This volume summarizes the papers presented at the Chinese Peptide Symposium-96. The topics of the Symposium comprised six sections:

• approach and methods;
• a molecular diversity-peptide library;
• conformation of peptides and proteins;
• structure and design;
• bioactive peptides; and
• a chemistry-biology interface.

The contributions were concerned with most aspects of peptides and proteins, including chemistry and biology, along with others related to peptides, such as glycopeptides, peptidomimetics and amino acids. The proceedings reflect recent advances in the fields of peptide and protein chemistry and biology, providing a stimulus for continuing research in these and related fields.