China's Internet is actually very young. The country was not connected until April 20, 1994. And looking back today, it's hard to believe that all the changes the Internet has brought to the lives of hundreds of millions of Chinese have happened in just two decades.
"The first thing I do in the morning, is check my weixin and weibo account, to see if my friends have sent me any messages. Then I browse news to see what's fun. I even do this in the bathroom," said a man.
This is a typical start of a day for the 80s generation in China.
21 years ago, it was unimaginable.
To learn about China's earliest Internet moments, we talk to the founder of that historic connection.
Professor Hu Qiheng is 80 years old. She says the real date of China's first Internet connection was actually April 19th, a day earlier than official account of April 20th.
"April 19 night, my young college Li Jun was on duty, and he suddenly found he was on the internet, and he can access American website. He was so excited. Oh, that was fascinating, that was amazing... I would not report it to my boss... Save it for tomorrow morning. Now I should play, and see the world. Direct boss of Li Jun, Chen Hualin told me about that. I feel so happy, and delighted in my heart," Professor Hu said.
"Was it a normal kind of happiness that you have finished your work, or was it an extra kind of happiness that you were making history," asked the reporter?
"I think it was very common happiness. I didn't feel that I was making history," Professor Hu said.
In the earliest years, Internet connection was by telephone line through a modem, which Chinese affectionately called a "cat" because of its similar pronounciation.
It was super slow compared with today.
"I remember I only used computers for basic games, like Minesweeper, in 1994," said a woman.
"Or maybe QQ, an online chat app. But we didn't use it very often. We just used it for curiosity," said a woman.
And that curiosity continued to draw people to the new, fascinating technology.
Internet speed continues to rise with one technical breakthrough after another.
From phone lines to optical fibres, and now, wireless signals.
Today China is advancing into 4G era, with people enjoying rapid access any time anywhere with just a smartphone.
Tens of millions of Chinese have opened online businesses, and hundreds of millions more participate in politics like never before.
It might be hard to believe, but just 21 years ago, Internet still didn't really exist in China. But today, a tiny old town like this is covered with free wifi. And also here in Wuzhen, China is holding a global conference to discuss and debate about the future of the Internet.
