Core 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]

Core Insights - The article highlights the significant impact of e-commerce on China's retail market, driven by technological advancements and the proliferation of smartphones [1] - It introduces ten prominent e-commerce entrepreneurs in China, showcasing their contributions to the industry and the digital economy [1] Group 1: Key E-commerce Entrepreneurs - Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba, is recognized as a pioneer in China's e-commerce landscape, having established the first internet business information site in 1995 and co-founding Alibaba in 1999, which transformed the e-commerce market [3] - Liu Qiangdong, founder of JD.com, created the largest self-operated e-commerce company in China, starting his entrepreneurial journey in 1998 and leading JD to successful listings on NASDAQ and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange [6] - Huang Zheng, founder of Pinduoduo, disrupted the e-commerce duopoly of Alibaba and JD by launching Pinduoduo in 2015, which has since grown to over 700 million users [8] - Shao Yibo, founder of eBay China (易趣网), established the first e-commerce website in China in 1999, achieving an 80% market share at its peak, earning him the title "Father of Chinese E-commerce" [10] - Guo Fansheng, founder of Huicong.com, created China's first listed e-commerce company in 2003, competing strongly with Alibaba during its peak [12] - Wang Xing, founder of Meituan, established a leading local service e-commerce platform, launching Meituan in 2010 and successfully listing it in Hong Kong in 2018 [14] - Zhang Jindong, founder of Suning.com, pioneered the "cloud commerce" model and expanded Suning into a leading player in the Chinese e-commerce sector [16] - Xu Yangtian, founder of SHEIN, became a leader in cross-border e-commerce, with SHEIN surpassing Amazon in app downloads in the U.S. [19] - Shen Ya, co-founder of Vipshop, introduced an innovative e-commerce model in 2008 and led the company to a successful listing on the New York Stock Exchange in 2012 [21] - Chen Ou, founder of Jumei, established a leading beauty e-commerce platform and became the youngest Chinese CEO of a listed company on the New York Stock Exchange in 2014 [23]