The Beijing Olympic torch relay started off in Yuncheng city, North China's Shanxi province Wednesday morning.

The Beijing Olympic torch relay started off in Yuncheng city, North China's Shanxi province Wednesday morning.

At 12 past eight, Zhang Weihong became the first bearer to carry the torch. Zhang was a handball bronze medalist in the Los Angeles Olympic Games, and is now a handball coach in Shanxi. 104 torchbearers participate in the 9.8-kilometer relay.

Yuncheng, once known as Hedong, shares the same hometown as Guan Yu, a famous general from the Three Kingdoms period. It also served as the capital of the Xia Dynasty, the first dynasty recorded in Chinese history.

(CCTV June 25, 2008)