Bei Jing Ri Bao Ke Hu Duan·2025-09-14 01:35Core Points - The article discusses the historical significance of China's first email sent to Germany in 1987, marking the beginning of China's journey into the internet era [1][2][4] - It highlights the challenges faced by Chinese scientists in establishing international internet connections and the eventual success in connecting to the global network [5][16][26] Group 1: Historical Context - The first email sent from China contained the message "Across the Great Wall we can reach every corner in the world," symbolizing China's entry into the international scientific community [2][4] - The project to establish an international internet channel began in 1985, driven by the urgent need for Chinese researchers to share their work globally [5][10] Group 2: Key Figures and Collaborations - Wang Yunfeng, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, played a crucial role in initiating the project and sought collaboration with German professor Werner Zorn, known as the "father of the internet" in Germany [7][8] - Financial support was secured through a special grant from the governor of Baden-Württemberg, which allowed the project to progress significantly [9][10] Group 3: Technical Developments - The successful modification of the host operating system and resolution of software issues between China and Germany took 11 days, leading to the first successful email transmission [11][12] - The email was delayed due to a minor programming error, which was eventually resolved, allowing the email to be sent successfully [12] Group 4: Challenges and Costs - The initial usage of the international email channel was low due to high costs, with each email costing hundreds to thousands of yuan, making it unaffordable for many researchers [15] - The connection established was not directly to the Internet backbone, leading to additional costs and complications in email transmission [15][16] Group 5: Progress Towards Full Internet Access - By 1994, after extensive negotiations, China successfully connected to the Internet backbone, becoming the 77th country to do so [26][21] - The establishment of the ".CN" domain was a significant milestone, allowing China to have its own internet identity [32][27] Group 6: Commercialization and Expansion - The late 1990s saw the emergence of internet companies in China, with figures like Ma Yun (Jack Ma) founding Alibaba and others establishing significant online platforms [34][48] - The reduction in internet access costs in 1997 led to a rapid increase in internet users, marking the beginning of widespread internet adoption in China [46][47]