Olympic torch finishes tour of Baotou

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(BEIJING, July 9) -- Long Mei and Yu Rong, known as the "heroines of the prairie," lit the cauldron at Aerding Square at 2:57 p.m. on July 9 to mark the end of the Baotou leg of the Olympic Torch Relay. The torch will head to Chifeng tomorrow.

Long Mei, who was born in 1952, and her sister Yu Rong, born in 1955, are known for their efforts to save their community's sheep from a viscous storm in 1964.

National marathon champion Hu Gangjun kicked off the relay at 2:03 p.m. as the first torchbearer of Baotou. A total of 104 torchbearers participated in the event.


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Torch Relay in Chifeng concludes

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(CHIFENG, July 10) -- At 9:38 a.m. on Thursday, film star Siqingaowa lit the cauldron at Yulong Square to conclude the 6.3km Chifeng leg of the Olympic Torch Relay in the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region.

At 8:15 a.m., Narisu, an outstanding tourism employee in China, carried the torch from Cheboer Folk Park to begin the morning's events. A total of 208 torchbearers took part in the relay in Chifeng, which is located beyond the Great Wall and is the birthplace of the Hongshan civilization.

Located at the conjunction of Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, Hebei and Liaoning Provinces, Chifeng has an area of 90,021 square kilometers and 12 administrative prefectures.

Being the most populous city in the autonomous region, Chifeng has a population of 4.6 million, of which 19.3 percent are part of the Mongolian ethnic group and 73 percent are Han. Twenty-eight ethnic groups form the rest of the region's inhabitants.

Sheep and cattle wander over grasslands that occupy over half of the city, presenting a beautiful panorama not very far from Beijing.

The Olympic flame heads to Harbin next, to continue the Olympic Torch Relay in Heilongjiang Province.


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Beijing Olympic torch relay kicks off in Harbin

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HARBIN, July 11 (Xinhua) -- The Beijing Olympic torch relay in Harbin, capital city of China's northernmost province Heilongjiang, started at 8:10 on Friday morning at the Flood Control Monument, with the first leg run by Zhangdan and Zhanghao, silver lists at the 2008 ISU World Figure Skating Championships.


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Olympic torch leaves Daqing for Qiqihar

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(DAQING, July 12) -- Last torchbearer Gu Shuangyan, vice-president of Daqing Intermediate People's Court, lit the cauldron at 9:55 a.m. on Saturday amid rain, marking the end of the Daqing leg of the Olympic Torch Relay. The city of Qiqihar will host the Olympic flame on Sunday.

First torchbearer Hu Zhiqiang, who leads the No. 1205 drilling team of Daqing oilfield, carried the torch at 8:20 a.m. on Saturday to start the Daqing leg of the Olympic Torch Relay amid showers.

Hu graduated from the Daqing Petroleum Institute in 1994 and has devoted his life to oil drilling since then.

A total of 208 torchbearers participated in the 7.6 km-long relay.

Daqing, meaning "Great Celebration," is a city in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. It was founded in 1959 to house workers extracting oil and gas from the Daqing oilfield and to host industries which could take advantage of the energy and petrochemicals found here.

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Olympic torch leaves Heilongjiang for Jilin

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(QIQIHAR, July 13) -- Last torchbearer Fu Tianyu lit the cauldron at 9:50 a.m. on Sunday, marking the end of the Qiqihar leg of the Olympic Torch Relay. The torch has left Heilongjiang Province for Jilin Province and Jilin, the capital city, will host the Olympic flame on Monday.

Fu Tianyu was born in 1978. She made notable contributions to the Chinese women's short-track skating team's victory at the 2012 Winter Olympics.

Fu Tianyu was born in 1978 and made notable contributions to victory of China's women's short-track skating team at the 2012 Winter Olympics.

Liu Yan, female skating champion of the 10th National Games, carried the flame from the Party Office Center Square at 8:10 a.m. as the first torchbearer of the Qiqihar leg of the Olympic Torch Relay, the last stop in Heilongjiang Province.

A total of 208 torchbearers participated in the 7.5 km-long relay. Liu Jianrong, director of a local heavy equipment enterprise; Liang Chunsheng, a local teacher; Liu Yukun, an athlete with a disability; and Ma Liang, a hammer athlete, are among the 208 torchbearers.

Qiqihar is a major city in Heilongjiang Province. Close to Qiqihar are numerous wetlands and the Zhalong Nature Reserve, famous for being home to numerous red-crowned cranes.


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Olympic Torch Relay in Changchun ends

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(CHANGCHUN, July 14) -- Last torchbearer Wang Chunlu, a Winter Games short-track silver medalist, lit the cauldron at Changchun World Sculpture Park at 10: 04 a.m. on Monday to end the Changchun leg of the Olympic Torch Relay. The cities of Songyuan and Jilin will host the torch on Tuesday.

The Olympic Torch Relay kicked off in Changchun at 8:08 a.m. Altogether 218 torchbearers carried the Olympic flame along this nine-km-long journey.

Wang Jiaqi, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was the first torchbearer.

Changchun is the capital of Jilin Province, located in the northeast of the People's Republic of China. The city has a population of 7.4 million.


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Flame leaves Songyuan for Jilin City

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(SONGYUAN, July 15) -- Actress Bai Qing, the last torchbearer in Songyuan, Jilin Province, reached Dongzhen Square to begin the closing ceremony, which would mark the end of this leg of the Olympic Torch Relay at 8:47 a.m.

The relay got off to an early start, shortly after 7 a.m., as the Olympic torch will be traveling to Jilin City in the afternoon to begin the Torch Relay there.

Li Shu, former director of the Standing Committee of the Changchun People's Congress, served as the first of 110 torchbearers.

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Olympic Torch Relay in Jilin City begins

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(BEIJING, July 15) -- Skater Wang Chunli carried the torch from Jilin Municipal Square this afternoon, marking the start of the Jilin leg of the Olympic Torch Relay.

The launching ceremony was held at 2:00 p.m. amid thunderous applause from local spectators.

A total of 108 torchbearers will participate in the 7.7km-long relay.

Wang, who was born in 1983, has claimed more than 10 gold medals in Chinese national competitions and has done well in international competitions.


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Olympic torch relay in Yanji concludes

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YANJI, Northeast China, July 16 (Xinhua) -- The Beijing Olympic torch finished its tour in Yanji, northeast China's Jilin province, at 3:45 p.m. local time on Wednesday.

Former world chess champion Xie Jun lighted the cauldron as the last torchbearer.

The Olympic torch will leave for Shengyang, capital of Liaoning province


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Torch Relay in Shenyang concludes

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(SHENYANG, July 17) -- Su Hongzhang, deputy secretary of the CPC Shenyang Committee, reached Qipanshan Ice and Snow World Square in Shenyang, the first stop on the Olympic flame's tour of Liaoning Province, to light the cauldron at 10:16 a.m.

Su was the last of 241 torchbearers in the relay that covered 10.08 kilometers. Other torchbearers included Judo world champion Zhuang Xiaoyan, Olympic Freestyle Ski champion Han Xiaopeng, Olympic Shooting gold medalist Li Yuwei and Race Walking world champion Gao Hongmiao.

The Olympic Torch Relay will continue in Anshan on Friday.


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Olympic torch leaves Anshan for Dalian

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(ANSHAN, July 18) -- The Olympic Torch Relay concluded in Anshan, northeast China, at 10 a.m. on Friday.

Last torchbearer Wen Baoman, deputy secretary of the CPC committee at the Anshan Iron and Steel Group Corporation, reached the Anshan No. 1 Middle School and lit the cauldron here, bringing an end to the Anshan leg, also the second stop in Liaoning Province.

Wang Yifu, head coach of the Chinese national shooting team and the country's most experienced Olympian, with six successive appearances from 1984 to 2004, was the first torchbearer.

Wang started his shooting career in 1976 and won gold, silver and bronze medals at several Olympic Games.

With a length of 7.3km, the relay in Anshan, a famous iron and steel city in China, involved a total of 175 runners.


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Torch relay in China's Dalian concludes

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DALIAN, Northeast China, July 19 (Xinhua) -- The Olympic torch finished its tour in Dalian at 10:05 am local time on Saturday.

The relay in Dalian was the third and last leg of the Olympic flame's tour in northeast China's Liaoning province.

The torch will then leave for east China's Shandong province.


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Olympic Sailing host awaits Torch Relay

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(BEIJING, July 20) -- Qingdao, which will host the Sailing events of the 2008 Olympic Games, will welcome the Olympic Torch Relay on July 21 and serve as the first leg of the relay in Shandong Province. The Olympic flame arrived in the coastal city on July 19 and preparations for the relay are going smoothly.

Currently, 257 torchbearers have been confirmed to participate in the 14.5 kilometer relay leg. This will be the first time the Torch Relay takes place on the sea since starting its tour of the China mainland.

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   Olympic flame relayed on the sea in Olympic co-host Qingdao

QINGDAO, East China, July 21 (Xinhua) -- The Beijing Olympic torch was relayed Monday on the sea off Olympic co-host city Qingdao's coast in east China's Shandong Province.

This is the first time that the sacred flame is transferred on the sea since the Olympic torch relay kicked off in the Chinese mainland on May 4, according to Zhu Yuetao, deputy secretary general of the sailing committee (Qingdao) of BOCOG.

The torch relay started its tour in Qingdao at 8:10 a.m. July 21 at the measurement hall dock in the Qingdao Olympic sailing center.

Zhang Xiaodong, windsurfing world champion and silver medalist for women's Mistral at 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, received the torch from Huang Sheng, vice governor of Shandong, as the first runner.

Starting from the fourth bearer, the torch was getting down from the Olympic sailing prize-awarding platform to the "Qingdao" sailboat, which had sailed around the world to promote Beijing Olympics.

It was then transferred among four bearers in the vessel for 1,000meters on the sea.

Guo Chuan, captain of the sailboat and the first torchbearer onthe sea, held the torch high and waved to the cheering crowds on the banks.

"It is my lifelong honor," said Guo.

The flame was heading forward for about five minutes before it was passed to next bearer Liu Wei, deputy director of the competition department of Qingdao Olympic sailing committee.

Liu stepped out of the boat cabin, lighted his torch from Guo's and used two torches to form a "V" sign.

Wang Baoqi, vice chairman of Qingdao sailing sports association and Lu Huisheng, captain of China's scientific research ship "Dayang Yihao" which conducted a global oceanic research in 2005, were the third and fourth to carry the torch on the sea.

The torch was relayed on the boat in the docks of Olympic sailing center for about 20 minutes and disembarked again from the slipway, where during sailing competition sailors push boats into the sea.

The Olympic sailing events are to start on August 9.

"Everything is now ready," said Yuan Zhiping, assistant to Qingdao sailing committee chief.

The torch relay in Qingdao, covering 14.5 kilometers and involving a total of 259 torchbearers, is the first leg of the Olympic flame's tour in Shandong province.


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Olympic torch begins tour of Linyi

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(BEIJING, July 21) -- Zhang Xia, a representative of Shandong Women's Representative Congress, was the first torchbearer on Monday in mountainous Linyi, the second stop of the Olympic Torch Relay in eastern China's Shandong Province.

Zhang began running with the torch at 5:35 p.m. today at Binhe International Square. The Linyi leg of the Torch Relay covers a distance of 5.6 kilometers and involves 109 torchbearers.

The torch started its tour of Shandong Province on Monday morning in Qingdao.


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Olympic torch departs Qufu for Taian

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(QUFU, July 22) -- The Qufu leg of the Olympic Torch Relay ended after last torchbearer Gong Zhihua, who made notable contributions to quake disaster relief work, lit the cauldron at 9:26 a.m. on Tuesday.

Qufu is the hometown of Confucius in east China's Shandong Province on Tuesday morning.

It is the sacred flame's third stop in Shandong Province.

"The Olympic flame's visit to Qufu symbolizes the encounter of the Western civilization and Confucianism," said Tang Can, a Chinese folk singer and also the bearer of Qufu leg. "Qufu has witnessed numerable changes in China. Now it's going to open up to the Olympic flame."

A week ago, Tang performed in Athens, bringing traditional Chinese music to Greek audience.

Confucius was born in Nishan, which is 30 kilometers southeast of Qufu City, and spent many years in Qufu giving lectures, accompanied by his disciples and followers.

A year after Confucius' death, many believers flocked to Qufu to listen to Confucius' disciples explain the doctrine, and the authority of Lu ordered the philosopher's home to be turned into a temple.

A short launching ceremony would be held in front of the Hall of Great Accomplishment, the major structure of the Confucius Temple.

Covering a building space of 22 hectares and consisting nearly 500 rooms, the temple is one of the three largest ancient architectural complexes in China, second only to the size of the Forbidden City. The yellow tiles and red walls all covered with delicate decoration make the Temple extremely grand.

Along the route, the flame visited some historic relics like the wall of the Kingdom of Lu, the tomb of Shao Hao, one of the five legendary emperors in ancient China.

A total of 100 torchbearers participated in the 5.1-kilometer leg of the Olympic torch relay in Qufu.

Torchbearers are from all walks of life, including athletes, bankers, salesmen, teachers, firefighter, etc. Kong Peng, a local tour guide and a descendant of Kong family, will be the first bearer.


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Olympic torch finishes tour of Taian

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(TAIAN, July 22) -- Bi Wenjing, an Uneven Bars runner-up at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, reached the Tiandi Square at the foot of Mount Tai and lit the cauldron at 12:43 p.m., drawing an end to the Taian leg of the Olympic Torch Relay in eastern China's Shandong Province.

Bi, 25, started her career at age 5. She won a gold medal at the 1998 Gymnastics World Cup.

Xing Aowei, also a gymnast, led the Torch Relay in the city at 11:30 a.m. As many as 120 torchbearers participated in the relay.


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Torch Relay in Jinan winds up

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(JINAN, July 23) -- A total of 243 torchbearers, including a number of Olympic and world champions, completed the Jinan leg of the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay at 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday, July 23.

This also marks the end of the relay in Shandong Province, where runners passed through Qingdao, Linyi, Qufu, Taian and Jinan in three days.

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This afternoon, the flame escort team will head for Henan Province to start the "Journey of Harmony" in the capital city, Zhengzhou, on Friday.

The sacred flame began its trip in the capital city of eastern China's Shandong Province at about 8:00 a.m. with celebrated ex-basketball player Gong Xiaobin. Xing Huina, Lin Weining, Wu Minxia, Qiao Yunping, Gao Jianmin and other sportsmen who have achieved excellent results at Olympic Games and world championships also took part in the relay, which ended with famous divers Guo Jingjing and Wang Feng lighting the flame cauldron.

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Jinan, a city of 6 million residents, welcomed the torchbearers with a festive atmosphere on Wednesday. The 13.5km route from Shangdong Provincial Stadium Square to Qilu Software Park, was filled with dancing spectators and decorated with large posters, banners, slogans and balloons. The route featured areas of cultural relics, scenic spots, and economic areas, as well as the Olympic Sports Center Stadium, the main stadium for the 11th National Games in 2009.

A well-known cultural and historical city with an area of 8,177 square meters, Jinan is a political, economic, cultural, scientific, educational and financial center of the province.


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Olympic torch relay in Zhengzhou concludes

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ZHENGZHOU, China, July 25 (Xinhua) -- The Beijing Olympic torch relay in Zhengzhou, capital city of China's most populous Henan province, concluded at the Zhengzhou International Exhibition Hallat 10:20 a.m. on Friday.

Zhengzhou was the flame's first stop in province and the relay ranged 7.6 kilometers with 208 torchbearers.

As the torchbearer entered the exhibition hall, several thousand of locals burst into cheers.

Wu Jiangxing, head of the People's Liberation Army Information Engineering University and the last torchbearer in Zhengzhou leg, lit the caldron.

"I am proud and excited in the holy moment," Wu said. "We are passing the torch as well as the Olympic dreams."

In a grand ceremony marking the end of the leg, Zhao Jiancai, mayor of Zhengzhou, said the torch relay in the city would bring the citizens' Olympic enthusiasm to the maximum.

The locals standing along the roads during the relay also expressed their excitement.

"I am so excited to witness the torch relay today," said Wang Yong, a Zhengzhou native who stood along the road with China's national flags in hands.

"I wish all the athletes from home and abroad good luck in the Games," he added.

On Saturday, the Olympic torch will continue its journey in the city of Kaifeng, known as the capital of seven dynasties in China's history.


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Olympic torch ends tour of Kaifeng

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(KAIFENG, July 26) -- Chang Wu, designer of the Beijing Olympic emblem "Chinese Seal, Dancing Beijing", reached the Dongjing Art Center and lit the cauldron, bringing an end to the Kaifeng leg of the Olympic Torch Relay at 9:55 a.m. on Saturday, July 26. The city of Luoyang will host the Olympic flame on July 27.

Wang Liqun, a Henan University professor and popular history talk show host, carried the torch to start its tour of Kaifeng, the second stop in central China's Henan Province, at 8:15 a.m.

Zheng Haixia, the former center of China's national women's basketball team, and Canadian Mark Rowswell, better known as "Dashan" in China, also carried the torch in the Kaifeng leg.

The relay covers 6.6 kilometers and involved 208 torchbearers.


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Beijing Olympic torch relay in Luoyang winds up

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ZHENGZHOU, July 27 (Xinhua) -- The Beijing Olympic torch relay in Luoyang, China's "city of peonies", wound up at the city's gymnasium on Sunday.

Luoyang is the third leg of the torch's relay in Henan, the country's most populous province.

"The torch relay, witnessed by the 6.5 million Luoyang residents, has brought the Olympics closer to the city," said Luoyang mayor Guo Hongchang at a grand ceremony at the end of the relay.

"The Olympic spirit of higher, swifter and stronger will inspire the Luoyang people to build the city better and better," he said.

Altogether 208 torchbearers took part in the 6.9-km relay, which the local government says is a "intensive display of the city's charm."

The torch will leave for the next relay in Anyang City, the last leg in Henan.

Anyang, the hometown of oracle bone inscriptions, is one of the eight most famous ancient cities of China for its history and culture.


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Olympic torch relay in China's most populous province concludes

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ZHENGZHOU, July 28 (Xinhua) -- The Beijing Olympic torch relay in Henan, China's most populous province, wound up on Monday.

In Anyang City, the last leg of the relay in this central province, the torch passed through the hands of altogether 208 torchbearers over a distance of 5.9 kilometers, before it reached the destination at the Anyang Foreign Language School. Hundreds of thousands of people, cheering and waving colorful flags, were waiting for its arrival.

"The sacred flame has illuminated the ancient city, making it more beautiful," said Anyang Mayor Zhang Xiaodong at a grand ceremony marking the end of the relay.

The last leg of the Anyang relay was run by Li Guanqi, a Henan native with great achievement in the study of soybean protein fiber.

Anyang was the fourth and last stop of the Olympic torch's tour in Henan, which has a population of nearly 100 million. The other three cities are the provincial capital of Zhengzhou, Kaifeng and Luoyang.

The torch is leaving Henan for Hebei, a north China province that encircles Beijing.


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Olympic torch leaves Shijiazhuang for Qinhuangdao

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(SHIJIAZHUANG, July 29) -- Last torchbearer Cai Yalin, Shooting gold medalist at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, reached Hebei Province Gymnasium just before 12:30 p.m. to light the Olympic cauldron, marking the end of the Torch Relay here.

The Torch Relay team will head to the Olympic co-host city of Qinhuangdao next to prepare for the "Journey of Harmony" there on Wednesday.

Hebei province welcomed the Olympic torch in the morning as first torchbearer Li Meisu set off from the Xibaipo Memorial Museum here at 8:15 a.m.

Li, an Olympic bronze medalist, three-time Asian champion and 12-time Chinese champion in Shot Put, is one of 188 torchbearers scheduled to cover the 9.3-km relay route in Shijiazhuang.


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Torch fires up Olympic co-host city

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(BEIJING, July 30) -- Wang Santang, secratary of the Qinhuangdao CPC Committee, lit the cauldron at Olympic Avenue Park at 10:37 a.m., bringing the Qinhuangdao leg of the Olympic Torch Relay to an end.

Xi Enting, two-time Table Tennis world champion and the first torchbearer in this leg of the relay, started the event at 8:12 a.m. The seven kilometer route were run by 256 torchbearers.

Xi was born on March 3, 1946. He was a member of the national team from 1965 to 1975, during which he won the Table Tennis World Championships twice.. From 1976 to 1991, he was coach of the Chinese national team and of several Olympic and world champions, such as Chen Longcan and Wei Qingguang.

The city of Tangshang will host the Olympic torch on Thursday.


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Beijing Olympic Torch Relay in Tangshan winds up

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(BEIJING, July 31) -- Chen Guoying, mayor of Tangshan, lit the cauldron at Caofeidian Island Hotel Square at 12:05 on Thursday, bringing the Tangshan leg of the Olympic Torch Relay to an end. This is also the last stop for the sacred flame in Hebei Province.

The torch relay in Tangshan was divided into two stages. 59 torchbearers participated in the first part, which spanned 2.7 kilometers. This section of the relay followed a theme of all-round relief efforts and goodwill for Wenchuan County of Sichuan Province, which was devastated by an earthquake on May 12. A few of these torchbearers were selected from the numerous model workers who had served at rescue operations in Sichuan and elsewhere.

The second part, covering 7.4 kilometers with 149 torch bearers, was carried out at Caofeidian Industrial Zone, a promising large-scale industrial area still under construction.

Another highlight of the Torch Relay in Tangshan was that many torchbearers were former Olympic or world champions. Among them were Qian Hong (Women's 100 meter Butterfly champion, 1992 Olympic Games), Niu Jianfeng (Women's Singles champion, 2003 ITTF Professional Tournament), Yun Yanhong (46kg champion, 1994 World Women's Weightlifting Tournament), and Wang Kenan (3m Springboard Men's Doubles champion, 2004 World Cup Diving).

Tianjin will host the next leg of the Torch Relay on August 1.


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First day of Torch Relay in Tianjin finishes

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(BEIJING, August 1) -- The first day of the Olympic Torch Relay's tour through Tianjin was a success, as the last torchbearer of the day, Huang Qixing, lit the cauldron at the International Conference and Expo Center at 10:20 a.m. on Friday, August 1.

The Tianjin leg of the relay started at Tianjin Harbor Square and passed through streets along Tianjin Bonded Zone and the Economic and Technological Development Area. The route highlighted the major functions of the city's new coastal area, featuring the landmark container wharf, the coastal International Conference and Expo Center and Taida Football Stadium.

The relay, covering a length of 10 kilometers, was led-off by torchbearer Kong Xiangrui and shared by 190 other torchbearers. Kong is the leader of the operation team of Tianjin Harbor's coal dock.

Among the torchbearers were Li Shan, a member of the Women's Volleyball team that won gold in Athens 2004, contemporary writer Feng Jicai, famous singer Liu Huan, gold medalist of the Chopin international piano contest Li Yundi, world martial arts champion Lang Rongbiao, Handball bronze medalist of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games Gao Xiumin, renown artist Ge You and Huang Qixing, president of the Executive Board of the Welfare Foundation of the Tianjin Disabled Persons' Federation.

One of the four municipalities directly under the central government in China, Tianjin is called the "Pearl of Bohai Sea." Rapid economic growth and large foreign investment have brought great change to the 600-year-old and 2,270-square-kilometer city in the past 30 years.


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Sacred flame lifts spirits of Sichuan residents

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(GUANG'AN, August 3) -- Before lighting the flame cauldron in Guang'an, Wang Jianjun, Guang'an CPC Committee Secretary, waved the "lucky clouds" torch above his head in the hopes that it would light up all of Sichuan.

Jiang Min took off as the first torchbearer in Sichuan at approximately 7:40 Sunday morning from a park dedicated to the memory of late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, who called Guang'an home. Jiang moved the hearts of all the Chinese during the recent past, standing at the front lines of relief efforts even after losing 10 loved ones to the devastating earthquake.

Armed with Chinese and Olympic flags, throngs of people lined Guang'an's 7.3 kilometer route to support the 189 torchbearers; as the applause and cheers thundered through the crowds, fans seemed to be drawing strength from the light of the sacred flame. Banners with the Olympic slogans "One World One Dream" and "Light the Passion Share the Dream" could be seen everywhere, complemented by signs exclaiming "Go China! Go Olympics! Go Sichuan!"

Historic Guang'an is located in Sichuan's east, situated between hills and gorges. Here, in Paifang village, Deng Xiaoping was born. At the age of 15, the late leader left his hometown, dedicating his life to a path that would lead to changing the face of Chinese politics forever. His old home has been converted into a museum to honor the devotion he had for his country.

The sacred flame leaves Guang'an later today. The "Journey of Harmony" will continue on Monday in the city of Leshan, located in the southern section of Sichuan province.


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Torch Relay in Leshan concludes

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(LESHAN, August 4) -- Last torchbearer Pu Guoqiang, principal of a primary school in Wenchuan County, the epicenter of the May 12 earthquake that rocked Sichuan Province, arrived at the visitor's square at Mount Emei just after 9:00 a.m., ending the Torch Relay in Leshan.

Pu, a Sichuan native, lost both his wife and mother-in-law in the devastating earthquake. Even after learning of their deaths, he continued to help rescue children from his school and was very active in post-quake rehabilitation efforts.

Pu was the last of 185 torchbearers in the 8.2km relay.

Picturesque Leshan is the hometown of many of China's famous sports and cultural figures. Poet Su Dongpo and writer Guo Moruo were both born in Leshan. Nowadays, Leshan is called "Home of Chinese Swimming" due to the large number of Chinese swimming athletes that come from here. Most notably, Deng Guoying, the first Chinese to place first in a world sports competition, began his sports career in the mountains of Leshan.

The torch will travel next to Mianyang and Guanghan, where the relay will continue in the afternoon. On Tuesday, the torch will arrive in the Sichuan capital of Chengdu.



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Torch relay in Chengdu concludes

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(CHENGDU, August 5) -- The Olympic Torch Relay ended in Chengdu at 10:41 a.m., when last torchbearer Yu Zhirong, a hero of the recent Sichuan earthquake, arrived at the International Convention Center to light the cauldron. Yu is a member of the 7716 PLA unit.

He sent out three helicopters on reconnaissance missions to the cities of Mianzhu and Dujiangyan just 40 minutes after the May 12 quake hit. The first pictures of the destruction were brought back on this first mission. Yu then went on to personally open up several airways to the Sichuan area, even under difficult weather conditions.

The flame traveled 13.2 kilometers via 315 bearers from its starting point of the Chengdu Export Processing Zone.

The flame's next destination is Beijing, where it will be relayed August 6-8 before the main Olympic cauldron is lit during the Opening Ceremony.



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The flame will start his tour in Beijing today.......:victory: :victory:

First day's Torch Relay in Beijing concludes

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(BEIJING, August 6) -- Traveling via 433 different torchbearers, the Olympic flame finally reached Li Furong, vice president of the Chinese Olympic Committee. As the last torchbearer, Li lit the fire cauldron at the historic Temple of Heaven to end the first day of the Torch Relay in Beijing.


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