The Olympic flame is making a three-day journey across Beijing, the final leg of the domestic torch relay.

The first torch bearer Yang Liwei

Things got underway at 8 a-m at the Forbidden City's Meridian Gate. The Forbidden City was a former Imperial Palace built over six-hundred years ago. It housed 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The first torch bearer is Yang Liwei, who became a national hero overnight in China's first manned space mission in October 2003. Four hundred and thirty-three torchbearers will run the more than 16 kilometer route in just over four hours on Wednesday.

The flame will travel past a number of city landmarks, including Tian'anmen Square, the National Center for the Performing Arts, and Qianmen Gate, one of old Beijing's ancient city wall gates. Wednesday's relay will end at the Temple of Heaven. The three-day torch relay will cover all of Beijing's 18 districts and counties as well as the city's Economic and Technological Development Area.

On Friday, the flame will be carried to the National Stadium for the Olympic's Opening Ceremony.

(CCTV August 6, 2008)