Olympic torch goes through picturesque Huizhou

HUIZHOU, South China, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The Olympic torch was carried through scenic Huizhou in Friday's relay, the third stop in Guangdong province, with the local backstroker Chen Xiujun bearing the first leg.

Chen, 22, finished first in women's 200m backstroke at China's national games 2001. Then a year later, she was ranked fourth at the Busan Asian Games in the event. In the 2004 Athens Games, Chensettled with the fourth place in 4x100m medley.

The itinerary lasted for 30 kilometers, covering lake-encircling scenery, avenues, tree-thriving massif, demonstrating a scene of "half landscape and half lake" in the city, which has two rivers and a zigzag lake located in downtown area.

As usual in torch relay, thousands of residents occupied the sidewalk along the route, presenting a grand ovation for the passing of Olympic flame in their hometown.

Other top athletes in torchbearers include Liang Wenbo, a snooker player and Lv Qin, a chess master and Zhong Xiu'e, a retired wrestler.

Besides, workers, servicemen, entrepreneurs, army officers and merchants are all taken into account in the relay.

Lv Qin, a team and individual world chess champion, is the last one in the day's relay.

"I would like to put my torch in my chess club, so as to let more people see it and be part of the Olympic Games," said 47-year-old Lv, who started playing chess when he was seven.

Liang was the champion at the 2005 world youth billiard championships, and also was the team champion at the Doha Asian Games 2006. He reached the quarterfinals at the World Championships 2008.

Zhong Xiu'e boasted a five-time world champion in a row and was entitled "Top Ten Wrestlers in 20th Century".

The Huizhou relay started at 8:10 a.m. local time in the City Stadium Square, set to pass East River Bridge, East River Sands Park, Rivers Joining Building, Pen Pagoda, Ancient City Gate, FlatLake Gate, Huabianling Square, Centurymart, Huizhou College, SouthLine Intersection, Red Flower Lake, West Lake Gate, Ciyun Pavilion and Huizhou Bridge before reaching the destination Civic Eden.

Thousands of local residents witnessed the opening ceremony in which hundreds of pigeons were released.

Liu Wenjie, a member in China's peace-keeping police squad in Haiti, ran a leg in Friday's relay. He was awarded a "Peace Medal" by UN.

"I am a peace keeper in Haiti and now being a torchbearer, I am a peace promoter as the Olympic spirit represents peace," said Liu.

"World peace is the strongest power for progress. I hope the Olympic flame can light the world and the relay can spread the message of peace around China and the world," he added.

The relay ended at 3:10 p.m. local time. The celebration activity took place in the starting site, the Huizhou Stadium. Chinese drum beating, lion and drag dancing, and Olympic style songs were staged.

Huizhou is a prefecture-level city in Guangdong province, China. Part of the Pearl River Delta, Huizhou borders the provincial capital of Guangzhou to the west, Shaoguan to the north, Heyuan to the northeast, Shanwei to the east, Shenzhen and Dongguan to the southwest, and looks out to the South China Sea to the south. Its name is linked to the "four treasures of the scholar's studio", often referred to as Huizhou's "four treasures of the scholar's studio".

Huizhou gradually gained benefit from the Chinese economic reform in the late 1980s. The blossom of real estate market attracted capital investment from Hong Kong and Taiwan, together with the establishment of factories and plants by these investment.

In the provincial economic development strategy, Huizhou is regarded as a site for a world-class petrochemical industry, as well as the hub for solidifying information technology, and expanding exports and trades.

The relay is to continue its journey of harmony in Shantou, the last stopover in Guangdong before moving to Fujian Province on Saturday.