Skaters melted Harbiners' hearts with their fancy footwork as they carried the Olympic torch through the city on Friday.

The flame was burning brightly as Zhang Dan, held aloft by her partner Zhang Hao, spread her body like a swan with the torch pointing toward the skies.

The pair, who won silver at the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics, delighted onlookers with their graceful moves as they kicked off Friday's leg of the torch relay.

The relay in Harbin, famed for its annual ice festival and distinctive architecture, also closed with a touch of romance, courtesy of skaters Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo, who kissed the torch before lighting the cauldron.

The husband-and-wife pair, who both hail from Harbin and have three World Championship golds and three Olympic bronzes to their name, said that bearing the sacred flame in their hometown was a "great moment".

"We hope that athletes from around the world will give their best performances at the Beijing Olympics," Zhao said.

Friday's relay in the capital of Heilongjiang province covered a total distance of 14.86 km and lasted three hours.

Harbin was the first stop of the three-day relay in the province. The oil city of Daqing will host Saturday's leg and Qiqihar will welcome the flame on Sunday.

(China Daily July 12, 2008)