Two huge signboards were erected at the starting point of the relay route, expressing thanks from the Sichuan people for the help they have received from across China and the world.

Torchbearer Zhang Liangying holds up the Olympic torch in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, August 5. [Xinhua]

When the torch relay ended at 10:40 a.m., a ceremony was held to celebrate, with all the 862 torchbearers from Sichuan, quake relief workers and children from the quake-hit areas, including three-year-old Lang Zheng who saluted to his saviors from the stretcher and young heroes who saved classmates in time of the disaster.

Sichuan enjoys more than 4,500 years of civilization and is home to the endangered giant panda, the original form of Jingjing, one of the five mascot dolls of the Beijing Games.

After Sichuan, the Olympic flame will be relayed in Beijing from Wednesday to Friday before the opening of the Games.

Torchbearers Guo Yu and Chen Luyu pass the Olympic flame in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, on August 5. [Xinhua]

Olympic spirits inspire

The last torchbearer Xu Zhirong lights the cauldron during the torch relay in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, on August 5. [BOCOG]

The Olympic torch relay was suspended for three days after the devastating earthquake, and Sichuan was readjusted on the relay schedule to become the last stop before Beijing.