Sacred flame hits the beach

Updated：2008-05-05
(QIONGHAI, Hainan, May 5) -- After short visits to special cities in Hainan Province, the Olympic torch relay is scheduled to tour the capital, Haikou, on Tuesday, May 6, reported Hainan Evening News.
On Monday morning, the city of Wuzhishan celebrated the torch relay along its short 1.2 kilometer route. Only 6 torchbearers had the honor of carrying the flame here, representing the shortest relay along the flame's entire international and domestic journey.
Nevertheless, the sacred flame was celebrated with intense fervor, and involved perhaps the most uniquely cultural ceremonies, with representatives of ethnic minorities showcasing distinct traditions.
Soon after the conclusion of the relay in Wuzhishan, the sacred flame left for the coastal city of Wanning. Before arriving in the city proper, the sacred flame made a short tour of the holiday district of Xinlong and took a break at breathtakingly beautiful Shimei Bay. The entire 16.63 kilometer long Wanning leg of the relay finished after 180 minutes, with the help of 113 torchbearers.
With hardly enough time to breathe, the escort team hurried the flame off to its next stop, the Qionghai region, where the sacred flame first took off from the meeting site of the Bo'ao Forum for Asia. At 4:40 p.m., the flame began its tour of the city of Qionghai itself. This section of the route took a total of 13.51 kilometers, 120 minutes, and the efforts of 89 torchbearers.
Around 10 p.m., the lantern holding the sacred flame is scheduled to arrive in Haikou, the capital of Hainan Province. Bright and early on Tuesday morning, at 8:00, the sacred flame will begin its 30.2 kilometer route through the city.