Gravitational waves were predicted by Einstein's general relativity. Up to now there has been no direct evidence for gravitational waves. Since the 1990's, laser interferometers have become the dominant detectors for gravitational wave detection, LIGO, Virgo, GEO600 and TAMA300 are the major laser interferometer gravitational wave observatories in the world. Chinese scientists would like to join the international club on gravitational wave detection and proposed a plan to build an underground China Einstein gravitational wave observatory (CEGO). As a preliminary stage, China plans to set up a 2/spl times/100 m prototype interferometer in Beijing.