The Early History and Development of the Internet in China

On September 20, 1987, a short bilingual email was sent from the Computer Application Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Engineering to the University of Karlsruhe in Germany, marking China’s first electronic mail and its initial direct contact with the global internet.

The email traveled via the Italian public packet network ITAPAC and Germany’s DATEX‑P, reaching its destination at a modest 300 bps speed, symbolizing the opening of China’s internet era.

In the following years, China built its own packet‑switching networks: the X.25‑based CNPAC in 1988, connections to European and North American research networks, and the Chinese Academic Network (CANET) established through a joint project with the University of Karlsruhe.

Significant milestones included the 1991‑1992 negotiations with the United States, which eventually allowed a dedicated 64 K satellite line (via Sprint) to connect the National Computing and Networking Facility of China (NCFC) to the Internet, achieving full‑function connectivity on April 20, 1994.

Subsequently, four major backbone networks were constructed: the China Science & Technology Network (CSTNet), the public ChinaNet (also known as the “163 network”), the China Education and Research Network (CERNET), and the China Golden Bridge Network (CHINAGBN). Each played a distinct role in expanding academic, commercial, and public internet access across the country.

By December 1997, these four backbone networks were interlinked, ushering China into a new era of widespread internet connectivity and laying the foundation for the rapid growth that followed.