Yichang torch relay begins, Olympic champion Li Ting leads the way in the Pearl of the Three Gorges
June 1, according to the Olympic official website - At 8:00 today, the formal beginning of the Olympic torch relay at the Yichang station started. The famous tennis player and Olympic champion Li Ting became the first torchbearer at the Yichang station.
The starting ceremony for the Yichang relay was set in the Yichang World Peace Park. Located in the middle of the Binjiang Park in Yichang City, the overall plane shape of the Yichang World Peace Park is a flying dove of peace, symbolizing that this land full of peace and vitality welcomes people from all over the world to love world peace and uphold world peace with confidence and determination. This morning, it was cloudy in Yichang city with moderate temperatures, making it very suitable for the relay event.
At 7:00 in the morning, there were already many people gathered around the Peace Park cheering for the Olympic torch relay. Before the start, all participants observed a one-minute silence for those who lost their lives in the Wenchuan earthquake. Many people around the Peace Park quietly prayed for the earthquake-stricken areas. The entire relay activity was themed around "Olympic Flame Jingchu Journey, Hubei-Sichuan People Heart-to-Heart" and "Harmony Journey", while the artistic performances originally scheduled for the start and end ceremonies were canceled.
Following the principle of "emphasizing simplicity and focusing on effectiveness," the relay route for the Yichang station today was adjusted from the original 38.8 kilometers to 19 kilometers. The originally divided morning and afternoon relay schedule was also changed to complete all relay activities in the morning. The relay activities at the Yichang station are divided into two parts: the Yichang urban area and the Three Gorges Dam area, completed by 208 torchbearers.
After departing from the Peace Park, the Olympic torch passed through the Yanjiang Avenue, Xiling Road, Dongshan Avenue, Yunji Road, and ended the relay part in the Binjiang Park. This segment of the relay route is 7 kilometers long, involving 77 torchbearers. Subsequently, the Olympic torch team moved to the Three Gorges Dam area. The Olympic torch relay will continue its latter half transmission activities starting from the Qu Yuan Shrine Square in Zigui County, passing through Fenghuang Road, Binhu Road, Changning Avenue, Qu Yuan Road, Pinghu Avenue, the auxiliary dam of the Three Gorges Project, the Three Gorges Dam, the Jiangbei 185 Platform, the five-level ship lock, the Tanjiatuo Bridge, and finally reaching the transmission endpoint of the Yichang station - the Left Bank Power Plant Viewing Platform. This segment of the relay route is 12 kilometers long, involving 131 torchbearers.
The majestic Three Gorges Dam and the great patriotic poet's shrine of Qu Yuan echo each other on this route, showcasing the perfect combination of modern engineering and historical culture in Yichang City. Yichang will express the themes of "Olympic Flame, Yangtze River Water, Three Gorges Scenery, Yichang Sentiment" in an artistic way.
Yichang was formerly known as Yiling, named because "the water becomes calm here, and the mountain turns into a hill." It is the birthplace of Bashu culture and the hometown of the world-renowned historical and cultural figure Qu Yuan and the ancient Chinese ethnic unity envoy Wang Zhaojun. Located at the junction of the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River, it controls Bashu to the west and leads Jingxiang to the east, historically known as the "Three Gorges Gateway" and "Sichuan-Hubei Throat". It has always been a place fiercely contested by military strategists and where merchants gather. The famous Battle of Yiling during the Three Kingdoms period took place here.
Yichang currently has a population of 4.03 million, with a land area of 21,000 square kilometers, governing 5 counties, 3 cities, and 5 districts. The five counties are: Zigui County, Xingshan County, Yuan'an County, Changyang Tujia Autonomous County, and Wufeng Tujia Autonomous County; the three cities are: Zhijiang City, Yidu City, and Dangyang City; the five urban districts are: Xiling District, Wujia Gang District, Yiling District, Xiaoting District, and Dianjun District. "This place connects Sichuan and Hubei, heaven bestows divine beauty in Xiling," at the beautiful mouth of the Xiling Gorge stands the magnificent Three Gorges Dam, hence Yichang is also praised by people as the "Three Gorges Pearl, World Capital of Electricity."
