Olympic Torch says goodbye to Zunyi

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   Torchbearer Wang Daojin (C), a 93-year-old Red Army soldier receives the torch from Mu Degui (R), mayor of Zunyi City at the launching ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Zunyi, southwest China's Guizhou Province on June 14, 2008. (Photo credit: Xinhua)


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(BEIJING, June 14) -- Torchbearer Yuan Renguo arrived at the Renchuan Stadium at 9:50 a.m. on June 14, bringing to an end the Zunyi leg of the Olympic Torch Relay in southwest China's Guizhou Province. The next stop for the torch is Chongqing.

The torch set off on its 6.3-km journey this morning from the site of the Zunyi Conference, a meeting of the Communist Party of China that took place January, 1935, during the Long March.

Mao Zedong took command of the military and became the leader of the Communist Party after the conference, which has long been branded as a turning point in the history of the party.

The Zunyi leg of the Torch Relay, which involved 208 torchbearers, passed through Ziyin Road, Shilong Road, Fenghuang South Road, Fenghuangshan Cultural Center, a monument to the Red Army, Fenghuang North Road, Shanghai Road, Zunyi Normal College, Tianjin Road and Nanjing Road.

Wang Daojin, a Red Army soldier who is now 93 years-old, ran as the first torchbearer. Gui Yang, a firefighter who found three survivors in Sichuan after the May 12 earthquake, and Yang Changfeng, a farmer known for his feat of running across China, were also torchbearers.


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Immigrators embrace Beijing Olympic torch with enthusiasm

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  The last torchbearer Wang Lingang ignites the flame in Wanzhou. (Photo credit: Fan Fan)

WANZHOU, Southwest China, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Immigrators from the Three Gorges region celebrated the Beijing Olympic torch relay with enthusiasm when it kicked off in heavy rains in Wanzhou, Chongqing, Southwestern China Sunday morning.

Kong Linghui, former Olympic table tennis champion, became the first torch bearer to run off the Wanzhou Middle School after one minute of silence observed for the victims of the deadly May 12 earthquake that hit Sichuan province.

Despite showers pouring down, thousands of students and immigrating residents stood around the school with smiles all over their faces, cheering for the torch relay, shooting "Go On Olympics, Go On Sichuan"

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     Kong Linghui (C), former Olympic table tennis champion, became the first torch bearer to run off the Wanzhou Middle School in Wanzhou, Chongqing, Southwestern China Sunday morning after one minute of silence observed for the victims of the deadly May 12 earthquake that hit Sichuan province. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

A total of 208 torch bearers are running for 29.4 kilometers through the city, a population of 1.72 million, including 263,000 immigrators.

Being one of the 10 biggest port cities along the Yangtze River, Wanzhou is located in the center of Three Gorges Reservoir region as the biggest immigrating city, with one fifth immigrators from the region.

"The Beijing Olympic Games and the torch relay through the country, will surely enhance our sense of All For Fitness sports activities," said Tan Qibin, a resident at Baianba street in Wanzhou, "while China is set to become more stronger, we are going to host a successful Olympics and to create more miracles for our country and for the world as well."

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    Immigrators from the Three Gorges region celebrated the Beijing Olympic torch relay with enthusiasm when it kicked off in heavy rains in Wanzhou, Chongqing, Southwestern China Sunday morning. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

As one of the main themes, People's Olympics has been rooting among ordinary Chinese people, even for immigrating cities, such as Wanzhou.

Fitness Corridor has been set up along the riverside boulevard in the city with variety of sports equipment, attracting thousands of residents daily for physical training.

Residents who used to have their physical exercises by walking only, nowadays have easy access to the sports facilities even among their communities.

"I keep physical exercises one to two hours daily," said Xia Qingcheng who cheered for the torch relay along the rainy road, "We're putting sports activities in our daily life, and we're participating in the Olympic Movement actively."

Sports facilities and recreational equipment have been put in place in all immigrating cities, including Wanzhou.

"We have set up many a squares in our city, and the riverside Corridor has an area of nearly 6,000 square meters, which alone attracted some 2 million person-time last year," said Ran Molin, director of Wanzhou Sports Bureau.

To explore the advantage of two rivers flowing through, Chongqing, with Wanzhou as its second biggest city, has carried out a Fitness Program along the banks of the rivers for ordinary people in sports activities of basketball, tennis, beach volleyball, rock climbing and swimming.

Ten treks have been set up along mountain roads, which recorded the footsteps of 2 million person-time last year, and more than 600,000 square meters have been allocated for sports activities in the countryside for more than 3 million peasants in Chongqing.

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  One minute of silence observed for the victims of the deadly May 12 earthquake that hit Sichuan province before the Beijing Olympic torch relay kicks off in heavy rains in Wanzhou, Chongqing, Southwestern China Sunday morning. (Photo credit: Xinhua)


Therefore, many of the torch bearers in Wanzhou are ordinary residents. Luo Yang, a nurse in the Three Gorges Central Hospital, said after her leg of the torch relay that "I likes running and I enjoys the torch relay. Running the hundred meter is an easy call for me."


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Flame ends Chongqing tour

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(CHONGQING, June 16) -- Chinese boxing champion Li Bin reached the Great Hall of the People here at 10:30 a.m. on Monday with the Olympic flame and lit the cauldron to mark the end of the Torch Relay in Chongqing.

The 17-kilometer relay had begun at 8:10 a.m. with Go world champion Gu Li as the first of 208 torchbearers.

BOCOG Executive Vice-President Jiang Xiaoyu; BOCOG member Tian Maijiu; Chongqing Vice-Mayor Huang Qifan; Minister of the Publicity Department of the Chongqing Municipal Committee of the CPC; and other officials attended the closing ceremony.

The Torch Relay will continue in Urumqi on Tuesday

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China's western frontier set to host torch relay

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     Scene of the press conference (Photo credit: Miao Lidong)

(URUMQI, Xinjiang, June 15) - On Monday morning, a press conference to disclose information about the 2008 torch relay in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was held. Xinjiang's vice-chairman, Tieliwardy Abdurexit, introduced information to reporters about the sacred flame's brief visit.

According to the schedule, on the night of the 16th, the sacred flame will fly from Chongqing to Urumqi, starting a three-day tour of Xinjiang the next day. After being relayed through Urumqi, an important stop on the old Silk Road, the sacred flame will be carried through the cities of Kashi, Shihezi, and Changji.  

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   Numerous reporters are present at the press (Photo credit: Miao Lidong)

At 9:30 a.m. on June 17, the launch of the sacred flame's relay will be held at Urumqi's People's Square. Five minutes before noon, the relay is scheduled to end at a sports center, following a 12.48 kilometer tour of the city. 208 torchbearers will be running this leg of the relay.   

On Wednesday, June 18, Kashi will host its 6.5 kilometer long torch relay beginning at 9:30 a.m. About 2 hours and 15 minutes later, fans surrounding Kashi's People's Square will be able to watch the closing ceremony. Like in Urumqi, 208 torchbearers will carry the flame.

On Thursday at 9:30 a.m., Shihezi will begin its torch relay. 104 torchbearers and 8 kilometers later, the morning's activities are scheduled to end at 11:40 a.m. 　

Later that day, the Olympic torch team will move the sacred flame to its last stop in Xinjiang, Changji. From 3:55 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., residents in Changji will be able to delight in the Olympic spirit spread by the torch relay. The 4.2 kilometer route through the city will be traversed by 104 torchbearers. 　

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    Tieliwardy Abdurexit, vice-chairman of Xinjiang (Photo credit: Miao Lidong)

Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is located in the western section of China, bordering 8 other countries. About 21 million residents live on its 1.6 million square kilometer area, which equals about one-sixth of China's entire land territory. 55 of China's ethnic minority groups call Xinjiang home.


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Sacred flame completes first stop in journey through the west

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    Wang Yanhong, Paralympic champion, holds up the Olympic torch.

(URUMQI, Xinjiang, June 17) -- Excited fans were greeted with the scene of Paralympian athlete Wang Yanhong lighting the flame cauldron at 11:53 a.m. on Tuesday, June 17, in front of Xinjiang Sports Center, marking the end of the Torch Relay in Urumqi, the capital city of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Wang took the gold for China in archery in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. Urumqi is the first stop of the relay in Xinjiang. In the afternoon, the sacred flame will make its way to Kashi for a relay scheduled the next day.

The construction of Xinjiang Sports Center was completed in December of 2005. Currently, it stands as the most comprehensive, most technologically advanced sports venue in China's western region. The center includes an outdoor stadium with room for 50,000 audience members, a gymnasium that can hold 7,000 fans, a running track, football training field, a general training center, and tennis courts, among other facilities.

Hours before the scheduled start of the Torch Relay, Xinjiang residents were out eagerly awaiting the launch in front of Urumqi People's Square.

Abuduxikeer Mijiti, a boxer of Uyghur descent, took off from the launch site as Tuesday's first torchbearer. The athlete is famed around China as the title holder of several national boxing tournaments. Under the skilled training of the "Boxing King," Xinjiang has produced many boxing champs.

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   Wang Yanhong, last torchbearer in Urumqi, lights the flame cauldron at Xinjiang Sports Center.

For a total of 12.5 kilometers, 208 torchbearers carried the sacred flame past Urumqi's unique sites. To celebrate the relay, traditional ethnic singing and dancing followed the flame, performed at designated sites along the route, showcasing the capital's distinct and diverse culture.

Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is located in the western section of China, bordering 8 other countries. About 21 million residents live on its 1.6 million square kilometer area, which equals about one-sixth of China's entire land territory. 55 of China's ethnic minority groups call Xinjiang home.

Urumqi, the capital, is the region's center of economics, politics, and culture. About 2.6 million people live in the picturesque city, which has jurisdiction over seven districts and one county.

Historically, Urumqi was a stop on the northern Silk Road, making it a very important post for economic and cultural exchange between the east and west. Today, within its multiethnic communities, traditions still stand strong, and the unique ethnic flavors give Urumqi strong appeal.

(Photo credit: Miao Lidong)

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  Wang Yanhong triumphantly puts both hands in the air.


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(KASHI, June 18) -- Torchbearer Dawuti Aximu reached People's Square at 11:25 a.m. and lit the cauldron to mark the end of the Torch Relay here, the second stop in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

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The relay had started from Id Kah Square shortly before 10 a.m., with five-time-world-record-setting highwire walker Adili Wuxiuer running the first leg.

The Olympic flame was relayed across the 7.43-kilometer route in Kashi by 208 torchbearers. On Thursday, the flame will be relayed in the two final stops in Xinjiang, Shihezi and Changji.


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Olympic torch bids farewell to Shihezi

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(BEIJING, June 19) -- Gao Lingling, a "March 8 Red Flag Pace-Setter," brought the Olympic Torch ¡§C also known as "Lucky Clouds" ¡§C to Shihezi Youqi Square on June 19 in the morning, marking the end of the Shihezi leg of the Olympic Torch Relay. The torch will arrive in the city of Changji in the afternoon.

Shihezi, which has been called "a model city supporting the Red Army," is the Torch Relay's third stop in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The relay began its 8km-long tour of the city at 9:45 a.m. at Century Park Square, a widely lauded recreational venue.

Han Xinping, the champion of the National Aeromodelling Championships and senior coach at the Aeromodelling Training School, was the first torchbearer.


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Torch Relay travels ancient Silk Road

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(CHANGJI, June 19) -- Once a significant stronghold on the ancient "Silk Road," Chanji became a stop on the historical Olympic Torch Relay beginning today at 3:55 p.m.


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[[i] Last edited by ASHLEYTUNG at 2008-6-20 18:34 [/i]]

Olympic flames reunite as Lhasa leg concludes

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(LHASA, June 21) -- The Olympic flame carried by Chinese mountaineers to "the top of the world", to an altitude of 5,200 meters at Mount Qomolangma in China's Tibet Autonomous Region on May 8, has been reunited with the one on the main torch relay route on Saturday, June 21, marking the end of the Lhasa leg of the Olympic Torch Relay.

Gangbung, a 75-year-old Tibetan "mountaineering hero", ran as the first torchbearer.

He started his mountaineering career in 1958, and joined in the Chinese National Mountaineering Team as a People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldier.

The famous Tibetan female singer Cedai Drolma was elected as the final torchbearer.

The 71 year-old has enjoyed a 50-year singing career and was a particularly popular performer in the 1960s.

Drolma staged a performance to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the People's Republic of China in Beijing in 1959, and appeared in the large scale dance drama, "The East is Red", in 1963.

Her well-known Tibetan folk songs, such as "On the Golden Mountain of Beijing", "Stand up serf for a singing" and many more, have been popular among audiences home and overseas.

The Olympic Torch Relay will continue its trip in Golmud on Sunday, June 22.


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Curtains down on Golmud leg, flame heads to Qinghai Lake

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(GOLMUD, June 22) -- The curtain closed for the 7.5-km Golmud leg of the Olympic Torch Relay as Li Xiaosong, one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons across China, lit the cauldron at Golmud Central Square. The Olympic torch will visit Qinghai Lake on its second stop in Qinghai.

Golmud is Mongolian for "a place concentrated with rivers."

The launching ceremony was hosted at the Salt Lake Square. At 9:13, Cega, a Tibetan Antelope Protector, started his run as the first torchbearer.

A closing ceremony was held, after Li lit the cauldron, highlighted by speeches delivered by officials and traditional performances by locals.


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Olympic torch travels to China's largest salt lake

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(QINGHAI LAKE, June 23) -- The Olympic torch ended its tour of Qinghai Lake, the second stop of the journey in Qinghai Province on Monday, with the cauldron lit at 12:30. Xining expects the arrival of the torch on Tuesday.

The Qinghai Lake leg of the Torch Relay kicked off around 11:00 with 162 torchbearers taking part in the six-kilometer leg.

After the cauldron was lit, a closing ceremony highlighted by officials' speeches and traditional performances was held.

Situated in the northeast part of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, the lake valley covers 29,600 square kilometers. Qinghai Lake, at more than 3,200 meters above sea level, boasts a water area of 4,232 square km.

Among the major attractions of the lake is Bird Island. Located at the crossroad of several bird migration routes across Asia, it is home to 189 species of birds and attracts large flocks of birds to perch every year.

The lake is also a crucial barrier against the invasion of the desert from the west. Authorities in northwestern China have launched a massive program this year to protect the lake from further environmental degradation, including water level falling, grassland degradation and desertification.


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Torch spreads Olympic spirit in Xining

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(BEIJING, June 24) -- The Olympic torch finished its tour of the city of Xining and is now headed to Yuncheng, Shanxi Privince, where the Olympic Torch Relay will resume on Wednesday.

Local residents showed support throughout the two hour leg of the relay with cheers of, "Go Olympics! Go China!"

Li Chunxie, the bronze medalist in Women's 10km Racewalking at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, lit the cauldron at Xining Square to end the day's events.


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Olympic torch leaves Yuncheng for Pingyao

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(YUNCHENG, June 25) -- The Olympic torch ended its tour of the historical city of Yuncheng at 9:45 on Thursday morning. Yuncheng was the first stop of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay in Shanxi Province. The relay will set out for the second stop, Ping Yao, thi s afternoon.

Zhang Weihong, a member of the Chinese Women's Handball team that claimed the bronze medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, was the first torchbearer.

The 9.8km Yuncheng leg of the Torch Relay involves 104 torchbearers.

The Olympic torch began its 9.8km tour of Yuncheng at Nanfeng Square, which is sometimes referred to as the city's living room. The most distinguished architectural feature of the square is a 148-meter-long and 8-meter-tall corridor.

A wide range of performances was held prior to the launching ceremony of the Torch Relay amid balmy weather.

Yuncheng is a historical city and has been the birth place of many notable Chinese figures since ancient times.


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Olympic torch leaves Yuncheng for Pingyao

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(YUNCHENG, June 25) -- The Olympic torch ended its tour of the historical city of Yuncheng at 9:45 on Thursday morning. Yuncheng was the first stop of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay in Shanxi Province. The relay will set out for the second stop, Ping Yao, thi s afternoon.

Zhang Weihong, a member of the Chinese Women's Handball team that claimed the bronze medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, was the first torchbearer.

The 9.8km Yuncheng leg of the Torch Relay involves 104 torchbearers.

The Olympic torch began its 9.8km tour of Yuncheng at Nanfeng Square, which is sometimes referred to as the city's living room. The most distinguished architectural feature of the square is a 148-meter-long and 8-meter-tall corridor.

A wide range of performances was held prior to the launching ceremony of the Torch Relay amid balmy weather.

Yuncheng is a historical city and has been the birth place of many notable Chinese figures since ancient times


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Ancient city glows under light of sacred flame

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(BEIJING, June 25) -- At about half past four on Wednesday afternoon, the Pingyao leg of the 2008 Olympic Torch Relay concluded with last torchbearer Wang Jianzhong igniting the flame cauldron.

104 torchbearers carried the sacred flame through Pingyao, along a route that highlighted the historic culture of the ancient city.

Located in the middle of Shanxi Province, Pingyao's Old City has been designated a World Heritage Site. Reconstructed following traditional Han Chinese styles, 4 large avenues, 8 smaller roads, and 72 narrow paths form the grid of the city. All of the 3,797 residences in Pingyao Old City are built in the traditional courtyard style; 400 of these have been beautifully preserved. Unique temples and stores dot the streets, making for a very picturesque image of old China.

Pingyao's rustic atmosphere gives visitors a glimpse into the glory of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In addition, once the most important financial center in China, Pingyao is home to China's first bank, Rishengchang Exchange Shop.

The sacred flame's next stop is Taiyuan, the capital city of Shanxi Province.



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Olympic torch leaves Taiyuan for Datong

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(TAIYUAN, June 26) -- The curtain closed on the Taiyuan leg of the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay at 11:10 a.m. on Thursday as Guo Fenglian, a member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), lit the cauldron.

The Taiyuan leg drew crowds of locals who came out as early as 7:00 a.m. to show their support.

Covering a distance of 11.2 kilometers, the Taiyuan leg involved 208 torchbearers.

Singer Tan Jing led the way. "I am proud to be the first torchbearer," she said, adding that she hoped her run would help pass on the Olympic spirit and love as part of the effort to support the quake relief work.

Celebrities like singer Yan Weiwen and the CEO of China's search engine giant Baidu also participated in the relay.

The flame will leave for Datong, where the Torch Relay is scheduled for Friday.


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Olympic Torch leaves Datong for Hangtiancheng

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(DATONG, June 27) -- The last torchbearer Mu Yongfeng lit the cauldron at 9:35 a.m. on Friday, marking an end to the Olympic Torch Relay in the coal city of Datong.

Datong is the fourth and also the last stop for the relay in north China's Shanxi Province. The torch will continue its journey in Hangtiancheng on Saturday.

The Torch Relay ended at a square in front of a Buddha statue in the 20th cave. The Yungang Grottoes have 252 caves and 51,000 statues. They represent the outstanding achievement of Buddhist cave art in China in the 5th and 6th centuries.


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Chinese astronauts take part in Olympic torch relay

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  Torchbearer Fei Junlong runs with torch during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay at Dongfeng Aerospace Town in Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center of northwest China's Gansu Province, June 28, 2008. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

JIUQUAN, Northwest China, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng, the crew of Shenzhou spacecraft 6, carried the Olympic flame Saturday in the torch relay at the "Dongfeng Space City" in northwest China's Gansu province.

A total of 22 bearers took part in the relay in the satellite launch base as most of which were top experts in China's spaceflight program.

Fei, 43, and Nie, 44, had been the crew of Shenzhou 6, the second human spaceflight of China, which was launched three days before the second anniversary of China's first human spaceflight, Shenzhou 5, and took flight for five days in low Earth orbit.

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     Torchbearer Nie Haisheng runs with torch during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay at Dongfeng Aerospace Town in the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center of northwest China's Gansu Province, June 28, 2008.(Photo credit: Xinhua)

The opening ceremony was staged on the movable launch complex within the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center as Fei ran down the first leg from the launch rack at 8:10 a.m. local time in the day's relay.

The lighting of torch adopted a method of time countdown as the rocket launch does in the backdrop of stage.

"It's another great honor for me along with the Shenzhou 6 flight. It's a great honor not just for me, but also for the whole family of cosmonauts and China's space program technology," said Fei.

For Nie, carrying the torch in the 15th place is also one of the best memories. "I am happy with this, even happier than my 41th birthday," said Nie, who celebrated his 41st birthday in space.

Wang Yongzhi, 76, the chief designer of China's manned spacecraft program, made an exhibition of the torch on the ninth floor of Umbilical Tower, part of the launch complex.

Wang, who was born in northeast Liaoning province, is an aerospace scientist and academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering. He was awarded the nation's highest scientific and technological prize, State Preeminent Science and Technology Awardin 2003.

The relay, complying with the theme of science and technology, passed the launch field, Ruoshui River, Heaven Flying park, Wentian Pavilion and Central Avenue, and reached the closing ceremony site, Dongfeng Square, at 9:10 a.m..

Shenzhou 6 was launched on 12 October 2005 on a Long March rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

The JSLC, which covers 2,800 square kilometers, has been the focus of many of China's successful ventures into space, including their first satellite Dong Fang Hong 1 in 1970, and their first manned space mission Shenzhou 5 on October 15, 2003.

After the relay in spaceport of Dongfeng, the Olympic flame heads for Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region for Sunday's relay in Zhongwei.


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Flame completes tour of Zhongwei

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           Liu Chongxi kindles the cauldron.

(ZHONGWEI, June 29) -- Liu Chongxi, the last torchbearer in Zhongwei, Ningxia Province, reached Cultural Square shortly after 9:30 on Sunday morning to light the cauldron, symbolizing the end of the Torch Relay here.

The relay here had started at 8:10 in the morning from Shapotou Square, with writer Zhang Xianliang serving as the first of 205 torchbearers. The flame was relayed along a 3.3-kilometer route.

Next, the Torch Relay team will move on to Wuzhong, the second stop in Ningxia Province, to prepare for the relay of the Olympic flame there on Monday



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Olympic torch bids farewell to Wuzhong

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(WUZHONG, June 30) -- The Olympic torch bid farewell to Wuzhong, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, at 10:48 a.m. on Monday with last torchbearer Huang He lighting the cauldron at the Shengyuan Square. The torch will begin its Yinchuan leg, the last stop of Torch Reley in Ningxia, on Tuesday.

Wuzhong is famous for its unique scenery and is home to the country's largest concentration of Hui people.

The 5.6-km-long Wuzhong leg followed the Zhongwei leg that ended on Sunday. Established in 1947, Wuzhong Middle School, the starting point of the relay, is a model school that contributes to local development.

A total of 193 torchbearers, including Zhang Dongguo, who is dedicated to promoting local Qingzhen delicacies, and Li Youdong, head of the Wuzhong Firefighting Team that headed to Wenchuan for quake relief work, participated in the Torch Relay in Wuzhong.

As early as 8 a.m., crowds of local residents flocked to the streets to see the Olympic flame.


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Olympic flame departs Ningxia for Shaanxi

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(YINCHUAN, July 1) -- At 10:40 a.m., Wang Youde, who has made notable contributions to desert sand control, lit the cauldron at People's Square to conclude the Olympic Torch Relay in Yinchuan, which is the last stop in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

Wang Youde was named hero for his major achievements in desert sand control last year. He has made efforts to prevent desertification for more than 20 years.

The city of Yan'an, dubbed the "Cradle of Revolution," will host the Olympic torch on Wednesday.


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Chinese 'Cradle of Revolution' hosts Olympic Torch Relay

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(YAN'AN, July 2) ¡§C A few minutes after noon on Wednesday, July 02, Wang Xilin ignited the flame cauldron to signal the end of the torch relay in the city of Yan'an, Shaanxi Province.

The relay in the city began at 8:15 this morning, when 93-year-old Red Army veteran Liu Tianyou started off the Torch Relay from the site of the Zaoyuan Revolution.

As China's "Cradle of Revolution," Yan'an holds a prominent place in the country's history. From 1935 to 1948, Yan'an was the headquarters of the Chinese Communist revolution. The city served as the country's military headquarters during the Chinese Anti-Japanese War and China's War of Liberation. In addition, Yan'as was former home of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.

Along a route that highlighted the historical and cultural importance of Yan'an and its surroundings, a total of 208 torchbearers took part in the 6.31 kilometer-long relay.

The sacred flame will travel to Yangling and Xianyang next.


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Olympic torch departs Yangling for Xianyang

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(YANGLING, July 3) -- The last torchbearer Yan Junfang lit the caudron at the Yangling International Convention Center at 9:26 a.m. on Thursday, marking the end to the Olympic Torch Relay in Yangling, the second stop in Shaanxi Province.

The city of Xianyang will host the Olympic flame this afternoon.

Shan Lun, a 75-year-old academic with the Chinese Institute of Engineering, ran with the Olympic torch at 8:13 a.m., kicking off the Yangling leg of the Olympic Torch Relay in Shaanxi Province.

A total of 95 torchbearers participated in the 6.53 km-long relay.

"I very much treasure my experience as a torchbearer. And I will try my best to support the country and the Olympics," Shan said, adding he will use the Olympic spirit in his scientific research and achieve greater results.


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Flame finishes tour of Xianyang, Xi'an next

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         Shooter Shi Hong lights the cauldron

(XIANYANG, July 3) -- The Torch Relay in Xianyang, Shaanxi Province, ended just before 3:30 p.m. on Thursday as last torchbearer Shi Hong, arrived at the Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine Stadium to light the cauldron.

Jiang, a shooting athlete, was one of 113 torchbearers to take part in the relay, which covered 6.9 kilometers


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          Last torchbearer Shi Hong carries the torch

The relay had started at around 2 p.m. from Tongyi Plaza with shooter Zhang Bo and archer Zhang Min serving as the first torchbearers.

The Journey of Harmony will continue in Xi'an on Friday.

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   Torchbearers approach the site of the end of the Torch Relay in Xianyang.


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Torch relay illuminates ancient capital Xi'an

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The last torchbearer Wang Libin lights the cauldron at Furong Garden (Photo credit: Fan Fan)

(XI'AN, July 4) -- Near the fantastic afterlife palace complex built to hold China's first emperor and his terracotta warriors through eternity, torchbearer Wang Libin completed the last leg of the Olympic torch's odyssey through Xi'an.

In a region that served as the imperial capital on and off for centuries, Wang lit a fire-catching cauldron to mark the close of the torch's passage through Xi'an on Friday morning.

Olympic gold medalist Tian Liang, who grabbed first-place prizes in diving during the 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Games, launched the torch relay through Xi'an, and another 200-plus bearers carried the sacred flame through the ancient Chinese city.

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  The last torchbearer Wang Libin (Photo credit: Fan Fan)

As it passes through China, the Olympic torch has been lighting up a spectacular spectrum of cities and cultures, artifacts and architecture across the ages.

Xi'an was the imperial capital of the Tang Dynasty of 618-907, which is regarded by many cultural historians as the "Golden Age" of Chinese Buddhist sculpture, figure painting, Daoist poetry and aristocratic learning.

The Tang's open-minded rulers supported global trade across the Silk Road, and their capital became a multicultural world metropolis that was probably unrivalled in terms of technology and urban sophistication for centuries.

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The Tang Dynasty-styled Furong Garden is decorated with flags and banners (Photo credit: Fan Fan)

A palatial imperial wall and sentry watchtowers still surround the city, and nearby the intricately sculpted Terracotta Army still stands sentinel over the underground necropolis built for Qin Shihuang, who created the first Chinese empire in 221 BC.

While completing the Olympic flame's relay through Xi'an, torchbearer and basketball star Wang Libin said: "I hope the Beijing Olympics push forward progress in our society and promote social harmony in our country."

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  An art performance featuring terracotta figurines (Photo credit: Fan Fan)

Wang, called the "Best Center in Asia," joined the national team in 1981, and has since taken part in a string of world competitions.

Xi'an, meanwhile, is believed to be the birthplace of many sports in China. Polo, tug-of-war, wrestling, chess and other sports flourished here more than one thousand years ago.

An early version of football appeared in China even before Qin Shihuang forged the first Chinese empire here, and the real-life models for his terracotta sentries might have played the game during their spare time.


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Flame finishes tour of Dunhuang

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(DUNHUANG, July 5) ¡§C- With the lighting of the flame cauldron at Moonlight Shadow Square by last torchbearer Sai Like, vice-mayor of Jiuquan, the Dunhuang leg of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay successfully wound up at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday. The highlight of today's Torch Relay was the carrying of the sacred flame on camels.

The relay in Dunhuang started from the Mogao Grottoes, with the director of the Dunhuang Research Institute, Fan Jinshi, serving as the first of 120 torchbearers.

Planners selected the Mogao Grottoes as the starting point of Dunhuang's 7.6 kilometer relay route to showcase the ancient site's historical and cultural charm as an important relic left behind that witnessed the passing of many Chinese dynasties, including the Wei, Jin, North and South and Tang Dynasties. In addition, this is the "birthplace" of one of the Fuwa, Huanhuan. Fuwa are the official Beijing 2008 Olympic Games mascots.

Next, the Torch Relay team will move on to Jiayuguan, the second stop in Gansu Province, to prepare for the relay of the Olympic flame there on Sunday.


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Olympic Torch lights up Great Wall

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(JIAYUGUAN, June 6) -- Mayor of Jiayuguan Ma Guangming closes out the Jiayuguan leg of the Olympic Torch Relay after lighting the cauldron atop Jiayu Pass.

The Jiayuguan leg kicked off at 8:15 on Sunday as Yu Haiyan, director of a local iron&steel company, ran as the first torchbearer.

A total of 208 torchbearers participated in the 13.8 km-long relay.

Haoyuan, deputy governor of Gansu and Yang Yang, an Olympic speed skating champion, are among the 208 torchbearers.

Jiayuguan or Jiayu Pass is the first pass at the west end of the Great Wall of China, near the city of Jiayuguan. Along with Juyongguan and Shanhaiguan, it is one of the main passes of the Great Wall.



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Olympic torch finishes tour of Gansu

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(LANZHOU, June 7) -- Zhu Jun, a CCTV host, lit the cauldron at the Waterwheel Exhibition Park at 11: 45 a.m., marking the end to the Lanzhou leg of the Torch Relay and the last stop in Gansu Province.

Tian Yu carried the Olympic flame at 8:15 on Monday from Zhongshan Bridge to kick off the relay.

Tian Yu, who has made great contributions to the Sichuan quake relief work, overcame loss of his home and family members during the May 12 earthquake to lead paramilitary personnel in rescuing eight residents, saving 3,000 tons of grain and more than 2,000 goods from destruction and resettling 1,100 quake victims.

A total of 296 torchbearers participated in the 15.6-km long relay.

Tang Zhongli, a scholar with the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Gao Xionghou, who has done research on oil refinement; Li Yuanzhen, an imam of Hui Ethnic Minority; and Ma Ying, a softball coach, are among the torchbearers.


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Olympic torch leaves Hohhot for Erdos

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(HOHHOT, June 8) -- Pan Gang, chairman and president of Yili Group, lit the cauldron at the Ruyi Development Zone Square at 10:40 a.m. on Tuesday, bringing the end to the Olympic Torch Relay in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region . The city of Erdos will host the Olympic torch on Wednesday.

The Olympic torch started its tour at 9:07 a.m.

Mengke Bateer, a famous Chinese basketball player, was the first to carry the torch. The whole journey covers 6.2 km.

Altogether 208 torchbearers carried the Olympic flame along this stretch of the Journey of Harmony.


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Olympic torch leaves Ordos for Baotou

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Ordos, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Yang Hongyan, former vice mayor of Ordos City, lit the cauldron at the Genghis Khan Square at 10:25 a.m. on Wednesday, bringing the end to the Olympic Torch Relay in Ordos, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Ordos' Olympic torch relay kicked off at 8:35 a.m. as Ha Silao, triple Paralympic Games javelin champion, was the first to carry the torch. The whole journey covers 6.3 kilometers.

Altogether 104 torchbearers carried the Olympic flame along this stretch of the Journey of Harmony.

The city of Baotou will host the Olympic flame this afternoon.


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