A local dancer performs an ethnic dance during the Beijing Olympic torch relay along Qinghai Lake, the largest inland saltwater lake in China, June 23, 2008. Half of the 162 torchbearers are Tibetans. [Xinhua] |
Qinghai Lake -- The Olympic flame continued its journey in Qinghai Province on Monday, with the torch being relayed along Qinghai Lake, the largest inland saltwater lake in China.
The relay got underway at 10:50 a.m after a one-minute silence was observed by all at the ceremony for the victims of the disastrous May 12 earthquake in southwest Sichuan Province, which claimed more than 69,000 lives.
The first torchbearer was Dagar, an ethnic Mongolian doctor who led a medical aid team to to the quake zone and treated more than 1,180 wounded people.
"I'm very happy and excited. I've never thought of being chosen as the first torchbearer for the relay in Qinghai Lake, our beautiful Qinghai Lake," said Dagar.
A total of 162 torchbearers are scheduled to run 6 kilometers and nearly half are Tibetans.
Located in northeast part of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Qinghai Lake is the largest lake as well as the largest salt-water lake in China with an area of 4,300 square km.
