Key Events

Apr.20 On April 20, China joined the global Internet family

Efforts to gain access to the Internet in 1994 could be traced back to the "first e-mail". Successfully sending an e-mail in 1987 was a preliminary achievement. On September 25 of the same year, China Daily (English version) reported that "China established puter connection with 10,000 universities, research institutes and puter manufacturers in the world. The connection was achieved with two Siemens puters respectively in Beijing and Karlsruhe." On November 8, NFS Director Stephen Wolff expressed we e to China's access to the international puter network.

On October 10, 1990, Prof. Wang Yunfeng discussed the application of Chinese network with Prof. Werner Zorn at University Karlsruhe, especially issues of CANET and Chinese applications for international domain names. (Prof. Zorn recalled that it was Wang Yunfeng who first suggested using the domain name of .CN, including the specific selection of the two letters.)

In early April 1994, China-US Joint Commission Meeting on Science & Technology Cooperation was held in Washington DC. Before the meeting, Ms. Hu Qiheng, Vice President of Chinese Academy of Sciences, reiterated China's request for Internet access to the National Science Foundation of United States (NSF) and it was finally accepted. Then, on April 20, a day of historic significance, the 64K dedicated international line, via which the NCFC project got access to the Internet through Sprint was launched and China gained full-functional access to the Internet.

As for the domain name .CN, the primary server had been run by University of Karlsruhe since January 1991 and wasn't moved to China until May 1995 when China and the US established direct Internet connection.

May.15On May 15, China's first website was launched

On May 15, 1994, the Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, set up China's first Web server and launched China's first set of web pages. The site did not only introduce high-tech development in China, but also included a column titled "Tour in China". It provides pictures and texts involving wider ranges such as news, economy, culture, business and trade and was later renamed China Window.

Institute of High Energy Physics, CAS was a pioneer in the research and use of the Internet. On May 17, 1994, the Institute established TCP/IP connection with California-based Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC). The connection was technically advantageous. This new munication protocol uses virtual router (different from X.25) and conducts reliable data transmission, enabling munication applications to go beyond e-mails and meanwhile supporting file transfer protocol (FTP) and TELNET.

Jul.In July, preparation for CERNET was initiated

In the early days, the Internet was mainly used by researchers and building a national information network was also mainly intended to serve scientific research institutes and higher education institutions. Naturally, the preparation for CERNET was launched.

In early July 1994, the experimental network of China Education and Research Network (CERNET) developed by Tsinghua University and five other higher education institutions was launched. The network adopted IP/X.25 technology, connected the five cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Nanjing and Xi'an and was linked to Internet via the international outlet of NCFC, making it a TCP/IP-based puter network.

In August, the CERNET project proposal was officially approved and the project team was required to submit a feasibility report as soon as possible. In the same month, it was confirmed through review that Northeastern University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology, and Beijing University of Posts and Tel munications would participate in the preparation for CERNET demonstration program.

On November 2, the State Planning Commission officially approved the Feasibility Report on CERNET Demonstration Program. The project was led by National Education Commission with its development work undertaken by ten higher education institutions, namely, Tsinghua University, Peking University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Xi`an Jiaotong University, Southeast University, South China University of Technology, Northeastern University, Beijing University of Posts and Tel munications, Huazhong University of Science and Technology and University of Electronic Science and Technology.

Later, it was joined actively by more higher education institutions. On December 14, the first CERNET annual academic meeting was held in Beijing and representatives of more than 50 major higher education institutions nationwide attended it. The meeting played a positive role in pushing forward the building of campus network in Chinese universities and colleges.