Datong, which enjoys a reputation of a "coal city", on Friday morning added heat to the Olympic Torch Relay as the torch started its journey through the city at 8:15am.

Tian Lijun, a chief engineer with the Datong Coal Mine Group Co. Ltd, ran as the first torchbearer.

A crowd of local people intent on witnessing the Olympic Torch gathered as early as 7am in the city.

The Datong leg is four kilometers long and 208 torchbearers will participate in it.

Li Zhi, who was born in 1918, will be the oldest torchbearer while Lu Jianping, who is 14-years old, is the youngest.

Datong is the fourth and also the last stop for the relay in north China's Shanxi Province. The torch will continue with its journey in Hangtiancheng on Saturday.

(BOCOG June 27, 2008)