The Olympic torch relay in the Chinese capital began on Wednesday as part of the Olympic flame's global voyage through the world's five continents ahead of the Athens Games in August.

The torch was lit at 9:16 am (0130GMT) at the East Gate of the Great Hall of the People by the giant Tiananmen Square in downtown Beijing and the 55.6-kilometer relay through the Chinese capital began right after. The relay will be concluded late this afternoon in the Summer Palace in northwestern Beijing.

Yu Zaiqing, vice-president of the Chinese Olympic Committee and a member of the International Olympic Committee, is the first torch bearer of the Beijing relay and China's NBA star Yao Ming is the last.

The Olympic flame embarked on a 78,000-kilometer (46,800-mile) journey across six continents and 33 cities when it left Greece on June 2. For the first time in history, the flame will visit Africa and South America.

The torch relay returns to Greece on July 9 for the second half of its domestic relay before the start of the Aug. 13-29 Olympics.

(Xinhua News Agency June 9, 2004)