The DFH-3 satellite is a medium-capacity geostationary communications satellite based on the DFH-3 Bus (three-axis-stabilized telecommunications satellite platform). The 2200 kg satellite carries 24 C-band transponders, providing six television channels and 18 communications transmission channels. It has a power supply of 2 kW and a design life of 8 years.

On 29 November 1994, DFH-3 1 was launched, entering GTO precisely as planned. Unfortunately, however, the apogee kick stage malfunctioned, causing Chinese officials to use the spacecraft's propulsion system to lift the vehicle into a sub-geosynchronous orbit where the spacecraft was declared lost.

The second DFH-3 satellite, the satellite in this launch, was launched on 12 May 1997 and got to its orbital slot thereafter. It has experienced malfunctions in attitude stabilisation which resulted in excessive fuel consumption that may reduce its operational life. It is currently operating normally.