic (located in Shijiazhuang), Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (located in Shanghai) and Southeast University (located in Nanjing), etc. Services that CRN can provide include Email (X.400 [MHS] standard), file transmission (FTAM standard), catalogue (X.500 standard) and so on. People may also access the Internet through the gateway of DFN in Germany.

9. In October 1989, one of credit projects of the World Bank -- the Demonstration Network for Education and Scientific Research in Zhongguancun Area (named by the State Development Planning Commission), or National Computing and Networking Facility of China (NCFC, named by the World Band) prepared for initiation. It was then formally launched in November. NCFC is a high-tech information infrastructure project of the "Key Subject Development Project" of the World Bank, and was invested and supported by the State Development Planning Commission, CAS, the National Natural Science Funds and the State Development Planning Commission. The project was charged by CAS, and was jointly implemented by Peking University and Tsinghua University. The chief goal of the project was to consummate the construction of the NCFC backbone network and the college networks through technical cooperation with Peking University, Tsinghua University and CAS.

10. On November 28th, 1990, with Professor Wang Yunfeng and Professor Werner Zorn's efforts, the registration of China's country code top-level domain - .CN was completed with Mr. Qian Tianbai as the administrative contact. From then on, China has its own Internet identity. Since China had not yet achieved full functional connection to the Internet at the time, the .CN ccTLD name server was temporarily set in Karlsruhe University in Germany.

11. In March 1991, the Institute of High Energy Physics of Chinese Academy of Sciences established connection to the computer network of Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC).

12. In June 1992, '92 INET Conference held in Kobe, Japan. Prof. Qian Hualin made an appointment with the principal of International Network Department; National Sciences Foundation discussed the issue of official connection between China and the Internet. However, he was informed there were political obstacles since so many U.S. governments had connected to the Internet.

13. In later December 1992, Tsinghua University Network (TUNET) was set up and went into service. TUNET is the first college network that adopts TCP/IP structure in China. The backbone was successfully adopted FDDI technique for the first time, which leaded many aspects within China such as the scale, the technique level and the application of networks.

14. In later 1992, the College Network (i.e. CASNET, which connects over 30 research institutes in Zhong Guan Cun area and CAS headquarter in San Li He) of Project NCFC, TUNET (Tsinghua University Net) and PUNET (Peking University Net) completed the construction.

15. On March 2nd, 1993, a 64KDECnet fixed line to the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) was officially opened. Built by the Institute of High Energy Physics of Chinese Academy of Sciences, the fixed line was operated by renting international satellite channels of AT&T. With great support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Principals of key research projects in various subjects were enabled to use this fixed line through dial-up connections. An Email system was available to hundreds of domestic scientists.

16. On March 12, 1993, deputy premier Zhu Rongji proposed and deployed the establishment of National Public Economic Information Network (i.e. Golden Bridge Project).

17. In April 1993, Computer Network Information Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences called part of Network specialists in Beijing to investigate the domain name systems of each country, then framed the domain name system of China.

18. In June 1993, experts of NCFC reiterated China's requests for being connected to the Internet at the '93 INET Conference, and discussed such issue with the global Internet communities. After the meeting, researcher Qian Hualin attended the CCIRN (Coordinating Committee for Intercontinental Research Networking) Meeting, and won the support of majority participants in favor of bringing the Internet connection to China. The conference gave a great boost to China's connection to the Internet.

19. On August 27, 1993, Premier Li Peng approved to use the Premier Reserve of 3 million USD to support the Golden Bridge Project in initiating its prophase construction.

20. On December 10, 1993, the National Joint Conference on Economy Informatinalizing had been formed. Zou Jiahua, the deputy Premier of the State Council was appointed the chair.

21. In December 1993, the backbone network construction of NCFC was accomplished. It connected three universities by high-speed optic cable and routers.

22. In early April 1994, the Sino-American Federation of Scientific and Technological Cooperation Committee held meeting in Washington. Before the meeting, on behalf of China, the academician Hu Qiheng, the vice-president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences reiterated to the National Science Fund (NSF) the request of China’s Internet connection. The proposal was approved.

23. On April 20, 1994, the NCFC project opened a 64K international dedicated line to the Internet through Sprint Co. Ltd of the United States, which achieved its full-functional connection to the Internet. Since then, China has been officially recognized as a country with full functional Internet accessibility. It was elected one of China's top 10 scientific and technological events in 1994 by the Chinese press community and designated as one of China's key scientific and technological achievements in 1994 by the State Statistical Communiqué.

24. On May 15, 1994, the High-Energy Physics Research Institute, CAS set up China's first web server and made the first set of web pages. Apart from briefing on the development of high technology in China, there was another column called "Tour in China". Since then, the column expanded its range to the information about news, economies, culture and business and provided essays together with pictures and renamed "Windows of China" afterward.

25. On May 21, 1994, with the assistance of Professor Qian Tianbai and Karlsruhe University (Germany), the computer network information center, CAS finished setting up the China's top domain name (CN) servers, which ended the history of location abroad of CN servers. Qian Tianbai and Qian Hualin are nominated managing contactor and technical contactor respectively.

26. In May 1994, the National Research Center for Intelligent Computing System opened the first BBS in Chinese mainland – Dawn BBS.

27. On June 8, 1994, general office of the State Council issued "General Office of the State Council's Notice on the Related Issues of 'Three Golden Projects' ". From this day on, the prophase construction of the Golden Bridge Project was entirely carried out.

28. On June 28, 1994, with help of Tokyo University of Sciences, Beijing University of Chemical Technology began the pilot run of the leased line connecting with the Internet.

29. In earlier July 1994, the six-college-established (mainly by Tsinghua University) trial network "China Education and Research Network" began to operate. By using IP/x.25 technique, it became a TCP/IP based computer network that connected Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Nanjing and Xi'an, and also connected with the Internet through the international port of NCFC.

30. In August 1994, the project of China Education and Research Network (CERNET) was officially set. It was invested by the State Development Planning Commission and charged by the State Development Planning Commission, and aimed at connecting college computers and share the resources by using advanced computer and network communication technologies. Further more, it planed to connect with international learning networks, and establish a full functional administrative network system.

31. In September 1994, Directorate General of Telecommunications P & T and the Department of Commerce of United States signed an agreement on the Internet connection. In the agreement, the Office of Telecommunication should open two 64K leased lines (one was in Beijing, another was in Shanghai) with the assistance of the Sprint Corporation in America. It marked the start-up of the CHINANET.

32. In November 1994, the Administrative Commission of NCFC hosted the annual meeting of Asia-Pacific Networking Group (APNG) in Tsinghua University with assistance of CAS, Peking University and Tsinghua University. It was the first International annual meeting of Internet community in Asia-Pacific region held in China.

33. In January 1995, Directorate General of Telecommunications P & T, China Telecom opened Beijing and Shanghai 64K leased lines to the United States with help of Sprint Co. Ltd. It began to provide Internet accessing services through telephone networks, DDN leased lines and X.25 networks.

34. In January 1995, "Chueng Kong Scholars" (Chisacm), the journal published by Ministry of Education (State Educational Committee) was put onto the Internet through CERNET, focusing on providing information to the students abroad. It was the first Chinese E-journal in China.

35. In March 1995, CAS completed the long-distance connection to its four branch institutions in Shanghai, Hefei, Wuhan and Nanjing with IP/X.25 technology. It is the first step that China began to spread the Internet connection to the whole nation.

36. In March 1995, Professor Li Xing from Tsinghua University was elected the Executive Committee member of the Asia-pacific Network Information Center (APNIC) for the first time.

37. In April 1995, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) launched the project of connecting its institutes that out side Beijing (known as "100 CAS Institutes Connection Project"). The objective of the project was to expand the institute network (connected over 30 institutes of CAS in Beijing) to 24 cities all over the country, in order to realize the fully connection of all domestic learning institutions and the connection with the Internet. Based on this project, the network expanded continuously, and gradually connected with many scientific academies and researching outside CAS. It became a scientific oriented national network, serving scientific users, research branches and relevant governmental departments. Its name was also changed into “China Science and Technology Network”(CSTNet).

38. In May 1995, the China Telecom began to prepare for building up the national backbone network for CHINANET.

39. In July 1995, China's first 128K leased line that connects to the United States was opened by CERNET; meanwhile, CERNET also opened DDN channels for its backbone network, connecting with eight cities - Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Shenyang, Xi’an, Wuhan and Chengdu. The connecting speed was 64Kbps. The NCFC connection was also achieved.

40. In August 1995, the primary phase of "Golden Bridge Project" was accomplished. It achieved the connection (through satellite network) with 24 provinces and cities all over the country, and it further connected with the Internet.

41. In December 1995, "100 CAS institutes connection project" was accomplished.

42. In December 1995, "CERNET demonstrate project" was accomplished. This project was designed and constructed wholly by Chinese engineers.

43. In January 1996, the Informatization Leading Group of the State Council and its executive office were established. Zou Jiahua, the deputy premier of the State Council leaded the group. The former office of National Economic Informatization Joint Meeting was renamed the office of Informatization Promotion Leading Group of the State Council.

44. In January 1996, CHINANET backbone network completed its construction and began to provide network services through out the country.

45. On February 1, 1996, The State Council issued "The Interim Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Management of International Networking of Computer Information".

46. On February 27, 1996, China International E-Commerce Center of China International Electronic Commerce Center was formally established.

47. In March 1996, Tsinghua University proposed "the Unified Transmission Standard for Chinese Character Coding Adept in Different Countries" to IETF and was approved as RFC1922. It was the first Chinese proposal being approved as RFC document.

48. On April 9, 1996, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications issued "Rules for Administration of China's Public Computer Networks and International Connection", and effective as of the same day.

49. On June 3, 1996, the Electronics Industry Administration published "The Relevant Decisions on Administering the International Connection of Computer Information Networks". In the document, "China GBN" was renamed "China Golden Bridge Information Network". It also accredited Jitong Communication Co. Ltd the inter-connecting organization of China Golden Bridge Information Network, which was responsible for managing the connection of inner organizations and users.

50. In July 1996, the Information Office of The State Council called specialists form relative institutions to investigate the current technique implemental and administrative situations of 4 major Networks and nearly 30 ISPs in China. The investigation facilitated the standardization of network administration.

51. On September 6, 1996, the China Golden Bridge Network (China GBN) opened a 256K leased line connected to the United States. China GBN also announced the decision to provide Internet access service, mainly for institutional users through dedicated lines and individual users through telephone lines.

52. On September 22, 1996, the first domestic City Area Network (CAN) - Shanghai Hotline started its test run, which marked the accomplishment of the Shanghai Public Information Network – the main structure of Shanghai information port project.

53. In September 1996, the State Development Planning Commission formally approved starting the first stage project of “the Golden Bridge”.

54. On November 15, 1996, the Shihuakai Corporation built up the Shihuakai Internet Café besides the capital gymnasium; it was the first Internet café in China.

55. In November 1996, CERNET opened the 2M international line connected to the U.S. In the same month, during the German president's visiting, CERNET opened the learned network between China and Germany – CERNET-DFN, which is the first Internet connection to Europe from Chinese mainland.

56. In December 1996, the China Public Multimedia Communication Network, known as Net 169 began its operation. As preliminary group of connected web sites, Guangdong Shilingtong, Tianfu Hotline and Shanghai Online had officially opened.