Anyang Introduction

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More than 3,300 years ago, Emperor Pangeng relocated his capital to Anyang. Anyang is one of the eight famous ancient cities of China, nationally known for its history and culture. It is the hometown of oracle bone inscriptions, the Law of Change and the birthplace of the spirit of Hongqiqu.

Anyang is also the birthplace of famous patriotic hero Yue Fei. Besides a long history, Anyang has abundant tourism resources including many scenic areas. With rich energy sources and convenient transport, Anyang is not only a major agricultural city, but also home to many large industrial corporations, including a few that are listed on the top 500 list of the biggest industrial enterprises in China.



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Geographic location

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Map of Shijiazhuang (Photo credit: Shijiazhuang Government Official Website)

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Sitting in the central south of vast North China Plain,Shijiazhuang City is located at the longitude of 114??29'E, and the latitude of 38??04'N.With the Capital-Beijing and Port City¡§CTianjin in the North, and Bohai Sea and North China Oilfields in the east, and the towering Taihang Mountains and the coal bases in China¡§CShanxin Province in the west, Shijiazhuang City was called "the Nation Capital's Suburbs"in the old times. Shijiazhuang City enjoyes convenient transportation conditions, called as "a gate from south to north and the throat from Hebei to Shanxi".

(Credit: Shijiazhuang Government Official Website. Click here for further information.)



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Qinhuangdao in brief

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Geographical Location: Leaning against Yanshan Mountain to the north and facing Baohai Sea on the south, Qinhuangdao is in the northeastern part of Hebei Province, at the junction point of Northeast China and North China economic areas. The city is known as a bridge head of the new Euro-Asian continental bridge.

Origin of the name: Emperor Qinshihuang, China's first emperor came here in BC 215 on his eastward inspection tour. The place therefore got its name and became China's only city named after an emperor.

Administrative Division: The city has under its jurisdiction three urban districts of Beidaihe, Shanhaiguan and Haigang; four counties of Funing, Changli, Lulong and Qinglong Manchu Autonomous County; and a state-level economic & technological development zone.

Population: 2.805 million, 776 thousand of which live in urban areas.is urban population.

(Credit: Qinhuangdao Government Official Website. Click here for further information.)


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Overview of Tangshan

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The major industrial city of Tangshan in Hebei Province is perfectly situated at the center of the triangle formed by Beijing, Tianjin, and Qinhuangdao, each only a two to three hour road trip away.

Completely recovered from the nightmare of 1976, when a disastrous earthquake took 240,000 human lives here overnight, the city is now a picture of economic growth and social development. Abundant in natural resources, Tangshan sells coal, crude oil, steel, and other materials over the world.

Tourist sites are aplenty in and around the city. The Eastern Qing Tombs, the ruins of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall, the former residence of Li Dazhao, and many other spots welcome millions of visitors from all over the world each year. In addition, though a city of heavy industry, Tangshan enjoys fresh air from the Bohai Sea 40 km away.


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Tianjin in brief

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       (Photo credit: Tianjin Government Official Website)

Tianjin, referred to as "Jin" for short, is one of the four municipalitiesdirectly under the Central Government of China. Not only is it aninternational harbor and economic center in the north of China,but it is also well-known for its profound historical and culturalheritage.

It took a long time for the city to come into being. In ancienttimes, sea water receded from what is Tianjin now. For threetimes, the Yellow River, with the highest content of sand in theworld, flowed through this place into the sea, thus formingTianjin Plain. Even today, a few seashell dikes of ancient timescan still be found in such places as Shanggulin in Tianjin.According to research findings, these dikes are the remains ofthe ancient coastal lines.

The name of "Tianjin", meaning "a port for the emperor", was firstadopted in the first year of Yongle Reign in Ming Dynasty. In thesecond year of Yongle Reign (1404), Tianjin became a walledgarrison. In 1860 Tianjin was opened as a trading port. In the1930s, Tianjin became the largest industrial and commercial cityand financial center in the north of China.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Tianjinbecame a municipality directly under the central government. In1978, with the adoption of the policy to reform and open up tothe outside world, Tianjin became one of the first coastal cities inChina to open up.

In the Outline of the 11th Five-Year Plan for the Development ofNational Economy and Society in the People's Republic of China,which was approved of in 2006, it is pointed out that thedevelopment and opening of Tianjin Binhai New Area is part ofthe overall national development strategy of China. In the future,efforts will be made to build Tianjin into an international harborcity, economic center in the north of China, and an ecologicalcity. This positioning of the city provides Tianjin with a broadstage for Tianjin to seek further development.

(Credit: Tianjin Government Official Website. Click here for further information.)


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Guang'an

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Location: Geographically, Guang'an is located in the east of Sichuan Province, covering an area of 6,344 square kilometers. 4,443,000 people live within the one district (Guang'an) and three counties (Yuechi,Wusheng,Linshui) under its jurisdiction. Climate: A subtropical area, Guang'an has a humid monsoon climate. The mean annual temperature varies from 15.8 to 17.7??C. Warm winters, mild autumns, breezy springs, and cool summers characterize Guang'an's yearly weather conditions. Resources: Guang'an has many mineral resources, including coal, natural gas, halite, limestone, and siderite.

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Introduction to Leshan

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Leshan, whose name literally means "happy mountain," is a prefecture-level city located on the southwestern edge of the Red Basin in southern Sichuan, about 120 km from Chengdu.

The administrative area of Leshan is 12,827 sq km. Over 60 percent of the region is mountainous.

The annual average temperature in Leshan is 17.8 degrees Celsius, with an average low of 8.2 degrees Celsius in January and an average high of 25.9 degrees in August. The mean annual precipitation is 1,062mm.

Leshan boasts plenty of scenic spots and is especially well known for the Leshan Giant Buddha, the world's largest stone Buddha sculpture. In 1996 UNESCO named the Mount Emei Scenic Area, of which the Leshan Giant Buddha is a part, a World Heritage Site.


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Geographic situation of Chengdu

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Chengdu is situated in the middle of Sichuan Province, in the West Sichuan Plain. The city zone covers an area of 208 square kilometers. It is 1,600 km away from the East China Sea, and 1,090 kilometers away from the South China sea.

Climate: Due to the abrupt difference in altitude between the east and west sides of the city, Chengdu does not have a uniform temperature. Generally speaking, the higher west side is cooler than the lower east side. The annual average temperature is around 16.4 degrees Celsius.

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[[i] Last edited by ASHLEYTUNG at 2008-8-4 18:01 [/i]]

Flame arrives in Beijing for Wednesday's Torch Relay

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Municipal Publicity Department and other officials display the flame lantern.

(BEIJING, August 5) -- The sacred flame arrived in Beijing on Tuesday, August 5 at 4:20 p.m. for the last leg of the 2008 Torch Relay before the official start of the Games. The sacred flame will tour China's capital city from August 6-8.

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           Flowers to welcome flame escorts

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           Group photo

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Beijing torch relay route and bearers revealed

(BEIJING, August 5) -- Details on the final stretch of the Olympic torch relay were revealed during a press conference this morning. The Beijing relay, which will last for 3 days from August 6-8, will take the flame through all 18 Beijing districts and along all 19 roads in the newly expanded Beijing Economic and Technological District. The entire relay will cover 40km of ground, and the torch will pass through the hands of 841 torch bearers, taking close to 9 hours to complete.

On Wednesday, the Beijing relay will begin at the Forbidden City. Over 4 hours, 16km, and 433 torch bearers later, the torch will make its final stop of the day at another historical Beijing landmark, the Temple of Heaven.

The following day, the torch will travel another 14km, starting outside Beijing at the famous Badaling section of the Great Wall and ending back within city limits, in Ditan Park.

On the morning of the Opening Ceremony, the torch will appear in front of the Peking Man Museum and pass through the hands of 140 torch bearers over the 8km route to Beijing's 101 District Middle School, where the torch will then be transported to the National Stadium for the Opening Ceremony later that night.

Of the 841 torchbearers represented in the 3 day torch relay, 232 are members of the Beijing Olympic Committee, 90 are members of the National Olympic Committee, 60 are members of the International Olympic Committee, and 170 are associated with sponsor companies. The remaining 289 torchbearers were handpicked by the Beijing city government.

Among those chosen are NBA basketball superstar Yao Ming, Turin Olympics 500m. speed skating gold medalist, Wang Meng, and China's first gold medalist Xu Haifeng. Some of China's most famous actors and performers will also join the torch-bearing ranks. Comedian Feng Gong, actress Song Dandan, and opera singer Dai Yuqiang, are some of the better known stars that will participate in the Beijing relay. Other Chinese note-worthies include China's first astronaut Yang Liwei, designer of the Beijing mascots Han Meiling, and TV personality David. Teachers, students, factory workers, police officers, artists, and handicapped bearers will join their more famous counterparts in the Olympic torch relay.

In addition to hundreds of local participants, there are 64 foreigners and 3 Hong Kong residents participating in the final Beijing relay. The oldest torchbearer is 85, and the youngest, only 14.


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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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Second day of relay in Beijing begins on the Great Wall

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(Beijing, August 7) -- After completing the first day of the torch relay in Beijing, the Olympic torch continued on to the outskirts of Beijing. Today, the flame will travel 14.576 kilometers from its starting point at the Badaling section of the Great Wall with heroic test pilot Li Zhonghua. 268 torchbearers later, the torch will end at the Temple of the Earth, where singer Song Zuying will light the cauldron.

Between the beginning and ending destinations, the flame will travel through eight counties past famous actor Chen Baoguo, Olympic champion Liu Xuan, advocate for the handicapped Sang Lan, two-time table tennis world champion Liu Guozheng, and Olympic flatwater canoe champion Yang Wenjun.


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Last leg of Beijing relay ends at 101 Middle School

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(BEIJING, August 8) -- After traveling 137,000 kilometers through 130 cities in 130 days, the sacred flame finally arrived at Beijing 101 Middle School on Friday. In the hands of Xu Zhihong, president of Beijing University, the flame cauldron was ignited to thunderous applause.

Beijing 101 Middle School was picked as an ideal endpoint for two reasons. It is located by Beijing University and Tsinghua University, and it serves as home base for some 200 young representatives from around the world who are attending the Olympic Youth Camp. Six of the camp attendees were also chosen to be torchbearers in this last leg.

Today's relay, which began at the Peking Man site, is the last before the torch alights the flame cauldron in the National Stadium to signal the start of the 2008 Olympic Games.


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[[i] Last edited by ASHLEYTUNG at 2008-8-8 13:45 [/i]]

Tonight, the flame will get Bird's Nest.  :victory: :victory:

Former gymnast Li Ning lights Olympic cauldron

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(BEIJING, August 9) -- The Olympic flame's four-month-long Journey of Harmony culminated with a spectacular end to the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games with the lighting of the cauldron just after midnight as former gymnast Li Ning, lifted into mid-air with wires after he received the Olympic flame, "ran" along the 500-meter-long brim of the Bird's Nest to reach the gigantic cauldron, which he ignited using the flame from his torch.

A large screen that mimicked an unrolling scroll that showed footage from the Torch Relay served as Li's track.

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The legendary Li, who won three gold medals, two silver medals and a bronze medal at Los Angeles 1984, was the last of eight torchbearers to carry the flame in the stadium, in the last stage of the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay. He was the most decorated athlete at the Los Angeles Games, and he has since become a successful entrepreneur as a maker of Li Ning athletic apparel.

With the start of the music, Xu Haifeng, the first of the final eight torchbearers, entered from Gate 3, holding high the Olympic Torch. Xu won China's first gold medal in Olympic history in the Individual Free Pistol at Los Angeles 1984.

He and the next six torchbearers, all notable athletes -- Gao Min (Diving), Li Xiaoshuang (Gymnastics), Zhan Xugang (Weightlifting), Zhang Jun (Badminton), Chen Zhong (Taekwondo) and Sun Jinfang (Volleyball) -- make one full circuit around the stadium.

Gao was the first Chinese Olympic gold medalist in Springboard Diving; Li Xiaoshuang was the first Chinese athlete to ever claim the Individual All-Around title at the World Gymnastics Championships; both Zhang Jun and Chen Zhong are two-time Olympic champions; and Sun Jinfang helped China win the first world volleyball crown and consecutive World Cup, World Championships and Olympic titles.

The Olympic flame for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay was created at the Torch Lighting Ceremony at Olympic in Greece on March 24 and arrived in Beijing on March 31 to begin the global relay the following day. The relay covered an unprecedented 137,000 kilometers in 129 days.


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The olympic torch Beijing ready news center

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                                  Beibei

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                                  Jingjing

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                                  Huanhuan

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                                  Yingying

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                                  Nini


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The Beijing Paralympic torch relay routes

Updated：2008-08-28 14:57:57

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     Click for a larger image

Two separate relay routes will begin in Beijing and will meet again on September 5 to continue the flame's tour of the capital before the lighting of the main cauldron at the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, on September 6.

The "Ancient China" route covers the historic cities of Xi'an, Hohhot, Changsha, Nanjing and Luoyang and showcases the long history of Chinese civilization and the beautiful panorama of the host country. The "Modern China" route passes through Shenzhen, Wuhan, Shanghai, Qingdao and Dalian and highlights China's post reform and opening-up achievements.

Each leg of the Paralympic relay will be similar to that of the Olympic torch relay. There will be an opening and closing ceremony in each city, and each torchbearer will run 50 meters. Sixty torchbearers will run a total of three kilometers in one-and-a-half hours in each city. As Beijing is the host city, the relay distance and time as well as the number of the torchbearers will be more than those of other cities.


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[[i] Last edited by ASHLEYTUNG at 2008-9-1 17:08 [/i]]

The Image and Look -- The Paralympic Torch

Updated：2008-08-22 13:18:15

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           The Beijing Paralympic Torch

The Beijing Paralympic Torch boasts strong Chinese characteristics, and showcases Chinese design and technical capabilities. The torch is 72 centimetres high, weighs 985 grams and can keep burning for approximately 15 minutes. The torch has been produced to withstand winds of up to 65 kilometres per hour and to stay alight in heavy rain up to 50mm an hour.

In a windless environment the flame is 25 to 30 centimetres high, and it can be identified in sunshine and areas of extreme brightness to satisfy the requirements of capturing photographic images and video footage. The torch is made of aluminium and of a curved surface form, with etching and anodising being used during its production. The fuel is propane which is environmentally friendly.

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The Image and Look -- Lantern and Cauldron

Updated：2008-08-22 13:24:42

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               The Lantern

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) requires the flame remain lit during the entire course of the Torch Relay in order to protect the sanctity of the Olympic flame and the purity of the Torch Relay. If the torch flame should be extinguished, it must be relit using the mother flame stored in the lantern. This is to ensure that the flame used to light the Olympic cauldron at the Opening Ceremony comes from the sacred Olympic flame kindled in Olympia.

The inspiration for the original design of the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay lantern comes from the traditional lanterns used inside ancient Chinese palaces. The silver luster of the lantern coupled with crystal-clear glass serve as a foil to the flame and communicates the Olympic flame's sanctity and purity.

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               The Cauldron

The Beijing Olympic cauldron is based on the concept of a "round heaven and square earth" and takes after a typical cauldron from the Chinese Bronze Age. The cauldron shares with the torch and lantern the design element of the "lucky cloud."

The 56 "lucky clouds" hollowed out of the curved plate of the Olympic cauldron symbolize well wishes to the world from the 56 ethnic groups in China. The base of the cauldron has four legs with eight faces, symbolizing that the Beijing Olympic Games welcomes friends from all directions across the world. The Olympic cauldron stands 130 centimeters high, symbolizing the 130-day duration of the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay. The cauldron plate is 29 centimeters deep, symbolizing the 29th Olympiad. The cauldron post is 112 centimeters tall, symbolizing the 112 years that have passed between the staging of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and the 2008 Olympic Games.


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Image and Look

2008-08-22 16:10:27

Image and look of the leading vehicle
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              The leading vehicle

Image and look of the torch bearers' bus
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          The torch bearers' bus

Image and look of the Motorcycle
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                  Motorcycle

Image and look of the Media van
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                 The Media van

Image and look of the Motorcade
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                 The Motorcade

The Image and Look of the banners

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                     Banner (1)
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                     Banner (2)
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                     Banner (3)
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                     Banner (4)

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Paralympic torch to be lit on Aug. 28

Updated：2008-08-22 18:34:27

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Jiang Xiaoyu gives the speech at the press conference.
[url]http://en.beijing2008.cn/live/pressconference/mpc/n214573757.shtml[/url]

(BEIJING, August 22) -- The flame for the Beijing Paralympic Games will be lit on August 28 at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, as announced here in Beijing on Friday, August 22.

The nine-day Paralympic torch relay will be held from August 29 until the start of the 13th Paralympic Games, Jiang Xiaoyu, executive vice-president of BOCOG, said at a press conference.

To meet the requirements of hosting equally splendid Olympic and Paralympic Games, Jiang said, the unique torch relay for the Paralympics will display the spirit of self-reliance, spread knowledge of the Paralympic Games, and raise awareness of people with disabilities.

Under the theme of "Transcendence, Integration and Equality," a total of 850 torchbearers will go on a journey of over 13,000km through an eleven-city route that has been designed to include areas that represent the modernity and ancient timelessness of China.

Temple of Heaven - the torch lighting

The lighting ceremony of the Beijing Paralympic torch relay will take place at the Temple of Heaven at 10:30 a.m., August 28, 2008. The optical focus of a concave mirror will be used to light the Paralympic flame.

The Temple of Heaven is where ancient Chinese offered sacrifices to heaven. The lighting ceremony is in line with the Chinese concept of "integrity of man and heaven" and embodies a pursuit of "harmony between man and nature." It is also in conformity with the emblem of the Beijing Paralympics, which features "sky, earth and human beings."

Two simultaneous routes

Two separate relay routes will begin in Beijing and will meet again on September 5 to continue the flame's tour of the capital before the lighting of the main cauldron at the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, on September 6.

The "Ancient China" route covers the historic cities of Xi'an, Hohhot, Changsha, Nanjing and Luoyang and showcases the long history of Chinese civilization and the beautiful panorama of the host country. The "Modern China" route passes through Shenzhen, Wuhan, Shanghai, Qingdao and Dalian and highlights China's post reform and opening-up achievements.

Each leg of the Paralympic relay will be similar to that of the Olympic torch relay. There will be an opening and closing ceremony in each city, and each torchbearer will run 50 meters. Sixty torchbearers will run a total of three kilometers in one-and-a-half hours in each city. As Beijing is the host city, the relay distance and time as well as the number of the torchbearers will be more than those of other cities.

"Sky, Earth, Human Beings" - torch relay symbols

The emblem of the torch relay follows that of the Paralympic Games - "Sky, Earth and Human Beings." The Paralympic torch relay has adopted the pattern, style and design of the Beijing Olympic torch relay, but the Paralympic torch, torch lamp, cauldron, torchbearers' and escort runners' uniforms will use the emblem of the Beijing Paralympic torch relay.

Quality torchbearers selected

People with disabilities will account for about 20 percent of the 850 torchbearers who have been selected by the relay cities, the China Disabled Persons' Federation, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), and Paralympic sponsors. Most of the selecting bodies have already completed their selection work.

These torchbearers include former medalists of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, other disabled athletes, Chinese nationals devoted to the care and support of people with disabilities, Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games volunteers, and representative members from organizations that support people with disabilities.

Timely information on Olympic website

The organizers will release official information including text, pictures, television, and audio signals for the Paralympic relay. All of these services are provided to the international media free of charge. Every day the official signal producing team will produce a minimum of five minutes of video content, ten pictures, five minutes of audio content and a press release in both Chinese and English. The official television signal will also be released via the global satellite network.

The torch relay's official website will be open for those who would like to obtain more information about the relay. The official pictures, audio content and press content, as well as TV signal forms will also be issued by the website. The website guarantees a timely release of information about torch relay arrangements.


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[url]http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/torchrelay/element/index.shtml[/url]

Premier lights Beijing Paralympic flame, torch relay starts

Updated：2008-08-28 13:38:03 From：Xinhuanet

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Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao holds up a torch after lighting the Beijing Paralympic flame during the Paralympic flame lighting ceremony at the ancient Temple of Heaven in Beijing on August 28, 2008. (Photo Credit: Pang Xinglei/Xinhua)

[url]http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/torchrelay/news/n214585847.shtml[/url]

BEIJING, August 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao lit the Beijing Paralympic flame at the ancient Temple of Heaven in Beijing on Thursday, kicking off the torch relay across China before the Paralympics open on September 6. In front of the symbolic Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, Jiang Xintian lit the flame out of a concave, burnished mirror.

The flame was then handed to Jin Jing, the wheelchair fencer and torchbearer during the Paris leg of the Olympic relay. The flame was used to light a torch held by Liu Qi, president of the organizing committee of the just concluded Beijing Olympic Games. Liu passed the torch to Wen Jiabao, who lit an urn and announced the beginning of the Paralympic torch relay.

[img]http://img11.beijing2008.cn/20080828/Img214586117.jpg[/img]
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (C, Front), Philip Craven (1st, L, Front), president of the International Paralympic Committee, Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (1st, R) and senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Zhou Yongkang attend the Paralympic flame lighting ceremony at the ancient Temple of Heaven in Beijing on August 28, 2008. (Photo Credit: Liu Jiansheng/Xinhua)

The flame lighting ceremony was also attended by Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping and Zhou Yongkong, a senior official of the Communist Party of China. The flame will be sent to two destinations, Xi'an in northwest China and Shenzhen in the south, where the relays will be launched on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

A total of 850 torchbearers will participate in the relays along two routes through 11 Chinese provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities. The "Ancient China" route will pass through several cities of historic and cultural significance, including Xi'an, Hohhot, Changsha, Nanjing and Luoyang. The "Modern China" route, running through Shenzhen, Wuhan, Shanghai, Qingdao and Dalian, will showcase the country's achievements in its recent drive for modernization. "The flame will symbolize, over the next ten days, the unique sporting spirit displayed by Paralympic athletes," said Philip Craven, president of the International Paralympic Committee at the flame lighting ceremony. "This spirit overcomes many obstacles in the search of sporting excellence."

[img]http://img09.beijing2008.cn/20080828/Img214586118.jpg[/img]
Liu Qi (L), president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), lights the first Paralympic torch during the Beijing Paralympic flame lighting ceremony at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing on August 28, 2008. The ceremony kicked off the torch relay across China before the Paralympics open on September 6. (Photo Credit: Gao Jie/Xinhua)
The Temple of Heaven, a gateway between the earth and the sky in Chinese traditional thought, was the perfect location to light the flame for the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, he said.

Craven also appreciated the Chinese people for portraying the Paralympic values of courage, determination, inspiration and equality during recent disasters such as the severe winter storm and devastating May 12 earthquake.

"We will try our best to prepare for the Paralympic Games and well serve the athletes, coaches and guests," said Liu Qi at the ceremony. "The Beijing 2008 Paralympics will be a unique, high quality Games."

About 4,000 athletes with disabilities from around the world will compete in the September 6-17 Games.

[img]http://img09.beijing2008.cn/20080828/Img214586119.jpg[/img]
Jiang Xintian lights the torch during the Paralympic flame lighting ceremony at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing on August 28, 2008. (Photo Credit: Xinhua/Liu Jiansheng)

The Paralympics carries on the great Olympic spirit and also bears the dream of the 650 million people with disabilities in the world, said wheelchair user Deng Pufang. Deng serves as BOCOG executive president and chairman of the China Disabled Persons Federation.

"The torch relay will show the world the consistent efforts a vigorous country with rich heritage has made to promote a harmonious and beautiful world and mutual respect for human beings," he said.

Workers are freshening up the decorations in Tian'anmen Square, arranging new flowers and changing the Olympics emblem to that of the Paralympics.

The Five Fuwa also had to make way for Paralympics mascot Fu Niu Lele (Happy Cow).

In the 12 days between the end of the Olympic Games and the start of the Paralympic Games, the city will be busy getting itself ready for the transition.

Posters, emblems and mascots are being changed in the 13 competition venues, the Olympic Village and the Media Village.

Some temporary barrier-free facilities are being erected in the Olympic Village, which will be renamed the Paralympic Village. It is scheduled to formally open on Saturday.

Subways, buses and tourist sites are also undergoing last-minute checks of their accessibility for those with disabilities.

[img]http://img10.beijing2008.cn/20080828/Img214586120.jpg[/img]
Singers and dancers perform during the Paralympic flame lighting ceremony at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 28, 2008. (Photo Credit: Pang Xinglei/Xinhua)
"I am applying to be an 'on the spot' narrator for friends with visual impairments," said Wang Weili, who founded a small "cinema" for the visually impaired.

During the Olympics, he narrated the Opening and Closing ceremonies, as well as competitions, for the visually impaired in his 20-square-meter theater in a downtown Beijing hutong.

According to the BOCOG, half of the tickets for the Paralympic events have been sold. Those for events to be held in the National Stadium and the National Aquatics Center (Bird's Nest and Water Cube) are sold out.

[url]http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/torchrelay/[/url]
[url]http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/torchrelay/news/n214586115.shtml[/url]

The "Ancient China" route-Paralympic torch relay in Xi'an

Updated：2008-08-29 11:29:33

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The last torchbearer Li Huimin lights the cauldron. (Photo credit: Jin Liangkuai/Xinhua)

(XI'AN, August 29) -- The Paralympic Torch Relay ended in Xi'an at about 10:00 a.m., when the last torchbearer Li Huimin, a disabled entrepreneur, arrived at the South Entrance of the old Xi'an city wall to light the cauldron.

The Xi'an torch relay route covered 3.1km of ground. There were 70 torchbearers (including 11 torchbearers with a disability) who participated in the torch relay. The first torch bear was Zhang Hui, one of China's National Top Ten Disabled Athletes.

The Paralympic flame will continue its tour along the two designated Paralympic relay routes, the "Ancient China" route and the "Modern China" route. The next stop for the "Ancient China" route is Hohhot, the capital of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The "Modern China" route will take the torch relay to the industrial boom town Shenzhen in southern China. Both of these relays will take place on Saturday, August 30.

[img]http://img11.beijing2008.cn/20080829/Img214586238.jpg[/img]
The first torchbearer Zhang Hui holds the torch. (Photo credit: Jin Liangkuai/Xinhua)

[url]http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/torchrelay/news/[/url]
[url]http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/torchrelay/news/n214586237.shtml[/url]

The "Modern China" route--Paralympic torch relay in Shenzhen

Updated：2008-08-30 11:54:28

[img]http://img06.beijing2008.cn/20080830/Img214586417.jpg[/img]
The last torchbearer Shen Jianping lights the cauldron. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

(BEIJING, August 30) -- Through the hands of 70 torchbearers, 20 percent of whom are people with disabilities, the Shenzhen leg of the Paralympic torch relay ended on the morning of August 30.

The route, showcasing "Modern China," covered about 3km and was kicked off by first torchbearer Liu Hong, fourth place winner of the Women's 20km race during the Beijing Olympic Games.

At 10:00 on the same morning, the Paralympic flame took off along its second route, touring Hohhot in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region following the "Ancient China" theme.


[url]http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/torchrelay/news/[/url]
[url]http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/torchrelay/news/n214586416.shtml[/url]

We have been with the torch replay all the way:) :victory:

The "Ancient China" route-Paralympic torch relay in Hohhot

Updated：2008-08-30 13:51:15

[img]http://img01.beijing2008.cn/20080830/Img214586461.jpg[/img]
Last torchbearer Chen Guoyi lights the cauldron. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

(HOHHOT, August 30) -- The Hohhot leg of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic torch relay successfully concluded after Chen Guoyi lit the flame cauldron in front of Hohhot Stadium in China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Saturday, August 30.

According to Xinhua, the relay began at 10:10 a.m. with first torchbearer Yang Zhimin carrying the flame from Genghis Khan Square.

Of the 70 torchbearers that participated in the relay, three took on the task of relaying the flame by riding horses while dressed in traditional Inner Mongolian outfits.

The next stop for the Paralympic torch relay along the "Ancient China" route is the city of Changsha in Hunan province.


[url]http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/torchrelay/news/[/url]
[url]http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/torchrelay/news/n214586425.shtml[/url]

The "Modern China" route--Paralympic torch relay in Wuhan

Updated：2008-08-31 09:48:19 From：Xinhuanet

[img]http://img07.beijing2008.cn/20080831/Img214586677.jpg[/img]
The first torchbearer Chen Yu runs with the torch.(Photo credit: Xinhua)

WUHAN, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Beijing Paralympic torch relay in Wuhan started at 8:06 a.m. on Sunday at Wuhan Sports Center in central China's Hubei province, where the well-known Three Gorges Project is located.


[url]http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/torchrelay/news/[/url]
[url]http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/torchrelay/news/n214586676.shtml[/url]

Jiang Xintian:o

she is beautiful:loveliness:

The "Ancient China" route-Paralympic torch relay in chang sha

Updated：2008-08-31 11:53:27

[img]http://img08.beijing2008.cn/20080831/Img214586733.jpg[/img]
The first torchbearer Zhu Weiming holds up the torch. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

(CHANGSHA, Aug. 31) -- The Beijing Paralympic torch relay in Changsha started at 10:10 a.m. on Sunday. The Changsha torch relay route will cover 3.1km of ground. There will be 70 torchbearers participating in the torch relay.

The first torchbearer was Zhu Weimin, who took gold in the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics.

'Ancient China' showcased by Changsha Paralympic torch relay

[img]http://img00.beijing2008.cn/20080831/Img214586818.jpg[/img]

Last torchbearer Tan Yuehua lights the cauldron during the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games torch relay in Changsha, August 31, 2008. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

(CHANGSHA, August 31) -- At 10:50 on Sunday morning, Tan Yuehua concluded the Changsha leg of the Paralympic torch relay by lighting the flame cauldron in the southern Chinese city.

According to Xinhua, 70 torchbearers, 13 of whom are people with disabilities, carried the flame along the 3km route in Changsha, the third stop along the "Ancient China" path of the Paralympic torch relay. Scores of enthusiasts lined the relay route, chanting Olympic slogans in support of the torchbearers and the Paralympic Games.

At the closing ceremony, Xu Minghua, an official of the Hunan provincial government, applauded the successful relay, saying that Changsha joins the world's citizens in supporting a harmonious society for all.

The fourth stop on the "Ancient China" route is Nanjing.


[url]http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/torchrelay/news/[/url]
[url]http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/torchrelay/news/n214586732.shtml[/url]

The "Modern China" route--Paralympic torch relay in shanghai

Updated：2008-09-01 10:20:58

[img]http://img02.beijing2008.cn/20080901/Img214586964.jpg[/img]
Zhao Jihong receives the torch. (Photo credit: Yang Guang/Xinhua)

(SHANGHAI, Sept.1) -- The Beijing Paralympic Torch Relay in Shanghai started at 9:30 a.m. on Monday in the college park of Shanghai Songjiang New Town.

Zhao Jihong, a four-time Paralympic gold medalist, including in 1984 for the Women's Long Jump B3, was the first torchbearer.

Paralympic flame to visit Shanghai
Updated：2008-08-31 20:16:19 From：Xinhuanet

WUHAN, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Beijing Paralympic flame will continue its China tour in Shanghai on Monday, the third leg of the "Modern China" route after the relay concluded in central China's Wuhan city.

The Shanghai leg will start in the college park of Shanghai Songjiang New Town.

Situated on the bank of the Yangtze River Delta and nicknamed "Paris of the East", Shanghai is considered as one of the most vibrant cities of the world and the most modern city in China.

The well-known booming metropolis city boasts of its modern infrastructure and the progressive outlook.

The Beijing Paralympic torch relay covers 13,181 kilometers in nine days passing 11 cities which are selected from provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities of China.

The relay will be along two routes, namely the route of "modern China" and the route of "ancient China".

The "Modern China" route running through Shenzhen, Wuhan, Shanghai, Qingdao and Dalian will showcase the country's achievements in its modernization drive in recent decades.

The quadrennial Paralympic Games made its debut in Rome in 1960 and have been successfully held for 12 times.

The Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games will run from September 6 to 17,attracting more than 4,200 athletes from 148 countries and regions.



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