Special report:   2008 Olympic Games    

    QUANZHOU, Southeast China, May 12 (Xinhua) -- The Beijing Olympic torch relay started on Monday in the southeastern coastal city of China, Quanzhou, the third stop in Fujian province.

Torchbearer Wang Jiasheng from Quanzhou sport bureau runs with the torch during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, on May 12, 2008. (Xinhua/Zhang Guojun) Photo Gallery>>>

    Following the kick-off at the front square of China Museum for Fujian-Taiwan at 8:23 am local time, the 20-kilometer relay stretched through the city's historic sites and landmarks, including Riverside Road, Linzhang Gate, Jiangbin Sports Park, Dapingshan Tunnel, before reaching destination - the square in front of the Straits Sports Center, where a finish ceremony will be held.

    Tens of Thousands of local residents dressed in red lined the streets, waving national flags and carrying the logos and banners for the Beijing Olympics.

    Chants and cheers of "Jia You, Beijing!", "Go, go, go!", from the crowd went all along with the Olympic torch.

    A total of 108 torchbearers, including athletes, local officials, workers, businessmen, teachers and students, run through the city.

Graphics shows the Beijing Olympic torch will be relayed in Quanzhou, a city in southeast China's Fujian Province, May 12, 2008.(Xinhua/Zhang Liyun) Photo Gallery>>>

    Ding Shuibo, 38, who is leading a manufacturer sneaker branded "Tebu", was picked up to carry the torch at the second leg.

    "I'm excited and honored at the moment when I hold up the torch. I will keep the memory for life", Ding said.

    "As I have been lucky enough to get a ticket of this Olympics, I am going to Beijing to watch the games and cheer for Chinese athletes this August," he added.

    Quanzhou is known as one of the most famous hometowns of overseas Chinese and major ancestral homes of Han Chinese in Taiwan province.

    It is one of the first 24 renowned historic cities named by the State Council, and also the departure point of the ancient "Maritime Silk Route.

    Besides, Quanzhou boasts booming individual businesses, making it one of the fastest developing and most dynamic economic zone in China.

    After the three hours relay in Quanzhou, the torch is scheduled to move to neighboring Xiamen, a port city in Fujian's southeast coast.