Four new inventions explained

The term Four new inventions is a slogan promoted by Chinese state media, drawing inspiration from the Four Great Inventions of ancient China. In 2017, Chinese state media began asserting that mainland China "invented" high-speed rail, mobile payment, e-commerce, and bike-sharing.[1] [2] [3] However, none of these "four new inventions" were originally invented in mainland China.[4]

High-speed rail

High-speed rail is a type of rail transport that operates significantly faster than traditional rail systems, utilizing an integrated system of specialized rolling stock and dedicated tracks. The European Union defines "high-speed" as a minimum of 250 km/h on new tracks and 200 km/h on older tracks. The world's first high-speed train, the Tōkaidō Shinkansen in Japan, began service in 1964 with a maximum speed of 210 km/h.[5] [6]

In mainland China, "high-speed" is defined as a design speed of at least 250 km/h, with a minimum operational speed of 200 km/h during initial service.[7] In 2008, the first Chinese high-speed railway, the Beijing–Tianjin intercity railway, began operations.[8] By 2016, China claimed to have the largest high-speed rail system in the world.[9]

E-commerce

E-commerce was invented in 1979 by Michael Aldrich.[10] The first online store, NetMarket, was launched in 1994.[11] [12]

E-commerce in mainland China began in 1999 with platforms like Dangdang and Joyo.com (now Amazon China).[13] In 2003, Jack Ma founded Taobao, followed by the establishment of 360buy (now JD.com) in 2004.[14]

Mobile payment

Mobile payment generally refers to payment services that are operated under financial regulations and conducted using a mobile device. The concept originated in Finland in 1997.[15]

In mainland China, mobile payments began in the early 21st century, with Alipay and WeChat Pay being the most prominent platforms.[16] [17] [18] According to statistics, the market penetration of mobile payments is 77% in mainland China, compared to 48% in the United States and 27% in Japan.[19] [20]

Bike-sharing

A bike-sharing system is a service that provides bicycles for short-term use at a fee.[21] The first bike-sharing system, known as the "White Bicycle Plan," was introduced in Amsterdam in 1965.[22]

In mainland China, the bike-sharing system began with Ofo in 2014,[23] followed by Mobike in 2015.[24]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: "新四大发明"亮个相！. 2017-10-27. Xinhuanet. zh-hans. https://web.archive.org/web/20180503114715/http://www.xinhuanet.com/info/2017-10/27/c_136709316.htm. 2018-05-03. dead. 2018-05-03.
  2. Web site: Pic story: China's "four great new inventions" in modern times. 2017-12-19. Yang Yi. Xinhuanet. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20180503131031/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-12/19/c_136835935.htm. 2018-05-03. dead.
  3. Web site: Spotlight: China's "four great new inventions" in modern times. 2017-08-08. An. Xinhuanet. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20180503131932/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-08/08/c_136507975.htm. 2018-05-03. dead.
  4. Web site: Who really came up with China's 'four new inventions'?. Pratik Jakhar. 2018-04-03. BBC News. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20180503115646/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-43406560. 2018-05-03. live. 2018-05-03.
  5. Web site: Tokaido Shinkansen (1964). Landmarks. ASME. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20170623212137/https://www.asme.org/about-asme/who-we-are/engineering-history/landmarks/211-tokaido-shinkansen. 2017-06-23. live.
  6. Web site: Milestones:Tokaido Shinkansen (Bullet Train), 1964. IEEE Global History Network. IEEE. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20180404033456/http://ethw.org/Milestones:Tokaido_Shinkansen_(Bullet_Train),_1964. 2018-04-04. live.
  7. Web site: 铁路主要技术政策（铁道部令第34号）. 2013-02-20. The Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China. zh-hans. https://web.archive.org/web/20140826113632/http://www.gov.cn/flfg/2013-02/20/content_2334582.htm. 2014-08-26. live. 2016-11-05.
  8. Web site: 科技部、铁道部联合签署《中国高速列车自主创新联合行动计划合作协议》. 2008-02-27. Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China. zh-hans. https://web.archive.org/web/20171027055512/http://www.most.gov.cn/tpxw/200802/t20080227_59350.htm. 2017-10-27. live.
  9. Web site: 中国建成世界最大高铁网 变身高铁技术引领者. 2017-10-26. 于京一. 中国网. zh-hans. https://web.archive.org/web/20180523120324/http://www.china.com.cn/travel/txt/2017-10/26/content_41796119.htm. 2018-05-23. live.
  10. Web site: Online shopping: The pensioner who pioneered a home shopping revolution. Denise Winterman. Jon Kelly. 2013-09-16. BBC News. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20171203181200/http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-24091393. 2017-12-03. live.
  11. Web site: E-commerce turns 10. 2004-08-11. CNET. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20170215171314/https://www.cnet.com/news/e-commerce-turns-10/. 2017-02-15. live.
  12. Web site: Shop Direct celebrates 20 years of online shopping. 2014-08-11. Shopdirect.com. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20180207005148/https://www.shopdirect.com/shop-direct-celebrates-20-years-online-shopping/. 2018-02-07. live.
  13. Web site: Hackstetter . Tatjana . 2013 . CHINA – THE RISING DRAGON IN E-COMMERCE : What Foreign Companies Should be Aware of When Entering the Chinese Online Shopping Market . 中国——电子商务的崛起之龙：外国公司进入中国网购市场应注意的问题 . 2024-03-28 . www.theseus.fi.
  14. Chan . Allan KK . Huanyong Chen . Caleb . Zhao . Long . 2018-01-01 . JD.com: leveraging the edge of e-business . Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies . 8 . 3 . 1–30 . 10.1108/EEMCS-06-2016-0109 . 2045-0621.
  15. Web site: Osta ja maksa kännykällä. 1997-11-14. Verkkouutiset. fi. https://web.archive.org/web/20180403053534/http://w3.verkkouutiset.fi/arkisto/Arkisto_1997/14.marraskuu/AUTOPHON.HTM. 2018-04-03. live.
  16. Web site: 支付宝和微信支付，有什么不同？. 2017-09-11. 普惠家. zh-hans. https://web.archive.org/web/20180523121538/https://www.puhuijia.com/industryInfo/473928.html. 2018-05-23. dead. 2018-05-23.
  17. Web site: 支付宝和微信支付的海外战争. 2018-04-27. QQ.com. zh-hans. https://web.archive.org/web/20180523121526/http://new.qq.com/omn/20180427/20180427A0YXC3.html. 2018-05-23. live.
  18. Web site: 在香港，支付宝和微信支付多了一个对手. 2018-03-19. 虎嗅网. zh-hans. https://web.archive.org/web/20180319163916/https://www.huxiu.com/article/236258.html. 2018-03-19. live.
  19. Web site: 9月6日科技早间新闻：我国移动支付普及率77%全球第一. 2017-09-06. 中国科技. zh-hans. https://web.archive.org/web/20170908172053/http://tech.china.com.cn/internet/20170906/320637.shtml. 2017-09-08. live.
  20. Web site: 我国移动支付普及率77%全球第一 美国仅48%日本27%. 2017-09-05. QQ.com. zh-hans. https://web.archive.org/web/20170910003835/http://tech.qq.com/a/20170905/074774.htm. 2017-09-10. live.
  21. Ricci . Miriam . 2015-06-01 . Bike sharing: A review of evidence on impacts and processes of implementation and operation . Research in Transportation Business & Management . Managing the Business of Cycling . 15 . 28–38 . 10.1016/j.rtbm.2015.03.003 . 2210-5395.
  22. Web site: Provo. The British Library. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20171031121837/https://www.bl.uk/learning/histcitizen/21cc/counterculture/assaultonculture/provo/provo.html. 2017-10-31. live.
  23. Web site: One Startup Builds $1 Billion Business Out of 15-Cent Bike Rides. Lulu Yilun Chen. 2017-03-01. Bloomberg News. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20171116130458/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-01/ofo-becomes-chinese-bike-sharing-unicorn-after-giant-fundraising. 2017-11-16. live.
  24. Web site: 摩拜创始人：未来百车大战如果只剩一家，是我们. 2016-11-29. 界面新闻. zh-hans. https://web.archive.org/web/20170901202030/http://www.jiemian.com/article/986771.html. 2017-09-01. live.

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