From April 1, the Olympic torch of Beijing Games will start its world tour. Guangdong will be the second province of the Chinese mainland tour. The torch will be relayed in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Huizhou and Shantou from May 7 to 10, before being passed to Fujian province.

According to Nanfang Daily, the relay route for the four cities is subject to change.

Guangzhou

According to the plan, the torch will arrive in Guangzhou on May 7. And the whole journey in the city will be 43 kilometers, lasting for 11 hours.

On that day, the torch will start its trip in the city at 8:18 am, from the square in front of Guangzhou Baiyun International Convention Centre, passing by Baiyun Mountain, Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall, Beijing Lu and other famous interests of places in Guangzhou with local characteristics.

During the 11 hour trip, there will be totally 208 torchbearers, including the Olympic champions Guan Weizhen (badminton), Yang Jinghui (diving) and Chen Weiqiang (Weight Lifting), who are from Guangzhou.

Actually during the fireseed runs in Guangzhou, another Olympic fireseed may be also going to top of the Mount Everest at the same time. As two Olympic fireseeds being relayed at the same time is against the rules, when the torch starts the Mount Everest attempt, the torch passing in Guangzhou may have to stop. Details are still to be determined.

Shenzhen

The flame will arrive in Shenzhen on May 8 for a 40-kilometer tour of the city carried by a total of 208 torchbearers.

The Shenzhen leg will set off from the Citizens’ Center in Futian District heading westward and then return eastward before ending at Shenzhen Stadium in Futian District, according to the planned route.

The trip will take the flame to city landmarks and well-known tourist attractions, which will include the Trailblazing Ox sculpture in front of the old city government complex, Window of the World, Mangrove Nature Reserve, Diwang Mansion and the Deng Xiaoping portrait near the Shenzhen Grand Theater.

Yangge dancers and drummers will perform along the route to cheer the runners on.

Shenzhen Vice Mayor Liang Daoxing will be the first to carry the torch while Wang Qihong, coach of Shenzhen’s athletics team, will run the final stage carrying the flame to Shenzhen Stadium. The other runners comprise athletes, public servants, managers, security guards and expats, selected by the Shenzhen and provincial governments and event sponsors.

Huizhou

The torch will arrive in Huizhou on May 9. The trip will start from the Huizhou Stadium, passing by Huizhou West Lake and end at Citizen’s Garden.

Shantou

The torch will arrive in Shantou, a famous hometown for overseas Chinese, on May 10, for a 40-kilometer tour of the city.

Six Diving Champions, Sun Shuwei, Cai Yuyan, Li Qiaoxian, Lin Yuanxiang, Xiao Yanjuan, Chi Meilan will be included in the torchbearers. And a family with quintuplets will perform along the route.

Editor: Yan