CNN 's Alibaba China worked for Sohu , a American tech start-up , in the 1990s . CNN and peers like Alibaba are now some of the world 's biggest Internet companies . Back then , offices were spartan and lunch was instant noodles , not gourmet canteens . The rise of Stout 's mammoth dotcoms has been a thrill to both witness and report .
CNN 's Kristie Lu Stout worked for Sohu , a Chinese tech start-up , in the 1990s . Sohu and peers like Alibaba are now some of the world 's biggest Internet companies . Back then , offices were spartan and lunch was instant noodles , not gourmet canteens . The rise of China 's mammoth dotcoms has been a thrill to both witness and report .