Torchbearer Fan Xueping lights the cauldron during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Hefei, capital city of east China's Anhui Province, May 28, 2008. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)(Xinhua Photo)

The Olympic torch relay extended its journey in Hefei, capital city of Anhui Province, with Olympic diving champion Li Na running the first legon Wednesday.

The relay started in Anhui Exhibition Center, passing Prosperity Avenue, Jade Road, Politics Square, Hidden Hill road, Friends Road before reaching the destination Hefei Sports Complex.

The highlight landmarks en route includes Anhui Garden, College City, Politics Building, Swan Lake along the 10.8-km relay.

Li Na, 24, the Olympic diving champion, was the first torchbearer. She was handed the torch at 8:10 a.m. local time from Sun Jinlong, the provincial party secretary.

"No earthquake happened when I was informed to be a torchbearer, so it's all the happiness for me at that moment. When the quake came, the torch relay was endowed with new contents, passing the cares, fraternity and concerns between each other," said Li, who won a gold and silver medals at the 2000 Summer Olympics.

Li is going to be a diving TV commentator during the Beijing Olympic Games.

After carrying the torch 50 meters, Li passed the Olympic torch to Li Shijun, a paramilitary policeman, who came back from the Sichuan earthquake relief squad and will be back to Sichuan for reconstruction soon.

"I just can't adjust myself to the life here. Everything in my mind is to be back to the quake region as soon as possible. They (Li's comrades in arms) always told me this (torch relay) is also passing a spirit and cares, and I thought it over and agreed to carry the torch," said 30-year-old Zhu.

The oldest torchbearer the day was 90-year-old Zhang Taisheng, who had been an army official in 1951-1954 Korean War.

"I hope the Olympic flame can light up the confidence of rebuilding homeland in disaster area. I hope the whole nation gives a hand to the quake region and I hope people there can live back to normal life in near future," said Zhang.

The Wushu world champion Fan Xueping, 34, was honored to light the cauldron at 10:20 in the morning and the Olympic flame left for Huainan at 12:30 on noon for next relay.

Hefei is a prefecture-level city and the provincial capital of Anhui province, China. Located in central Anhui, it borders Huainan to the north, Chuzhou to the northeast, Chaohu to the southeast and Lu'an to the west.

Editor: Yan