Yesterday marked the 10-day countdown to the 2008 Beijing Olympics as the torch completed its journey in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province.

The relay started early in the morning in Xibaipo, a small village 95 km northwest of Shijiangzhuang.

Xibaipo was the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese People's Liberation Army from May 1948 to March 1949. It was the last rural command post of the Party when it was leading the Chinese revolution and liberating the country.

Li Meisu, a retired shot putter who won the bronze medal at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, led off the relay to the cheers of hundreds of local residents.

The relay concluded at 12:20 am at the Hebei provincial sports stadium.

The Olympic torch will proceed to the Olympic co-host city of Qinhuangdao in the province today.

(China Daily July 30, 2008)