14/2026-03
Pioneers and Dream Builders of China's Internet | CERNET's 30th Anniversary
In 1987, Wu Jianping went to the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Canada as a visiting scholar, where he first encountered the modern internet; in 1988, Zhang Ling conducted research on emerging high-speed integrated services networks at the UK's National Rutherford Laboratory, getting his first email account; in 1983, Li Xing studied at Drexel University in the United States, developed an interest in the internet, and wrote and released a software program on the internet that could read Chinese characters; in 1986, Liu Jiren went to the Computer Science Laboratory at the U.S. National Bureau of Standards for his doctoral dissertation, describing it as 'an eye-opening experience'; in 1990, Wang Weinong returned to China as a jointly trained doctoral student from the Technical University of West Berlin, where he had been exposed to early internet applications during his studies; in the early 1980s, Zhang Deyun went to Japan as a visiting scholar to research computer networks, striving to absorb advanced professional knowledge...
Their experiences studying abroad made these young university researchers among the few Chinese who first encountered the internet in that era. They personally experienced the benefits of the internet, and after returning to China, they promoted, researched, and pushed for the construction of China's own internet in various ways in their respective positions.
In 1994, the State Planning Commission and the State Education Commission decided to launch the China Education and Research Computer Network (CERNET) demonstration project. China's first nationwide internet network, CERNET, was born. Returned scholars like Wu Jianping, Zhang Ling, Li Xing, Liu Jiren, Wang Weinong, and Zhang Deyun, along with other promising and ambitious young university talents, were appointed to the CERNET Expert Committee.
The construction of this vast CERNET network had no ready-made reference template. Every step was a breakthrough from zero to one. Whether it was the technical choice of TCP/IP at the beginning of CERNET's establishment or the later choice of IPv6 single-stack route when building CERNET2, the experts chose the most difficult but relatively leading path.
The successful construction of CERNET provided a strong response: China could independently build its own internet that conforms to international standards, following the internet's architecture and technical standards. As the world's largest pure IPv6 backbone network, CERNET2 kicked off the technological innovation of China's internet.
Over the past 30 years, CERNET has trained generations of internet talents who have become or are becoming the backbone of China's internet operation, development, and innovation. Experts believe that we must not forget our original aspirations, and future CERNET builders need to be forward-looking and further enhance CERNET's service level and research platform capabilities, providing a world-class platform for the research and innovation of university teachers and students.
Their experiences studying abroad made these young university researchers among the few Chinese who first encountered the internet in that era. They personally experienced the benefits of the internet, and after returning to China, they promoted, researched, and pushed for the construction of China's own internet in various ways in their respective positions.
In 1994, the State Planning Commission and the State Education Commission decided to launch the China Education and Research Computer Network (CERNET) demonstration project. China's first nationwide internet network, CERNET, was born. Returned scholars like Wu Jianping, Zhang Ling, Li Xing, Liu Jiren, Wang Weinong, and Zhang Deyun, along with other promising and ambitious young university talents, were appointed to the CERNET Expert Committee.
The construction of this vast CERNET network had no ready-made reference template. Every step was a breakthrough from zero to one. Whether it was the technical choice of TCP/IP at the beginning of CERNET's establishment or the later choice of IPv6 single-stack route when building CERNET2, the experts chose the most difficult but relatively leading path.
The successful construction of CERNET provided a strong response: China could independently build its own internet that conforms to international standards, following the internet's architecture and technical standards. As the world's largest pure IPv6 backbone network, CERNET2 kicked off the technological innovation of China's internet.
Over the past 30 years, CERNET has trained generations of internet talents who have become or are becoming the backbone of China's internet operation, development, and innovation. Experts believe that we must not forget our original aspirations, and future CERNET builders need to be forward-looking and further enhance CERNET's service level and research platform capabilities, providing a world-class platform for the research and innovation of university teachers and students.