China's first foreign satellite launchedIn April 1990, the Long March 3 carrier rocket, independently developed by China, sent the Asia I communication satellite into space.
First nuclear power stationOn December 15, 1991, Qinshan Nuclear Power Station, the first nuclear power station on the Chinese mainland, started generating power. The 300,000 kW station is nestled in Hangzhou Bay, Zhejiang Province.
The Three Gorges Dam ProjectIn 1992, the Three Gorges Dam Project was approved by the Fifth Session of the Seventh National People's Congress (NPC). Two years later, the project kicked off. On November 8, 1997, the project completed damming the river, and on May 20, 2006, the entire Three Gorges Dam project was completed.
Shuguang-1 ComputerIn 1993, China developed the Shuguang-1 parallel computer system.
Nano technologyIn 1993, the Beijing Vacuum Physics Laboratory at the Chinese Academy of Sciences wrote the characters of "China" with atoms.
First supersonic unmanned planeIn April 1995, China's first supersonic unmanned plane successfully conducted its maiden flight.
Strategy of invigorating the country through science, technology and educationIn 1995, the leadership group of the Communist Party of China (CPC) put forward the strategy of invigorating the country through science, technology and education at the National Science and Technology Conference.
Nanning-Kunming RailwayOn March 18, 1997, the Nanning-Kunming Railway was put into operation. It runs from Nanning in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to Kunming in Yunnan Province.
Yinhe-3 computerOn June 19, 1997, a new super computer called "Yinhe-3," capable of performing 13 billion calculations per second, passed state appraisal, marking a breakthrough for the country in developing large-scale computer systems. The state-of-the-art design was developed by the Computer Institute under the National Defense Science and Technology University.
J-10 fighterIn March 1998, a J-10 fighter jet conducted its maiden flight. It came into service with the PLA air force in 2006.
The State Supreme Science and Technology AwardOn May 23, 1999, the State Supreme Science and Technology Award was established. The winner receives a prize of 5 million yuan.
First Arctic scientific expeditionFrom July to September 1999, China initiated its first state-sponsored scientific expedition in the Arctic. Snow Dragon, with a 124-member team on board, went on a voyage of 14,180 nautical miles during 71 days.
China joined the International Human Genome ProjectOn July 7, 1999, the Human Genome Center of the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, applied to take part in the International Human Genome Project. The application was approved in September.
First spaceshipAt 6:30 a.m., November 20, 1999, China launched its first spaceship, Shenzhou I. After a 21-hour voyage, the spaceship returned to the earth.
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