In this paper, the recent development of telecommunications, especiall
y of the fiber optic cable trunks in China, is reviewed. The China Edu
cation and Research Network, the campus network of the Beijing Univers
ity of Posts and Telecommunications, and a newly built scientific expe
rimental ATM network are introduced. The future of optical communicati
ons in China is also discussed. (C) 1997 Academic Press.