Torchbearers Pu Huifang (R) and Jackie Chan, famous action star, light the cauldron at the scenic spot of Tianya Haijiao during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, on May 4, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

Torchbearers Pu Huifang (R) and Jackie Chan, famous action star, run with the torch during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, on May 4, 2008.(Xinhua Photo)

Torchbearer, highly-acclaimed Chinese director Lu Chuan (R) lights the torch for next torchbearer Zhang Ziyi, famous Chinese actress, during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, on May 4, 2008.(Xinhua Photo)

Torchbearer, famous Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi runs with the torch during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, on May 4, 2008.(Xinhua Photo)

Torchbearers Li Shuangjiang (2nd R) and Emil Chow, both famous singers, pose for a photo during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, on May 4, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

Tens of thousands of people greeted the Beijing Olympics torch with thunderous applause and cheers in the tropical resort city of Sanya yesterday (May 4) on the first leg of its three-month relay through China's mainland.

At 9:39am, Liu Jingmin, executive vice president of Beijing Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games, lit the flame at Olympic Square on the man-made Phoenix Island in Sanya on the southern tip of Hainan Province.

A 48-meter high, 270-ton "fire phoenix" bronze sculpture stands in the middle of the 100,000-square-meter square, which was put into use for the first time yesterday.

Created by Fuwa designer Han Meilin, the sculpture is in the shape of a phoenix, a bird from Chinese mythology, in an echo of the "Bird's Nest" Olympic stadium in Beijing.

"As the first stop for the torch relay on China's mainland, we are very honored and proud," Sanya's Communist Party boss, Jiang Zelin, said before the relay set off.

Chinese Olympic speed skating gold medalist Yang Yang was the first person to carry the torch.

"It went too fast," she told state television, having run just 200 metres like the other torch bearers.

On a CCTV live broadcast, four-time Olympic table tennis gold medalist Deng Yaping said carrying the torch was an honor.

"You can run fast, you can run slowly or you can walk. What matters is you are passing on the Olympic spirit," said Deng.

The torch in Sanya was carried by 208 runners - including basketball star Yi Jianlian, film star Zhang Ziyi, TV host Yang Lan, Miss World Zhang Zilin and Zhang Chaoyang, CEO of portal Website Sohu.

"Being Chinese, it's not easy," said Zhang Chaoyang during a press conference after the relay started.

He criticized some Western media's recent coverage of China and of the international leg of the relay, which was disrupted by Tibetan separatists and their supporters.

Yesterday, the torch was carried along the sands of Sanya Bay, which was full of yachts, windsurfers and watersports enthusiasts.

The torch ended its Sanya leg with Hong Kong-born action star Jackie Chan running with Pu Huifang, a local township head who is of the Li minority nationality, carrying the flame to a closing ceremony at a beachfront park.

"I'm very excited. I hope we can spread a message of peace to the world," Chan said at Tianya Haijiao at the southernmost tip of Hainan .

The flame will go to Wuzhishan city today, and arrive in Haikou, capital city of Hainan tomorrow.

Editor: Yan