The Olympic torch relay continues its journey in Southwest China's Yunnan province. It arrived at its second stop on Tuesday.
Torchbearer He Zhensheng (L) of the Naxi ethnic group and Zhang Zilan run during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Lijiang, city of southwest China's Yunnan Province on June 10, 2008. (Xinhua/Liu Lihang)
The city of Lijiang is in southwest China's Yunnan province. It was bright and sunny on Tuesday when 1.18 million citizens welcomed the arrival of the Olympic torch. A minute of silence was given for those who died in the Sichuan earthquake.
13-year-old Zhang Zilan from quake-stricken Wenchuan county and 12-year-old He Zhensheng, who was born during the 1996 Lijiang earthquake, were the first torch bearers. The 7 point zero magnitude earthquake back in 1996 nearly destroyed Lijiang, but 10 years after the quake, the city has emerged from ruin to become a beautiful tourist attraction once again.
After the Sichuan earthquake, Lijiang immediately invited some of the quake zone's students to the city to continue their schooling there. The torch relay in Lijiang is an opportunity for the world to witness the culture, customs and beautiful scenery of the city.
(CCTV June 11, 2008)