Olympic torch leaves Heilongjiang for Jilin

Updated：2008-07-13

(QIQIHAR, July 13) -- Last torchbearer Fu Tianyu lit the cauldron at 9:50 a.m. on Sunday, marking the end of the Qiqihar leg of the Olympic Torch Relay. The torch has left Heilongjiang Province for Jilin Province and Jilin, the capital city, will host the Olympic flame on Monday.

Fu Tianyu was born in 1978. She made notable contributions to the Chinese women's short-track skating team's victory at the 2012 Winter Olympics.

Fu Tianyu was born in 1978 and made notable contributions to victory of China's women's short-track skating team at the 2012 Winter Olympics.

Liu Yan, female skating champion of the 10th National Games, carried the flame from the Party Office Center Square at 8:10 a.m. as the first torchbearer of the Qiqihar leg of the Olympic Torch Relay, the last stop in Heilongjiang Province.

A total of 208 torchbearers participated in the 7.5 km-long relay. Liu Jianrong, director of a local heavy equipment enterprise; Liang Chunsheng, a local teacher; Liu Yukun, an athlete with a disability; and Ma Liang, a hammer athlete, are among the 208 torchbearers.

Qiqihar is a major city in Heilongjiang Province. Close to Qiqihar are numerous wetlands and the Zhalong Nature Reserve, famous for being home to numerous red-crowned cranes.