A general view of the torch



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The Beijing Olympic Torch boasts strong Chinese characteristics, and showcases Chinese design and technical capabilities. It embodies the concepts of a Green Olympics, a High-tech Olympics and the People's Olympics.

The Key Facts about the Torch

The torch is 72 centimetres high, weighs 985 grams and is made of aluminium. The torch is of a curved surface form, with etching and anodizing being used during its production. A torch can usually keep burning for approximately 15 minutes in conditions where the flame is 25 to 30 centimetres high in a windless environment. The torch has been produced to withstand winds of up to 65 kilometres per hour and to stay alight in rain up to 50mm an hour. The flame can be identified and photographed in sunshine and areas of extreme brightness. The fuel is propane which is in accordance with environmental guidelines. The material of its form is recyclable.

The Artistic and Technical Features of the Torch

The torch of the Beijing Olympic Games has a very strong Chinese flavour. It demonstrates the artistic and technical level of China. It also conveys the message of a Green Olympics, a High-tech Olympics and the People's Olympics. The shape of the paper scroll and the lucky clouds graphic, expresses the idea of harmony. Its stable burning technique and adaptability to the environment have reached a new technical level. The torch of the Beijing Olympic Games is designed, researched and produced in China. BOCOG owns all intellectual property rights.

The Fuel for the Torch

Under the concept of a Green Olympics, environmental protection was a key element listed in the invitation documents to the design companies, by BOCOG. The fuel of the torch is propane, which is a common fuel which also comes with a low price. It is composed of carbon and hydrogen. No material, except carbon dioxide and water remain after the burning, eliminating any risk of pollution.

The Burning System

Its stable burning technique and adaptability to the environment have reached a new technical level. It can stay alight in severe weather conditions such as strong wind, rain, snow, hail, etc. The flame can also be identified in sunshine and areas of extreme brightness so as to satisfy the requirements of capturing photographic images and video footage.

The Design Timelines

2005 August            BOCOG developed the design concepts and requirements of the torch.
2005 December       BOCOG recruited potential torch designs from the design society. In total, BOCOG received 388 pieces of works.
2006 June-August    BOCOG selected the structural designer and the burning system designer.
2007 January          Beijing Olympic Torch was approved by IOC

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                The Torch Relay lantern
The Torch Relay lantern will be used to store the Olympic flame. Its main purposes will be to receive the Olympic flame kindled in Olympia, to light the Olympic torch and to exhibit the sacred flame.

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 Olympic cauldron

The Olympic cauldron plays a major role in the Olympic Torch Relay. The lighting of the Olympic cauldron symbolizes the end of the Olympic Torch Relay and the beginning of the Olympic celebration.

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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       The torch stand

The torch stand is used to display and support the torch, and its design borrows from the architectural styles of the Han and Tang dynasties. The base design of the torch stand shows "lucky clouds" drifting away, as if gently calling out to the torch.

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        Sanya, Hainan Province

Area: 1919 sq km

Population: 536,000

Date: May 4, 2008


Sanya, Hainan Province

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Wuzhishan is located in the center of Hainan Province. As one of the most famous mountains in China, it is also the pride of Hainan. Breaking through the clouds, its five peaks look like five fingers, from which it derives its name.

The tropical forest that has grown on the mountain is home to myriad plants and animals. At 1,879 meters above sea level, the immense mountain also hosts a large wildlife and nature preserve.

Legend has it that a long time ago, the Wuzhishan region was a mere plain. An elderly couple lived on this plain with their five sons. They worked very hard every day of the week to turn the wasteland into fertile space; with no useful tools, they used wooden sticks and stones as substitutes for farming instruments. Their lives were very hard.

One night, in front of the dreaming husband appeared a phantom, who told him to continue farming the land, as it is fertile. The spirit told the husband of two valuable instruments buried near his home: a magic hoe and sword. According to the apparition, if the farmer gave the hoe an order to "dig," the hoe would dig. If the farmer told the sword to "chop," it would chop. The sword could also serve to protect the family; if anyone was attacked by intruders, it could be ordered to "kill."

The very next day, the family went to look for the magic hoe and sword where the spirit said they would be. Tree after tree fell under the direction of the farmer, and the land became more and more manageable, yielding better results. The family's lives became easier, and under the protection of the sword, they were kept safe, too.

Many years later, the husband passed away. The magic sword was buried with him. The news spread to the ears of evil people, who coveted the family's wealth. They killed the just-widowed wife and captured the five sons. In chains, the brothers were beaten ruthlessly under constant orders to reveal the burial place of the sword. The brothers did not divulge the secret, and eventually were killed.

Their story moved bears, leopards, ants, bees, and birds, who came from all over the world to avenge the brothers' deaths. After killing the murderers, the animals buried the five brothers on the land, which eventually grew to become the five fingers or points that are so characteristic of Wuzhishan.

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Location:

The coastal city of Wanning is located in the southeast of Hainan Island, 112 kilometers from the city of Sanya and 139 kilometers from Haikou, Hainan's capital. Wanning is located in the middle of the Eastern Highway which runs north to south through Hainan.

Climate:

Wanning is characterized by a tropical monsoon climate, with little temperature variation. The region is usually very warm, with an average annual temperature of 24 degree Celsius. Blessed with plenty of sunshine and rainfall, Wanning is a beautiful area in Hainan.

Tourist sites:

Dazhou Island

To the southeast of Wanning is Dazhou Island, 15 kilometers away from Wanning County. Covering an area of 4.36 square kilometers, Dazhou Island is made up of two smaller islands and three peaks, the highest of which is 289.3 meters high.

Dazhou Island is China's only production base for bird's nest, a Chinese delicacy known for its health benefits. Many varieties of flora and fauna reside on Dazhou Island; with its amazingly clear waters and beautiful mountain scenery, Dazhou Island is a wonderful place to visit.

Dongshan Mountain Range

Dongshan Mountain Range, which rises up from the middle of Hainan Island near Wanning, is considered one of Hainan's most famous sites.

Dongshan Ridge's highest point is about 184 meters. The range is characterized by peaks that rise through the air almost seamlessly. The picturesque scenery and over 100 strangely shaped stones mix with clear streams and thick forests to envelop scenic spots that dot the mountain.


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           World renown Haikou Crater Park
Haikou Crater Park (Huoshankou Gongyuan) is a 4A-level scenic spot in China. It is located in Hainan Province, a stop on the torch relay's route on the Chinese mainland. Known as an international geological park, the volcanic crater, one of the most complete in the world, is located about fifteen kilometers southwest of the city of Haikou. Easily reached by highway, the crater is a remnant of a volcano that has lay dormant for 10,000 years. The area is an important source for scientific research as well as a popular tourist attraction.


Haikou, sometimes called "Coconut City," is the political, economic, and cultural center of Hainan Province. It is also its transportation hub. It has a population of 1.73 million people, pleasant weather and a friendly atmosphere.

History

Haikou is a young provincial capital but a famous historical city. It has its origins in the Han Dynasty (206 B.C-A.D.220). By the 13th century the city was already well established as a trading port and was an important part of the Maritime Silk Road.

Haikou's famous "Five Street area" has a unique blend of Chinese, Southeast Asian and Western Architecture. These streets have witnessed the transformation of Haikou from an old port town to a flourishing coastal city.

Haikou tourism

Because of its tropical location, Haikou has a wonderful climate with an average annual temperature of 23.8 degrees Celsius, a long summer and no winter. The air, water and environmental cleanliness of Haikou all rank among the top in the nation. Haikou has blue skies, a lush green landscape, crystal clear seas and white sand beaches.

Haikou's natural features – hot springs, marine forests, undersea villages, tropical wildlife parks and botanical gardens – and its many first-rate golf courses make it a popular holiday destination.

Cultural attractions include an aboriginal village exhibiting the culture of the Li minority, the famous Wu Gong Ci temple and the tombs of Hai Rui and Qiu Jun.

Economy and education

Haikou is China's largest Special Economic Zone. It is also a notable educational center and is home to some of the province's foremost academic institutes. Haikou has actively developed its science and technology industries in recent years.


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          Guangzhou Olympic Center
     (Photo credit: http://www.gz.gov.cn)
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(BEIJING, May 6) -- Guangzhou is the capital city of Guangdong and is located north of the Pearl River Delta on the coast of the South China Sea. It is 182 km away from Hong Kong.

It has a population of 9.943 million people.

Its dialect is Cantonese.

The climate of Guangzhou is sub-tropical. Average annual temperature is 22 degrees Celsius.

It is hosted the 1987 National Games, 2001 National Games, 2006 Wrestling World Championships and 2010 Asian Games.


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Shenzhen, situated just across the border from Hong Kong, is a beautiful coastal garden city in South China. It is a city of sunshine and modernity, where economic development keeps pace with social development, and people live in harmony with nature.

Shenzhen, which is the China's first special economic zone, established via the patronage of the late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping is a pioneering and innovative city. It is in the vanguard of China's reforms and opening up to the rest of the world. In its short history of 27 years, Shenzhen has developed from a small fishing village into a modern city with a gross domestic product (GDP) per capita which gives it premier ranking in China. This is a remarkable achievement, notable in the annals of urbanization, industrialization and modernization across the globe.

As Shenzhen embraces the world, concomitantly it is becoming internationalized. As China's first special economic zone, Shenzhen began to open up to the rest of the world in 1980, becoming one of the country's major channels of communication with the outside world. Shenzhen has 17 sea, land and air ports, including China's largest land passenger port and land cargo port. In 2011, the 26th Universiade will be held here, which will make Shenzhen the youngest city in history to host the Games.

Shenzhen is a city with deep cultural roots that sit in tandem with its creative and modern ethos. It is said to have a history of 5,000 years, but was only founded 27 years ago. Since its foundation, Shenzhen has created a migrant culture and an innovative spirit of "encouraging innovation and pursuing excellence." At the forefront of Chinese cities in promoting the use of voluntary services, it boasts about 530,000 volunteers in various fields of activity. Moreover, given the high level of public services offered by the city's government departments, Shenzhen is one of China's "10 Most Welcomed Cities for Rural Migrant Workers."

(Credit: Shenzhen government online)


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Huizhou is located in the southeast of Guangdong Province. It is in the northeast portion of the Pearl River Delta, north of Daya Bay and adjacent to Shenzhen and Hong Kong. It contains two state-level development zones: Daya Bay Economic and Technological Development Zone and Zhongkai Hi-Tech Development Zone. Of the 3.21 million people that live in Huizhou, 85,500 people are from ethnic minorities. Huizhou’s most widely spoken dialects are Cantonese and Hakka.

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Shantou is located in southeast of Guangdong, China, adjacent to the South China Sea. It is known as "the gateway of east Nanling Mountains and the communication hub of Southeast China" because of its advantageous geographical location.


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Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian province, is one of the top tourist destinations in China, offering visitors an abundance of picturesque scenery and landscapes. The city has over 150 historic relics, as well as many scenic spots.

Crisscrossed by tributaries of the Minjiang River and Wulongjiao River and dotted with ponds, Fuzhou has all of the elements that are typical of the scenery of southern China. Visitors will enjoy exploring the city's natural and manmade surroundings, as Fuzhou has numerous mountains, temples and gardens as well as former residences of distinguished people.

High quality hot springs throughout the city serve as another attraction that draws visitors to the "Spa City".


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Quanzhou, in southeastern Fujian province, is one of the three major cities in the province. Han Chinese account for about 98% of Quanzhou's population of 7,520,000, while 48 ethnic minority groups are represented among the remaining two percent.

More than 6.2 million overseas Chinese and nearly 700,000 Hong Kong and Macao residents claim ancestry from Quanzhou.


FUZHOU, Southeast China, May 11 (Xinhua) -- The Olympic flame will start its relay on Monday in Quanzhou and Xiamen, the home city of millions of overseas Chinese and a special economic zone in China's southeastern Fujian Province.

It will be the sacred flame's second and third stop in the Fujian province and the relay will cover 20.35 kilometers with 108torchbearers in Quanzhou and 17.4 kilometers with 100 torchbearers in Xiamen.

The Quanzhou's relay route is going to set off on the square ofChina Museum for Fujian-Taiwan, pass by Riverside Road, Linzhang Gate, Jiangbin Sports Park, Dapingshan Tunnel, and end on the square in front of The Straits Sports Center of Quanzhou City. The flame will leave for Xiamen at 12:00 a.m. on Monday.

The torch relay in Xiamen will start at 14:00 local time from Xiamen International Conference & Exhibition Center. The relay, entitled "harmonious route", will go through a number of renowned scenic spot including Huandao Road, Yanwu Bridge, Gulangyu Island, Yundang Lake, Egret Park, which highlighted Xiamen's seaside landscape and harmonious living environment.

Quanzhou is known as one of the famous hometowns of overseas Chinese and the major ancestral homes of the Taiwan compatriots of the Han nationality. It is one of the 24 renowned historic cities of cultural significance in the first batch made public by the State Council, and also the starting point of the ancient "Maritime Silk Route".

Xiamen, located at the southeastern coast of Fujian, is one of China's five special economic zones, and a rapid developing city in the province. It has long since enjoyed its soubriquet of the "garden on the sea", known for its clean air, tidiness and comfortable living environment. In 2004, the city was awarded the "UN Habitat Scroll of Honour" as one of "the best places to live".


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                 Xiamen

Xiamen is in the southeast of Fujian province. It has a land area of 1565.09 square kilometers, and a sea area of 300 square kilometers. It is an international port city with beautiful scenery.

Xiamen has a mild and rainy sub-tropical climate. Its average annual temperature is 21 degrees Celsius.

Xiamen has a population of 2.33 million. Most of the residents are Han Chinese. Due to geographical and historical reasons, Xiamen is home to a great number of returned overseas Chinese.

Olympic gold medallist from Xiamen

In the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Chinese badminton player Ji Xinpeng, from Xiamen, won the gold medal in men's single badminton.

Xiamen international marathon race

The now famous Xiamen international marathon has its inaugural run on March 30,2003. With its beautiful scenery and good road conditions, Xiamen is an ideal city for a marathon.

Wanshi botanic garden

Wanshi botanic garden is located in the southeast of Xiamen. It has up to 10 thousand tropical and sub-tropical plants, as well as many cultural relics. It has been a tourist destination since ancient times.

Gulangyu Island

Surrounded by blue sea, Gulangyu Island is home to 4,000 plants. Its inhabitants are fond of music, and the piano is a common household instrument. The island has been called "Garden over the sea" and "Island of Piano". Millions of tourists visit Gulangyu Island each year.


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