The 2008 Summer Olympics torch relay

2008 Summer Olympics torch relay

The 2008 Summer Olympics torch relay was run from March 24 until August 8, 2008, prior to the 2008 Summer Olympics, with the theme of "one world, one dream". Plans for the relay were announced on April 26, 2007, in Beijing, China...

 route involved 21 countries where the Olympic torch was carried between its lighting in Greece in March 2008 and the Olympic opening ceremony

2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony

The 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony was held at the Beijing National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest. It began at 8:00 pm China Standard Time on August 8, 2008, as 8 is considered to be a lucky number. The number 8 is associated with prosperity and confidence in Chinese culture...

 in the host city of Beijing, China in August 2008. The relay took place in four separate legs: in Greece, an international leg, in the Special Administrative Region of China (Hong Kong and Macau

Macau

Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...

), and in mainland China.

Greece torch relay route

The initial flame is gathered in front of the Temple of Hera

Temple of Hera (Olympia)

The Temple of Hera is an ancient Doric Greek temple at Olympia, Greece. The Temple of Hera was destroyed by an earthquake in the early 4th century AD, and never rebuilt...

. Actress Maria Nafpliotou

Maria Nafpliotou

Maria Nafpliotou is a Greek actress.She was born and raised in Athens, where she still resides. She took up dancing while at school. She initially started her dancing lessons at the Rodopi Kouvari Dancing School but continued her studies at the Rallou Manou Professional Dancing School, whence she...

 ignited the first torch. The Olympic Flame Handover ceremony was also held on March 30.

Greece torch relay route
Date	| Prefecture / City	Length	Notable torchbearers	# of torchbearers
March 24	Ilia	Ancient Olympia Olympia, Greece Olympia , a sanctuary of ancient Greece in Elis, is known for having been the site of the Olympic Games in classical times, comparable in importance to the Pythian Games held in Delphi. Both games were held every Olympiad , the Olympic Games dating back possibly further than 776 BC...  ruins		Alexandros Nikolaidis Alexandros Nikolaidis Alexandros Nikolaidis is an Olympic taekwondo athlete from Greece. Initially the favorite, he eventually won the silver medal at the 2004 Olympics held in Athens after losing from his opponent and eventual gold medalist, Moon Dae-Sung of South Korea.On March 24, 2008 Alexandros Nikolaidis had the...  – medalist in taekwondo Taekwondo Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"... Luo Xuejuan Luo Xuejuan Luo Xuejuan is a female Chinese swimmer, who competed mostly in the breaststroke. She is a former World Record holder in swimming, and in some meet results she is listed as "LUO Xue Juan".-Career:...  – gold medalist swimmer Wang Leehom – singer
		Pyrgos
		Ilida
	Achaea Achaea Achaea is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of West Greece. It is situated in the northwestern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. The capital is Patras. The population exceeds 300,000 since 2001.-Geography:...	Patras Patras Patras , ) is Greece's third largest urban area and the regional capital of West Greece, located in northern Peloponnese, 215 kilometers west of Athens...
	Aetolia-Acarnania Aetolia-Acarnania Aetolia-Acarnania is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of West Greece. It is located in the western part of Greece; the regional unit is a combination of the geographic regions Aetolia and Acarnania. Its capital is Missolonghi for historical reasons, with its biggest...	Missolonghi
March 25		Agrinio Agrinio Agrinion is the largest city and municipality of the Aetolia-Acarnania peripheral unit of Greece, with 96,321 inhabitants. It is the economical center of Aetolia-Acarnania, although its capital is the town of Mesolonghi. The settlement dates back to ancient times...
		Amfilochia Amfilochia Amfilochia is a town and a municipality in the northwestern part of Aetolia-Acarnania in Greece, on the site of ancient Amfilochia. Under the Ottoman Empire, it was known as Karvassaras ....
		Menidi
	Arta Arta Prefecture Arta is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the Epirus region. Its capital is the town of Arta.-Geography:The regional unit of Arta is located north of the Ambracian Gulf. The main mountain ranges are the Athamanika in the northeast, the Pindus in the east, and Valtou in the...	Arta Arta, Greece Arta is a city with a rich history in northwestern Greece, capital of the peripheral unit of Arta, which is part of Epirus region. The city was known in ancient times as Ambracia . Arta is famous for its old bridge located over the Arachthos River, situated west of downtown...
	Ioannina Ioannina Prefecture Ioannina is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the Epirus region. Its capital is the city of Ioannina. It is the largest regional unit in Epirus, and one of the largest regional units of Greece.-Geography:...	Ioannina Ioannina Ioannina , often called Jannena within Greece, is the largest city of Epirus, north-western Greece, with a population of 70,203 . It lies at an elevation of approximately 500 meters above sea level, on the western shore of lake Pamvotis . It is located within the Ioannina municipality, and is the...
March 26		Metsovo Metsovo Metsovo is a town in Epirus on the mountains of Pindus in northern Greece, between Ioannina to the north and Meteora to the south. The largest centre of Vlach life in Greece, Metsovo is bypassed by GR-6 and also by Egnatia Odos Motorway....
	Grevena Grevena Prefecture Grevena is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of West Macedonia. Its capital is the town of Grevena.-Geography:Grevena borders the regional units of Ioannina to the west, Kastoria to the northwest, Kozani to the north and east, Larissa to the southeast and Trikala to...	Grevena Grevena Grevena is a town and municipality in Greece, capital of the Grevena peripheral unit. The town's current population is 10,447 citizens; it lies about 400 km from Athens and about 180 km from Thessaloniki. The municipality's population is 30,564...
	Kozani Kozani Prefecture Kozani is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of West Macedonia. Its capital is the city of Kozani.-Geography:Kozani borders the regional units of Kastoria to the west and northwest, Florina to the north, Pella to the northeast, Imathia and Pieria to the east, Larissa ...	Kozani Kozani Kozani is a city in northern Greece, capital of Kozani regional unit and of West Macedonia region. It is located in the western part of Macedonia, in the northern part of the Aliakmonas river valley...
	Imathia Imathia Prefecture Imathia is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Central Macedonia. The capital of Imathia is the city of Veroia.-Administration:The regional unit Imathia is subdivided into 3 municipalities...	Veria Veria Veria is a city built at the foot of Vermion Mountains in Greece. It is a commercial center of Macedonia, the capital of the prefecture of Imathia, the province of Imathia and the seat of a bishop of the Greek Orthodox Church...
March 27		Naousa Naousa, Imathia Naousa or Naoussa is a city in the Imathia peripheral unit of Macedonia, Greece. Population 34,441.It is famous for its parks and for its ski resorts...
	Pella Pella Prefecture Pella is one of the regional units of Greece, in the geographic region of Macedonia. It is part of the Region of Central Macedonia. It is named after the ancient city of Pella, the capital of ancient Macedonia. The capital of Pella is Edessa....	Skydra Skydra Skydra is a town and a municipality in the Pella regional unit of Macedonia in Greece.-Municipality:The municipality Skydra was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 2 former municipalities, that became municipal units:...
		Edessa Edessa, Greece Edessa , is a city in northern Greece and the capital of the Pella regional unit, in the Central Macedonia region of Greece. It was also the capital of the defunct province of the same name.-Name:...
		Giannitsa Giannitsa Giannitsa is the largest town and a former municipality in Pella regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pella, of which it is a municipal unit...
		Ancient Pella Pella, Greece Pella is a village and a municipality in the Pella regional unit of Macedonia, Greece. It is located on the site of ancient Pella, the capital of the Kingdom of Macedonia and birthplace of Alexander The Great. The seat of the municipality is Giannitsa, the largest town of the...  ruins
	Thessaloniki Thessaloniki Prefecture Thessaloniki is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the Region of Central Macedonia. Its capital is the city of Thessaloniki. It is the second most populous regional unit in Greece, behind Central Athens.-Geography:...	Thessaloniki Thessaloniki Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
March 28	Pieria	Ancient Dion Dion, Greece Dion or Dio is a village and a former municipality in the Pieria regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform, it is part of the municipality Dio-Olympos, of which it is a municipal unit. It is best known for its archaeological site and archaeological museum. Zeus was honored at...  ruins
	Larissa Larissa Prefecture Larissa is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Thessaly. Its capital is the city of Larissa. -Geography:...	Larissa Larissa Larissa is the capital and biggest city of the Thessaly region of Greece and capital of the Larissa regional unit. It is a principal agricultural centre and a national transportation hub, linked by road and rail with the port of Volos, the city of Thessaloniki and Athens...
	Magnesia Magnesia Prefecture Magnesia Prefecture was one of the prefectures of Greece. Its capital was Volos. It was established in 1899 from the Larissa Prefecture. The prefecture was disbanded on 1 January 2011 by the Kallikratis programme, and split into the peripheral units of Magnesia and the Sporades.The toponym is...	Volos Volos Volos is a coastal port city in Thessaly situated midway on the Greek mainland, about 326 km north of Athens and 215 km south of Thessaloniki...
	Phthiotis Phthiotis Phthiotis is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the administrative region of Central Greece. The capital is the city of Lamia. It is bordered by the Malian Gulf to the east, Boeotia in the south, Phocis in the south, Aetolia-Acarnania in the southwest, Evrytania in the west,...	Lamia Lamia (city) Lamia is a city in central Greece. The city has a continuous history since antiquity, and is today the capital of the regional unit of Phthiotis and of the Central Greece region .-Name:...
March 29	East Attica East Attica East Attica is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Attica. The capital of the regional unit is the town of Pallini. The regional unit covers the eastern part of the agglomeration of Athens, and also the rural area to its east....	Ancient Amphiareion of Oropos Amphiareion of Oropos The Amphiareion of Oropos , situated in the hills 6 km southeast of the fortified port of Oropos, was a sanctuary dedicated in the late 5th century BCE to the hero Amphiaraos, where pilgrims went to seek oracular responses and healing. It became particularly successful during the 4th century...  ruins
		Marathon Marathon, Greece Marathon is a town in Greece, the site of the battle of Marathon in 490 BC, in which the heavily outnumbered Athenian army defeated the Persians. The tumulus or burial mound for the 192 Athenian dead that was erected near the battlefield remains a feature of the coastal plain...
		Rafina Rafina Rafina is a town located on the eastern coast of Attica in Greece. It has a population of 10,701 inhabitants . Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Rafina-Pikermi, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit.-Geography:Rafina lies east of the Penteli mountains and...
	Athens Athens Prefecture The Athens Prefecture was one of the prefectures of Greece. It was part of the Attica region and the Athens-Piraeus super-prefecture. The capital of the prefecture was the city of Athens. After Lefkada Prefecture it was the second-smallest in Greece, but was the most populous and most densely...	The Acropolis Acropolis of Athens The Acropolis of Athens or Citadel of Athens is the best known acropolis in the world. Although there are many other acropoleis in Greece, the significance of the Acropolis of Athens is such that it is commonly known as The Acropolis without qualification...  at Athens Athens Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
March 30		Athens' Panathinaiko Stadium Panathinaiko Stadium The Panathinaiko or Panathenaic Stadium , also known as the Kallimarmaro , is an athletic stadium in Athens that hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896...

International torch relay route

International torch relay route
Date	| Country (city)	Length	Notable torchbearers	# of torchbearers
March 31	People's Republic of China China  (Beijing)			Hu Jintao Hu Jintao Hu Jintao is the current Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China. He has held the titles of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China since 2002, President of the People's Republic of China since 2003, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission since 2004, succeeding Jiang...  (胡锦涛) – paramount leader Paramount leader Paramount leader literally "the highest leader of the party and the state ", in modern Chinese political science, unofficially refers to the political leader of the People's Republic of China....  of PRC Liu Xiang Liu Xiang Liu Xiang is a Chinese 110 meter hurdler. Liu is an Olympic Gold medalist and World Champion. His 2004 Olympic gold medal was the first in a men's track and field event for China....  (刘翔) – gold medalist hurdler
April 2	Kazakhstan Kazakhstan  (Almaty Almaty Almaty , also known by its former names Verny and Alma-Ata , is the former capital of Kazakhstan and the nation's largest city, with a population of 1,348,500... ) (start) Medeo stadium (finish) Astana Square		20 km	Nursultan Nazarbaev – president of Kazakhstan President of Kazakhstan President of Kazakhstan is the head of state, supreme commander-in-chief and holder of the highest office within the Kazakhstan. The authorities of this position are described in special section of Constitution of Kazakhstan.... Bakhtiyar Artayev Bakhtiyar Artayev Bakhtiyar Karipullauly Artayev is a Kazakh boxer who won the only Gold medal for Kazakhstan in the men's welterweight division at the 2004 Summer Olympics. He was also the Winner of the Val Barker Trophy for the outstanding boxer of the 2004 Olympics Games...  – gold medalist weightlifter Yermakhan Ibraimov Yermakhan Ibraimov Yermakhan Ibraimov is a Kazakh boxer who competed in the Light Middleweight at the 2000 Summer Olympics and won the gold medal. Four years earlier, at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, he captured the bronze medal...  – boxer Yuriy Melnichenko Yuriy Melnichenko Yuriy Melnichenko is an Kazakhstani wrestler. At the 1996 Summer Olympics he won the gold medal in the men's Greco-Roman Bantamweight category.-External links:*...  – gold medalist wrestler Anatoly Khrapaty Anatoly Khrapaty Anatoly Mikhaylovich Khrapaty or Chrapaty was an Olympic weightlifter for the USSR and Kazakhstan . He trained at the former Soviet Armed Forces sports society in Tselinograd....  – weightlifter Vladimir Smirnov Vladimir Smirnov (skier) Vladimir Mikhaylovich Smirnov is an Kazakhstani former cross-country skier who raced from the mid-1980s until 1988 for the USSR and, later, for his native country...  – the first Olympic champion for independent Kazakhstan cross-country skiing Cross-country skiing Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles... Roza Rymbaeva Roza Rymbaeva Roza Kuanyshevna Rymbayeva is a Soviet and Kazakh singer, the national artist of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic , the national artist of the USSR.-Biography:...  – singer	80
April 3	Turkey Turkey  (Istanbul Istanbul Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and... ) (start) Sultanahmet Square (finish) Taksim Square Taksim Square Taksim Square situated in the European part of Istanbul, Turkey, is a major shopping, tourist and leisure district famed for its restaurants, shops and hotels. It is considered the heart of modern Istanbul, with the central station of the Istanbul Metro network...		20 km	Tuğba Karademir Tugba Karademir Tuğba Karademir , is a Turkish former figure skater. She was the flag-bearer for Turkey at the 2006 Winter Olympics, where she placed 21st.- Career :...  – figure skater Taner Sağır Taner Sagir Taner Sağır is a Turkish world and Olympic weightlifting champion. Coming to Athens as holder of all the junior world records, he broke, at age of 19 only, Olympic records in the category –77 kg snatch, clean and jerk and total, and became so the youngest Olympic champion in the...  – champion weightlifter	80
April 5	Russia Russia  (St.Petersburg) (start) Victory Square Victory Square, Saint Petersburg Victory Square in Saint Petersburg, Russia, is named after the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War. It is located in the very end of Moskovsky Prospekt near Pulkovo Airport – not in the central part of the city, despite this name being common in the former Soviet cities as a central... (finish) Palace Square Palace Square Palace Square , connecting Nevsky Prospekt with Palace Bridge leading to Vasilievsky Island, is the central city square of St Petersburg and of the former Russian Empire...		20 km	Lyubov Yegorova Lyubov Yegorova Lyubov Ivanovna Yegorova , name also spelled Ljubov Jegorova, is a Russian former cross-country Olympic ski champion, many times world champion , winner of the World Cup and Hero of Russia. Lyubov Yegorova is an honorary citizen of Seversk , Saint Petersburg , and Tomsk Oblast...  – cross-country skiing Viktor Zhdanovich Viktor Zhdanovich Viktor Franzovich Zhdanovich is a Soviet fencer.He was World Champion four times , and twice Olympic Champion in the foil individual events and in 1964 in the foil team gold medal....  – fencing Fencing Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games... Vladimir Salnikov Vladimir Salnikov Vladimir Valeryevich Salnikov is a Russian former swimmer who competed for the USSR and set 12 world records in the 400-meter, 800-meter, and 1,500-meter freestyle. Nicknamed a "monster in the waves", he was the first man to swim under fifteen minutes in the 1500-meter freestyle... , Alexander Popov Alexander Popov (swimmer) Aleksandr Vladimirovich Popov ; is a Russian former Olympic gold-winning swimmer, widely regarded as one of the greatest sprint freestyle swimmers of all time.-Career:Born in Lesnoy, Sverdlovsk Oblast , Popov began swimming at age 8 at... , Sergey Kopliakov Sergey Kopliakov Sergey Viktorovich Koplyakov is a former Soviet male swimmer who won two gold medals at the 1980 Summer Olympics.The arriving to the first page of the world swimming of Sergey Kopliakov in 1979... , Andrey Krylov – gold medalist swimmer Alexander Dityatin Alexander Dityatin Alexander Nikolaevich Dityatin is a Russian gymnast, three-time Olympic Champion, and Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR. Winning eight medals at the 1980 Summer Olympics, he set the record for achieving the most medals of any type at a single Olympic Games. The American swimmer Michael Phelps...  – gold medalist artistic gymnastics Artistic gymnastics Artistic gymnastics is a discipline of gymnastics where gymnasts perform short routines on different apparatus, with less time for vaulting . The sport is governed by the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique , which designs the Code of Points and regulates all aspects of international elite... Tatyana Kazankina Tatyana Kazankina Tatyana Vasilyevna Kazankina is a Soviet/Russian former runner who set seven world records and won a total of three gold medals at the Olympic Games. She was also awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour and the title Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR in 1976...  – gold medalist runner Anatoly Alyabyev Anatoly Alyabyev Anatoly Nikolayevich Alyabyev is a retired Russian biathlete, who represented the USSR. He initially trained at Children and Youth Sport School of Spartak in Vologda, but competed as a senior while training at the Armed Forces sports society in Leningrad...  – gold medalist biathlon Biathlon Biathlon is a term used to describe any sporting event made up of two disciplines. However, biathlon usually refers specifically to the winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting... Evgeni Plushenko Evgeni Plushenko Evgeni Viktorovich Plushenko is a Russian figure skater. He is the 2006 Winter Olympics Gold Medalist, 2002 Winter Olympics Silver Medalist, and 2010 Winter Olympics Silver Medalist, three-time World Champion, six-time European Champion, a four-time Grand Prix Final champion and an eight-time... , Tatiana Totmianina Tatiana Totmianina Tatiana Ivanovna Totmianina is a Russian pair skater. With partner Maxim Marinin, she is the 2006 Olympic Champion, two-time World Champion, and five-time European Champion... , Maxim Marinin Maxim Marinin Maxim Viktorovich Marinin is a retired Russian pair skater. With partner Tatiana Totmianina, he is the 2006 Olympic Champion, two-time World Champion, and five-time European Champion.- Career :... , Anton Sikharulidze Anton Sikharulidze Anton Tarielyevich Sikharulidze is a Russian pair skater. With Elena Berezhnaya, he is the 1998 and 1999 World champion, 1998 Olympic silver medalist and 2002 Olympic champion.... , Alexei Urmanov Alexei Urmanov Alexei Yevgenyevich Urmanov is a Russian figure skater, who currently works as a coach. He is the 1994 Olympic champion and an Honoured Masters of Sports of the Russian Federation.- Career :... , Oksana Kazakova Oksana Kazakova Oksana Borisovna Kazakova is a retired Russian pair skater. With partner Artur Dmitriev, she is the 1998 Olympic champion and 1996 European Champion.-Biography:Kazakova began skating at age 4.... , Artur Dmitriev Artur Dmitriev Artur Valeryevich Dmitriev is a Ukrainian-born Russian pair skater who competed internationally for the Soviet Union, the Unified Team, and Russia. He is a two-time Olympic Champion with Natalia Mishkutenok and Oksana Kazakova in 1992 and 1998 respectively, and also won Olympic silver in 1994... , Oleg Vasiliev Oleg Kimovich Vasiliev Oleg Kimovich Vasiliev is a Russian pair skater who competed internationally for the Soviet Union. With partner Elena Valova, he is the 1984 Olympic Champion, 1988 Olympic silver medalist, and three-time World Champion . Their coach throughout their career was Tamara Moskvina...  – gold medalist figure skater Svetlana Zhurova Svetlana Zhurova Svetlana Sergeyevna Zhurova is a speed skater from Russia.Zhurova has been competing internationally since 1989, took part in four Olympics, but did not win her first Olympic medal until her fourth Olympics, winning Olympic gold in Turin in 2006, two years after mothering a child. She also became...  – speed skating Speed skating Speed skating, or speedskating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors race each other in traveling a certain distance on skates. Types of speed skating are long track speed skating, short track speed skating, and marathon speed skating... Tamara Moskvina Tamara Moskvina Tamara Nikolayevna Moskvina , née Bratus is a Russian pair skating coach and former competitive skater. In pair skating with partner Alexei Mishin, she was the 1969 World silver medalist and Soviet national champion. In ladies singles, she was a five-time Soviet national champion...  – figure skating coach Fedor Emelianenko Fedor Emelianenko Fedor Vladimirovich Emelianenko) is a Russian heavyweight mixed martial artist. He has won numerous tournaments and accolades in multiple sports, most notably the Pride 2004 Grand Prix and the World Combat Sambo championship on four occasions, as well as medaling in the Russian national Judo...  – mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be... Robert Swan Robert Swan Robert Charles Swan, OBE, FRGS is the first person to walk to both Poles.He was born on 28 July 1956 in Durham, England and attended Aysgarth School and then Sedbergh School before completing a BA degree in Ancient History at St Chad's College, Durham University. He is currently an advocate for...  – polar explorers Artur Chilingarov Artur Chilingarov Artur Nikolayevich Chilingarov is a Russian polar explorer. He is a corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union in 1986 and the title Hero of the Russian Federation in 2008. Chilingarov is also a member of State Duma from Nenets...  – cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova Valentina Tereshkova Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova is a retired Soviet cosmonaut, and was the first woman in space. She was selected out of more than four hundred applicants, and then out of five finalists, to pilot Vostok 6 on the 16 June, 1963, becoming both the first woman and the first civilian to fly in...  – astronaut Astronaut An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft.... Alisa Freindlich Alisa Freindlich Alisa Brunovna Freindlich is a Soviet and Russian actress, People's Artist of the USSR.-Biography:Alisa Freindlich was born into the family of Bruno Freindlich, a prominent actor and People's Artist of the USSR. She is of German and Russian ancestry. Her father and paternal relatives were ethnic...  – actress Andrei Arshavin – football player	80
April 6	United KingdomGreat Britain   (London) (start) Wembley Stadium Wembley Stadium The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007... (finish) The O2 arena The O2 arena (London) The O2 Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in the centre of The O2, a large entertainment complex on the Greenwich peninsula in London, England.With a capacity of up to 20,000 depending on the event, it is second largest...		48 km	Kelly Holmes Kelly Holmes Dame Kelly Holmes, DBE, MBE is a retired British middle distance athlete. She specialised in the 800 metres and 1500 metres events and won a gold medal for both distances at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens...  – gold medalist runner Danny Crates Danny Crates Daniel "Danny" Brian Crates, is a former British athlete, who specialised in 800m sprinting. He is the Paralympic world record holder in this event, and won gold medals in a number of international competitions, including the Paralympic Games. He also plays competitive rugby and is a qualified...  – gold medalist Paralympic runner Sir Trevor McDonald – journalist Konnie Huq Konnie Huq Kanak Asha "Konnie" Huq is a British television presenter, who is best known for being the longest-serving female presenter of Blue Peter, having presented it from 1 December 1997 until 23 January 2008...  – TV Presenter Vanessa Mae – classical musician Kevin Pietersen Kevin Pietersen Kevin Peter Pietersen, MBE is a South African-born English cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and occasional off spin bowler who plays for England and Surrey...  – cricket Cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the... er Tim Henman Tim Henman Timothy Henry "Tim" Henman OBE is a retired English professional tennis player and former British Number One. Henman played a serve-and-volley style of tennis that suited the grass courts of Wimbledon. He was the first player from the United Kingdom since Roger Taylor in the 1970s to reach the...  – retired tennis player Amara Karan Amara Karan Amara Karan is an English actress who made her film début as the love interest in Wes Anderson's The Darjeeling Limited. The film premièred at the 2007 Venice Film Festival...  – actress	80
April 7	France France  (Paris) (start) Eiffel Tower Eiffel Tower The Eiffel Tower is a puddle iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. Built in 1889, it has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world... (finish) Stade Charléty		originally 28 km	Stéphane Diagana Stéphane Diagana Stéphane Diagana is a former French athlete who won the gold medal at the 1997 World Championships in Athletics in Athens over 400 metres hurdles. In 2002 he won the gold medal at the European Championships in Athletics in Munich in the same event. Diagana also set the European record of 47.37...  – gold medalist runner David Douillet David Douillet David Douillet is a French judoka and politician.Douillet was born in the city of Rouen. Standing at 1.90 meters and weighing 125 kilograms , he won the judo heavyweight gold medals in the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games in Atlanta and Sydney. He also gained four world titles and a European crown...  – gold medalist in judo Marie-José Pérec Marie-José Pérec Marie-José Pérec is a French athlete, specialised in the 200 and 400 m, and a triple Olympic champion....  – gold medalist runner Jin Jing Jin Jing Jin Jing is a Chinese female Paralympic fencer. She was a torchbearer carrying the Olympic torch amid political protests during the 2008 Summer Olympics torch relay in Paris, France...  – Paralympic fencer Thierry Henry Thierry Henry Thierry Daniel Henry is a French professional footballer who plays for the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.Henry was born in Les Ulis, Essonne where he played for an array of local sides as a youngster and showed great promise as a goal-scorer. He was spotted by AS Monaco in 1990 and...  – Soccer star Teddy Riner Teddy Riner Teddy Riner is a French judoka. He's and and has been given the nickames Teddy Bear and Teddy Winner. At 18 years and 5 months Teddy Riner became the youngest world champion of the history of his sport. To date, he holds an unmatched record of six world titles obtained in the +100kg, Men's Team...  – gold medalist judoka Arnaud Di Pasquale Arnaud Di Pasquale Arnaud Di Pasquale is a former professional male tennis player from France.Di Pasquale is best remembered for his bronze medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in the men's singles event...  – tennis player Pi Hongyan Pi Hongyan Pi Hongyan is a female badminton player from France.- Career :Pi Hongyan is one of a number of talented Chinese-born badminton players who have emigrated from China, in part, because of the intense competition to gain positions on its national team, and because of the elite status within the sport...  – badminton player Mary Pierce Mary Pierce Mary Pierce is a French-American tennis professional playing on the Women's Tennis Association tour. She is a citizen of France, Canada, and the United States but plays for France in team competitions and the Olympics.Pierce has won four Grand Slam titles, two in singles and two in doubles...  – tennis player
April 9	United States United States of America  (San Francisco) (start) AT&T Park AT&T Park AT&T Park is a ballpark located in the South Beach neighborhood of San Francisco, California. Located at 24 Willie Mays Plaza, at the corner of Third and King Streets, it has served as the home of the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball since 2000.... (finish) San Francisco International Airport San Francisco International Airport San Francisco International Airport is a major international airport located south of downtown San Francisco, California, United States, near the cities of Millbrae and San Bruno in unincorporated San Mateo County. It is often referred to as SFO...		unannounced	Lin Li Lin Li (swimmer) Lynn Li is a Chinese former swimmer and Olympic champion.She competed at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, where she received silver medals in 200 m breaststroke and in 400 m medley, and a gold medal in 200 m individual medley.-World record:...  – swimmer
April 11	Argentina Argentina  (Buenos Aires Buenos Aires Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent... ) (start) Lola Mora Lola Mora Lola Mora was a sculptor, born in a barn in the , though generally considered native to Trancas, province of Tucumán, where she was recorded and baptized. She is known today as a rebel and a pioneer of women in her artistic field...  amphitheater (finish) Buenos Aires Riding Club		13.8 km	Carlos Espínola Carlos Espínola (sailor) Carlos Mauricio Espínola is an Argentine windsurfer.Nicknamed Camau, Espínola started training at the Club Náutico de La Totora in his home province, to obtain his first achievement of importance, a silver medal, during the Pan American Games held in 1991 in La Habana...  – windsurfer Georgina Bardach Georgina Bardach Georgina Bardach Martin is a swimmer from Argentina. At the 2002 FINA Short Course World Championships in Moscow, she finished third in the 400 m Individual Medley race... , Paola Suárez Paola Suárez Paola Suárez was a top 10 tennis player in the early 2000s. She gained prominence in 2004 by reaching the finals of nine straight WTA doubles tournaments, and by reaching the singles semifinals of the French Open tournament, held in Paris."La Negra" Suárez began playing professional tennis at the...  , Pablo Chacón Pablo Chacón Julio Pablo Chacón is an Argentine boxer. Nicknamed "El Relámpago", Chacon won a Featherweight Bronze medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics...  – athletes	78
April 13	Tanzania Tanzania  (Dar es Salaam Dar es Salaam Dar es Salaam , formerly Mzizima, is the largest city in Tanzania. It is also the country's richest city and a regionally important economic centre. Dar es Salaam is actually an administrative province within Tanzania, and consists of three local government areas or administrative districts: ... ) (start) A railway station of Dar es Salaam (finish) Tanzanian National Stadium		5 km	John Stephen Akhwari John Stephen Akhwari John Stephen Akhwari is a Tanzanian former marathon runner. He represented Tanzania in the marathon at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.-1968 Olympic marathon:...  – marathoner Dorcus Inzikuru Dorcus Inzikuru Dorcus Inzikuru is a Ugandan athlete competing in steeplechase. She won the inaugural World title in women's 3000 m steeplechase, as well as the first Commonwealth title in the event. Her coach is Renato Canova. Sometimes her name is spelt "Docus"...  – steeplechaser Steeplechase (athletics) The steeplechase is an obstacle race in athletics, which derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing.-Rules:The length of the race is usually 3000 m; junior events are 2000 m, as women's events formerly were. The circuit has four ordinary barriers and one water jump. Over 3000 m, each... Anna Tibaijuka Anna Tibaijuka Dr. Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka is a former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme...  – Undersecretary general of the United Nations	80
April 14	OmanOman  (Muscat Muscat, Oman Muscat is the capital of Oman. It is also the seat of government and largest city in the Governorate of Muscat. As of 2008, the population of the Muscat metropolitan area was 1,090,797. The metropolitan area spans approximately and includes six provinces called wilayats... ) (start) place roundabout Al Bustan (where lies the "Sohar" boat which visited China in 1981) (finish) Qurm Natural Park		20 km		80
April 16	Pakistan Pakistan  (Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011... )			Samiullah Khan – field hockey Jahangir Khan Jahangir Khan Jahangir Khan, HI, is a former World No. 1 professional squash player from Pakistan, who is considered by many to be the greatest player in the history of the game. During his career he won the World Open six times and the British Open a record ten times...  – squash Squash (sport) Squash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball...  player	65
April 17	India India  (New Delhi) (start) Raisina Hill Raisina Hill Raisina Hill is an area of Lutyens' Delhi, New Delhi, housing India's most important government buildings, including Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the President of India and the Secretariat building housing the Prime Minister's Office and several other important ministries... (finish) India Gate India Gate The India Gate is the national monument of India. Situated in the heart of New Delhi, India Gate was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, inspired by the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. It was built in 1931...		2.3 km	Manavjit Singh Sandhu Manavjit Singh Sandhu Manavjit Singh Sandhu is an Indian sport shooter who specializes in trap shooting. He is a Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awardee 2006 and Arjuna Awardee 1998.... , Abhinav Bindra Abhinav Bindra Abhinav Singh Bindra is an Indian shooter from Zirakpur, Mohali, Punjab and is the current World and Olympic champion in the 10 m Air Rifle event...  – sport shooter Shooting sports A shooting sport is a competitive sport involving tests of proficiency using various types of guns such as firearms and airguns . Hunting is also a shooting sport, and indeed shooting live pigeons was an Olympic event... Aamir Khan Aamir Khan Aamir Hussain Khan is an Indian film actor, director and producer who has established himself as one of the leading actors of Hindi cinema....  – actor, director	around 70
April 19	ThailandThailand  (Bangkok Bangkok Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom... ) (start) Yaowarat Road Yaowarat Road Bangkok's Chinatown is centered on Yaowarat Road in Samphanthawong district.The Chinatown is an old business center covering a large area around Yaowarat and Charoen Krung Road. There are many small streets and alleys full of shops and vendors selling all types of goods...  in Bangkok's Chinese Town (finish) Royal Plaza		10 km	Anant Siripasraporn – Deputy Permanent Secretary for Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Manus Boonjumnong Manus Boonjumnong Manus Boonjumnong is a Thai boxer who won the Olympics at Light Welterweight at the 2004 Summer Olympics . He is the brother of Non Boonjumnong.-Amateur career:... , Somluck Kamsing Somluck Kamsing Somluck Kamsing is a Thai boxer. His name is sometimes spelled as Somrak Khamsing.During the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand, Kamsing lit the torch during the Games' opening ceremony. Kamsing was born in Khon Kaen...  – gold medalist boxers Udomporn Polsak Udomporn Polsak Udomporn Polsak is a Thai weightlifter.Udomporn Polsak was born in Nakhon Ratchasima. She graduated from the Bangkok College of Physical Education... , Pawina Thongsuk Pawina Thongsuk Pawina Thongsuk is a Thai weightlifter. At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens she won an Olympic gold medal, with 122.5 kg snatching and 272.5 kg total in the 75 kg category...  – gold medalist weightlifters	80
April 21	MalaysiaMalaysia  (Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million... ) (start) Independence Square Dataran Merdeka Merdeka Square is located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is situated in front of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building. It was here the Union Flag was lowered and the Malayan flag hoisted for the first time at midnight on August 31, 1957... (finish) Petronas Twin Towers Petronas Twin Towers The Petronas Towers are skyscrapers and twin towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...		16.5 km	Cheah Soon Kit Cheah Soon Kit Cheah Soon Kit is a retired male badminton player from Malaysia, specialized in men's doubles.-Career:He has played for Malaysian team since 1986 especially in doubles. He always plays with different pairs such as Ong Beng Teong , Soo Beng Kiang and Choong Tan Fook during his carer in badminton... , Yap Kim Hock Yap Kim Hock Yap Kim Hock born on 2 July 1972 at Muar, Johor, is a retired male badminton player from Malaysia, specialized in men's doubles.-Career:Kim Hock represented Malaysia and competed at the Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics and the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics in the badminton men's doubles event with Cheah...  – retired badminton player Nicol David Nicol David Datuk Nicol Ann David is a Malaysian female professional squash player. She is currently ranked world number 1 in women's squash, and is the first Asian woman to achieve this...  – squash player	80
April 22	IndonesiaIndonesia  (Jakarta Jakarta Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre... )		7 km; originally 20 km	Taufik Hidayat Taufik Hidayat Taufik Hidayat is an Indonesian badminton player. He is a former World and Olympic champion in men's singles... , Susi Susanti, Alan Budikusuma Alan Budikusuma Alan Budikusuma is a former Chinese Indonesian badminton player who excelled at the world level from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s....  – badminton player Fauzi Bowo Fauzi Bowo Fauzi Bowo is the governor of Jakarta for the 2007–2012 term. He previously served as deputy governor....  – governor of Jakarta	80
April 24	Australia Australia  (Canberra Canberra Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne... ) (start) Reconciliation Place Reconciliation Place Reconciliation Place is an urban landscape design in the Parliamentary Triangle Canberra, Australia, commenced in 2001 as a monument to reconciliation between Australia’s Indigenous people and settler population.... (finish) Commonwealth Park Commonwealth Park Commonwealth Park is in Canberra, Australia, on the north side of Lake Burley Griffin. The annual spring Floriade festival is held in the park...		16 km	Ian Thorpe Ian Thorpe Ian James Thorpe OAM , nicknamed the Thorpedo and Thorpey, is an Australian swimmer who specialises in freestyle, but also competes in backstroke and the individual medley. He has won five Olympic gold medals, the most won by any Australian, and with three gold and two silver medals, was the most... , Jodie Henry Jodie Henry Jodie Clare Henry OAM is an Australian swimmer, Olympic gold medalist and former world-record holder.-Swimming career:Jodie Henry began swimming competitively at the relatively late age of 14.... , Libby Trickett, Matt Welsh Matt Welsh Matthew "Matt" Welsh is an Australian swimmer who is the former world champion in the backstroke and butterfly. Welsh trained under coach Ian Pope at the Melbourne Vicentre Club. He took two golds in 50 metres butterfly and 50 metres backstroke, during one hour, at the World Championships in... , Adam Pine Adam Pine Adam Pine is an Australian freestyle and butterfly swimmer. Adam is married to Sasha Pine and is the father of 3 children, Maximillian, Buster and Xander.... , Alice Mills Alice Mills Alice Mary Mills OAM is an Australian sprint freestyle, butterfly and individual medley swimmer who represented Australia at the 2004 Athens Olympics, winning two relay gold medals.... , Petria Thomas Petria Thomas Petria Ann Thomas OAM is an Australian swimmer and Olympic gold medallist and a winner of 15 national titles. She was born in Lismore, New South Wales and grew up in the nearby town of Mullumbimby....  – gold medalist swimmers Ron Clarke Ron Clarke Ronald William "Ron" Clarke, MBE is a former Australian athlete, writer, and current Mayor of the Gold Coast. He is one of the best known middle and long distance runners in the 1960s, notable for setting seventeen world records.- Early life and family :He attended Melbourne High School...  – runner Mark Beretta Mark Beretta Mark Beretta is an Australian media personality. He is known by the common nickname of Beretts.-Early life and career:Beretta was born in Geelong, Victoria on 16 June 1966. He was educated at St. Joseph's College...  – TV sports reporter Tania Major Tania Major Tania Major , first came to prominence in 2004 as the youngest person elected to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission ....  – Aboriginal activist Indigenous Australians Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago.... Megan Marcks Megan Marcks Megan Leanne Marcks was formerly a women's coxless pair rower who represented Australia at two Olympics...  – coxless pair Coxless pair A Coxless pair is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for two rowers, who propel the boat with sweep oars.The crew consists of a pair of rowers, each having one oar, one on the stroke side and one on the bow side...  rower Jonathon Welch Jonathon Welch Jonathon Welch is a choral conductor and singer from Melbourne, Australia.Welch was the 2008 winner of the Australian Local Hero Awardin recognition of his work with The Choir of Hard Knocks, a choir made up of homeless and disadvantaged singers from Melbourne...  – conductor Conducting Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble... Robert de Castella Robert de Castella Robert Francois de Castella, MBE is an Australian former world champion marathon runner. He is widely known as "Deek" or "Deeks" to the Australian public, and "Tree" to his competitors due to his thick legs and inner calm...  – gold medalist marathoner Lee Kernaghan Lee Kernaghan Lee Kernaghan OAM is an Australian country music singer and songwriter. He was the 2008 Australian of the Year.-Honours:Kernaghan received the Order of Australia Medal in 2004....  – singer Fiona Stanley Fiona Stanley Fiona Stanley, AC is an Australian epidemiologist noted for her public health work, and her research into child and maternal health, and birth disorders such as cerebral palsy.-Life:...  – epidemiologist Epidemiology Epidemiology is the study of health-event, health-characteristic, or health-determinant patterns in a population. It is the cornerstone method of public health research, and helps inform policy decisions and evidence-based medicine by identifying risk factors for disease and targets for preventive... Mark Beretta Mark Beretta Mark Beretta is an Australian media personality. He is known by the common nickname of Beretts.-Early life and career:Beretta was born in Geelong, Victoria on 16 June 1966. He was educated at St. Joseph's College...  – sports broadcaster Peter Sharp Peter Sharp Peter Sharp is an Australian professional rugby league coach. He is currently the assistant coach of the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in Australia's National Rugby League....  – Rugby league Rugby league Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...  coach Louise Sauvage Louise Sauvage Alix Louise Sauvage OAM is an Australian paralympic wheelchair racer.Sauvage is often regarded as the most renowned disabled sportswoman in Australia. She won two gold medals and a silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Paralympic games in front of a home crowd...  – Paralympic wheelchair racer Jai Taurima Jai Taurima Jai Taurima is a retired Australian athlete who competed in the long jump. He won a surprising silver medal at the 2000 Olympics with a personal best jump of 8.49 metres. This was the Oceanian record...  – long jumper Fiona Wood Fiona Wood Fiona Melanie Wood, AM is a British born plastic surgeon working in Perth, Western Australia. She is the director of the Royal Perth Hospital burns unit and the Western Australia Burns Service...  – director of Royal Perth Hospital Royal Perth Hospital Royal Perth Hospital is an 855-bed teaching hospital located on the northeastern edge of the CBD of Perth, Western Australia . Royal Perth Hospital also has specialised rehabilitation facilities at Shenton Park.-History:... , surgeon Heather McKay Heather McKay Heather Pamela McKay AM MBE is a retired Australian squash player, who is considered by many to be the greatest female player in the history of the game, and possibly also Australia's greatest-ever sportswoman...  – squash player	80
April 26	Japan Japan  (Nagano) (start) Small park in Nagano (finish) Wakasato Park		18.7 km	Senichi Hoshino Senichi Hoshino , 22 January 1947, is a former Japanese professional baseball player and current manager.In 2003, he led the Tigers to their first Central League pennant in 18 years before retiring for health reasons. Since 2007, He had managed the Japanese national team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.In October,...  – baseball manager Kosuke Kitajima Kosuke Kitajima is a Japanese multiple Olympic gold medalist breaststroke swimmer. He won gold medals for the men's 100 m and 200 m breaststroke at both the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Olympics.-Major achievements:...  – gold medalist swimmer Mizuki Noguchi Mizuki Noguchi is a Japanese professional long-distance runner who specialises in the marathon event. She is an Olympic champion over the distance and set two world records in 2005....  – gold medalist runner Ai Fukuhara Ai Fukuhara is a Japanese table tennis player sponsored by All Nippon Airways.-Table tennis career:Fukuhara began playing at the age of 3 and became a professional at age 10. The following year, she became the youngest player ever to become a member of the Japanese national team. Because of her age, she has...  – table tennis player	80
April 27	South Korea South Korea  (Seoul Seoul Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world... ) (start) Olympic Park Olympic Park, Seoul The Seoul Olympic Park, shortened to Olpark, is an Olympic Park built to host the 1988 Summer Olympics. Olympic Park is located in Songpa-gu, Bangi-dong.- Competition facilities :*Olympic Velodrome, Seoul*Olympic Fencing Gymnasium... (finish) City Hall Plaza Seoul City Hall Seoul City Hall is a governmental building for the Seoul Metropolitan Government in South Korea, in charge of the administrative affairs of Seoul. It is located in Taepyeongno, Jung-gu, the heart of Seoul. It's located next to City Hall Station on Seoul Subway Line 1. In front of the city hall is...		22 km	Moon Dae-Sung – gold medalist taekwondo Taekwondo Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"... Kim Mi-Jung – gold medalist shot put Shot put The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action.... ter Ahn Hyun-Soo – speed skater Nam Eun-Young Nam Eun-Young Nam Eun-Young is a South Korean team handball player and Olympic champion. She received gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, with the Korean national team.-References:...  – gold medalist in handball Team handball Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team... Kim Soo-Nyung Kim Soo-Nyung Kim Soo-Nyung was a member of the South Korean Olympic archery team in 1988, 1992, and 2000. She has earned a total of four gold medals, including the individual gold medal in 1988. She also won two consecutive individual and team world championships in 1989 and 1991...  – gold medalist archer Bada (singer) – singer and musical actress Jang Nara Jang Nara Jang Na-ra is a South Korean singer and actress. She also sings in Chinese, and is known in China by her transliterated Chinese name .-Early life:...  – singer and actress	70+
April 28	North KoreaNorth Korea  (Pyongyang Pyongyang Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was... ) (start) Tower of Juche Idea (finish) Kim Il Sung Stadium		20 km	Pak Du Ik Pak Doo-Ik Pak Doo-Ik is a North Korean former footballer.Pak Doo-Ik was born at Pyongyang. He represented North Korea at the 1966 FIFA World Cup in England, scoring the famous winning goal in their shock 1-0 win over Italy at Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough, a game since immortalized in World Cup lore and the...  – football player	80
April 29	VietnamVietnam  (Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam... ) (start) Opera House Municipal Theatre, Ho Chi Minh City The Saigon Opera House , an opera house in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is an example of French Colonial architecture in Vietnam.Built in 1897 by French architect Ferret Eugene, the 800 seat building was used as the home of the Lower House assembly of South Vietnam after 1956... (finish) Military Zone 7 Competition Hall		10 km		60

Special Administrative Region of China torch relay route

The opening relay route ceremony was held at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre

Hong Kong Cultural Centre

The Hong Kong Cultural Centre is a multipurpose performance facility in the Tsim Sha Tsui area of Hong Kong. Located at Salisbury Road, it was founded by the former Urban Council and, after 2000, is administered by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of Hong Kong Government...

. The song "We are ready" was performed by Eason Chan

Eason Chan

Eason Chan Yik-shun is a prominent male singer in Hong Kong's music industry. Undoubtedly one of the most dominant male singers in the post-1997 era of Hong Kong music industry. Eason Chan has been praised by Time magazine as a front runner in the next generation of Cantopop...

, Hotcha

HotCha

HotCha is a Hong Kong cantopop trio group presented by Newaystar entertainment.- Albums :* Hotcha * Hotcha Sexy Funny Cool * Hotcha Shall We Dance Shall We Love? * Hotcha Our Favorites 我們最愛的 * Three On The Road...

, EO2

EO2

EO2 is a Cantopop dance group in Hong Kong. The name comes from its 4 members with 2 beginning with "E", and 2 beginning with "O". The members are Eric Tse , Eddie Pang , Osman Hung and Otto Wong ....

 accompanied by Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra

Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra

The Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra is an orchestra of Chinese traditional instruments based in Hong Kong. It was established in 1977 and comprises 85 musicians. The Artistic Director and Principal Conductor is Yan Huichang.-External links:**...

, Hong Kong Dance company, Gauido international golden eagle gymnastics team, and senior mixed choir of the Diocesan Girls' School

Diocesan Girls' School

Diocesan Girls' School, founded in 1860, is one of the oldest Anglican girls' schools in Hong Kong. DGS is located at 1 Jordan Road in Kowloon, Hong Kong. It is administered under the Grant Code and uses English as the medium of instruction. It has always been ranked as the top secondary school in...

 and the Diocesan Boys' School

Diocesan Boys' School

Diocesan Boys' School is a boys' school located at 131 Argyle Street, Mong Kok, Kowloon, Hong Kong. It was founded in 1869, making it one of the oldest secondary schools in Hong Kong....

.

Date	| City	Length	Notable torchbearers	# of torchbearers
May 2	Hong Kong (start) Hong Kong Cultural Centre Hong Kong Cultural Centre The Hong Kong Cultural Centre is a multipurpose performance facility in the Tsim Sha Tsui area of Hong Kong. Located at Salisbury Road, it was founded by the former Urban Council and, after 2000, is administered by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of Hong Kong Government... (finish) Golden Bauhinia Square Golden Bauhinia Square The Golden Bauhinia Square is an open area in Wan Chai North, Hong Kong. The square was named after the giant statue of a golden Bauhinia blakeana at the centre of the area, situated outside the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, where the ceremonies for the handover of Hong Kong and the...		26 km	Lee Lai-shan (李麗珊) – gold medalist in windsurfing Windsurfing Windsurfing or sailboarding is a surface water sport that combines elements of surfing and sailing. It consists of a board usually two to four metres long, powered by the orthogonal effect of the wind on a sail. The rig is connected to the board by a free-rotating universal joint and comprises a... Li Ching Li Ching Li Ching is a table tennis player from Hong Kong, China. He is best known for the joint silver medal he won for Hong Kong at the Athens Olympic in 2004.-Career:...  (李靜), Ko Lai-chak (高禮澤) – table-tennis players Jacky Cheung Jacky Cheung Jacky Cheung is a Hong Kong singer-songwriter and actor. The Chinese language media refers to him, Aaron Kwok, Andy Lau and Leon Lai as the Cantopop Four Heavenly Kings , with more than 60 million records sold as of 2000....  (張學友), Andy Lau Andy Lau Andy Lau MH, JP is a Hong Kong Cantopop singer, actor, and film producer. Lau has been one of Hong Kong's most commercially successful film actors since the mid-1980s, performing in more than 160 films while maintaining a successful singing career at the same time...  (劉德華), Alex Fong Alex Fong Lik-Sun Alex Fong Lik-san is a professional swimmer-turned-actor and singer based in Hong Kong, nicknamed "Little Flying Fish" for his swimming achievements. As of 2005, he holds several Hong Kong swimming records. He first represented Hong Kong at the age of 11. He also represented Hong Kong at the...  (方力申), Kelly Chen Kelly Chen Kelly Chen is a Hong Kong Cantopop singer and actress. Kelly has also been known as a diva in Asia. She has a great success in Asia Entertainment industry with nearly 20 million record sales of 38 albums...  (陳慧琳), Leo Ku Leo Ku Leo Ku Kui Kei is a famous China and Hong Kong artist, Cantonese and Mandarin pop singer, actor, host, cartoonist, MV Director and Producer, and designer; he is one of the highest visibility and Greater China Pop Male Artist, a major figure in popular music culture. Leo had earned the "Ten...  (古巨基) – singer Rebecca Chiu Wing-yin Rebecca Chiu Chiu Wing Yin Rebecca , commonly known as Rebecca Chiu, is a female professional squash player from Hong Kong. Her highest world ranking is 13, achieved in October 2007.- External links :* * * *...  (趙詠賢) – squash Squash (sport) Squash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball...  player Leung Chun-ying (梁振英) – member of Executive Council Executive Council of Hong Kong The Executive Council of Hong Kong is a core policy-making organ in the executive branch of the government of Hong Kong.. The Chief Executive of Hong Kong serves as its President.The Executive Council normally meets once a week... Stephen Chan (陳志雲) – general manager of TVB Television Broadcasts Limited Television Broadcasts Limited, commonly known as TVB, is the second over-the-air commercial television station in Hong Kong. It commenced broadcasting on 19 November 1967... Victor Li Tzar-kuoi (李澤鉅) – managing director of Cheung Kong group Thomas Kwok Ping-kwong Thomas Kwok Thomas Kwok Ping-kwong , SBS, JP is the joint-chairmen of Sun Hung Kai Properties, the largest property developer in Hong Kong, with his brother Raymond Kwok....  (郭炳江) – managing director of Sun Hung Kai group Ng Ching-fai Ng Ching-fai Ng Ching-fai, GBS is a Professor of Chemistry and the former President and Vice Chancellor of Hong Kong Baptist University and the President of United International College....  (吳清輝) – principal of Hong Kong Baptist University Hong Kong Baptist University Hong Kong Baptist University is a publicly-funded tertiary institution with a Christian education heritage. It is the sole surviving institution of 13 major Christian universities that once operated on the Chinese mainland,... Michael Cheng Lai-hin Cheng Lai Hin Cheng Lai Hin Michael , commonly known as Cheng Lai Hin , is a Hong Kong footballer who plays as a striker for South China.-Kitchee:Cheng Lai Hin signed for Kitchee when he was only 18....  (鄭禮騫) – footballer Koon Wai-chee Koon Wai Chee Koon Wai Chee Louisa is a female badminton player from Hong Kong.Koon competed in badminton at the 2004 Summer Olympics in women's doubles with partner Li Wing Mui. They were defeated by Gail Emms and Donna Kellogg of Great Britain in the round of...  (官惠慈), Wang Chen (王晨) – badminton players Lee Ka-kit (李家傑) – vice chairman of Henderson Group Henderson Group Henderson Group plc is a global investment management company with its principal place of business in the City of London. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. It is also listed on the Australian Securities Exchange as a member of the ASX200 index... Chu Ching-wu Chu Ching-wu Paul Chu is an Chinese-American physicist specializing in superconductivity, magnetism, and dielectrics. He is a Professor of physics and T.L.L. Temple Chair of Science in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at the University of Houston...  (朱經武) – president of The Hong Kong University of Science and Tehnology Liza Wang Liza Wang Elizabeth Wang Ming-chun, SBS, commonly known as Liza Wang, is an accomplished diva, actress and MC in Hong Kong. She is a well-known personality in Chinese-speaking communities. She has been nicknamed "The Big Sister" in the HK entertainment circle...  (汪明荃) – actress, singer & chairperson of Cantonese Opera Cantonese opera Cantonese opera is one of the major categories in Chinese opera, originating in southern China's Cantonese culture. It is popular in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore and Malaysia. Like all versions of Chinese opera, it is a traditional Chinese art form, involving music, singing,...  Performers Association Yip Wing-sie Yip Wing-sie Yip Wing-sie is a well known conductor in Hong Kong.She is the music director of the Hong Kong Sinfonietta. Two decades after winning the First Prize and "LYRE d'OR" of the prestigious Concours International des Jeune Chefs d'Orchestre de Besonçon, Yip has become an icon for classical music in the...  (葉詠詩) – music director of Hong Kong Sinfonietta Hong Kong Sinfonietta The Hong Kong Sinfonietta is a professional symphony orchestra based in Hong Kong, China. It was established in 1990 by a group of local music graduates. It has always aimed at promoting classical music to the public. The orchestra was reorganized 1999, with Tsung Yeh, an American conductor of... Rita Fan Rita Fan Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai GBM GBS CBE JP was the President of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong after the transfer of sovereignty from the United Kingdom in 1997. She was the first woman to hold that position....  (范徐麗泰) – president of Legislative Council Legislative Council of Hong Kong The Legislative Council is the unicameral legislature of Hong Kong.-History:The Legislative Council of Hong Kong was set up in 1843 as a colonial legislature under British rule... Timothy Fok Timothy Fok Timothy Fok Tsun-ting , GBS, JP, the eldest son of Henry Fok, is a Member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, representing the Sports, Performing Arts, Culture and Publication functional constituency...  (霍震霆) – president of SFOC Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China The Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China is the national olympic committee of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. As such it is a separate member of the International Olympic Committee . The current president is Timothy Fok... Wong Kam-po Wong Kam-po Wong Kam-po BBS MH in Shatin, Hong Kong, is a world champion racing cyclist.-Biography:Wong Kam-po joined the Hong Kong cycling team in 1990. He quit the team after allegedly fighting with a team mate...  (黃金寶) – gold medalist at Asian games in cycling	119
May 3	Macau Macau Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China... (start and finish) Macau Fisherman's Wharf Macau Fisherman's Wharf The Macau Fisherman's Wharf is the first theme park in Macau. It is located in the Macau Peninsula, near the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Pier. The construction took 5 years, before an opening ceremony by the Chief Executive of Macau and trial operation began on December 31, 2005...		19 km originally 27 km	Miriam Yeung Miriam Yeung Miriam Yeung, RN, is a Hong Kong actress and Cantopop singer. Before entering the entertainment business, she was a registered nurse at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Hong Kong. She studied at the Holy Family Canossian College Kowloon...  – Hong Kong singer Stanley Ho Stanley Ho Stanley Ho, GBM, GLM, GBS, GML, OBE , also known as Ho Hung Sun, Stanley Ho Hung Sun, is an entrepreneur in Hong Kong and Macau. Ho is sometimes nicknamed "The King of Gambling", reflecting the government-granted monopoly he held of the Macau gambling industry for 40 years...  – casino tycoon.	120

Mainland China torch relay route

The total torchbearer counts for each city are available at the official website of the torch relay.
The relay was suspended from May 19 – May 21 to honor victims of the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake

2008 Sichuan earthquake

The 2008 Sichuan earthquake or the Great Sichuan Earthquake was a deadly earthquake that measured at 8.0 Msand 7.9 Mw occurred at 14:28:01 CST...

.

Mainland China torch relay route
Date	|  People's Republic of China China Province / City	Length	Notable torchbearers	# of torchbearers
May 4	Hainan Hainan Hainan is the smallest province of the People's Republic of China . Although the province comprises some two hundred islands scattered among three archipelagos off the southern coast, of its land mass is Hainan Island , from which the province takes its name...	Sanya Sanya Sanya is the southernmost city in China and is a part of Hainan Province. In 2006, it had a population of 536,000, making it, after the provincial capital , the second most populous city on the island. The city is renowned for its tropical climate and has emerged as a popular tourist destination,...	30.09	Yang Yang (杨扬) – gold medalist speed skater Yi Jianlian Yi Jianlian Yi Jianlian is a Chinese professional basketball player for the Guangdong Southern Tigers. He has also played in the NBA for the Milwaukee Bucks, New Jersey Nets, and Washington Wizards. Yi played power forward for the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association in 2002 and...  (易建联) – basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks Milwaukee Bucks The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center.... Yang Lan Yang Lan Yang Lan is a Chinese businesswoman, talk show hostess, and co-owner with her husband Wu Zheng of Sun Television Cybernetworks in Shanghai, China.-Personal and business life:...  (杨澜) – businesswomen Zhang Zilin Zhang Zilin Zhang Zilin is a beauty queen and fashion model who won Miss China World in 2007 and was crowned Miss World 2007, representing the People's Republic of China. She is the first Miss World of East Asian origin.-Biography:...  (张梓琳) – Miss World 2007 Miss World 2007 Miss World 2007, the 57th Miss World pageant was held at the Crown of Beauty Theatre, Sanya, People's Republic of China on December 1, 2007. It was hosted by Fernando Allende and Angela Chow. Zhang Zilin of the People's Republic of China won the crown and succeeded Miss World 2006, Taťána Kuchařová... Huang Xiaoming Huang Xiaoming Huang Xiaoming is a mainland Chinese actor, singer, and model. He is often referred to as China's "number one heartthrob" or "number one young male"...  (黄晓明) – actor Jackie Chan Jackie Chan Jackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...  (成龙) – actor	208
May 5		Wuzhishan Wuzhishan City Wuzhishan is a county-level city in the south-central part of Hainan, a province of the People's Republic of China. It was originally called Tongshi City and is located beside Wuzhi Shan, the mountain. The city's total area is 1129 square kilometres, and its population is 115,000 people. Its...	1.2 km		6
May 5		Wanning Wanning Wanning is a county-level city in SE Hainan province, China, with an estimated population of 65,871 .-History:Wanning lies on the east of the island and administers many small towns... (including Qionghai)	16.63 km (+13.51)		113 (+89)
May 6		Haikou Haikou Hǎikǒu , is the capital and most populous city of Hainan Province, in the People's Republic of China. It is situated on the northern coast of Hainan, by the mouth of the Nandu River...	30.2 km		208
May 7	Guangdong Guangdong Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...	Guangzhou Guangzhou Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...	40.82 km	Yang Jinghui Yang Jinghui Yang Jinghui is a male Chinese diver who competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics.He won the gold medal in the synchronized 10 metre platform competition together with Tian Liang.-References:*...  (杨景辉) – gold medalist diver Diving at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's synchronized 10 metre platform The men's synchronized 10 metre platform was one of eight diving events included in the Diving at the 2004 Summer Olympics programme.The competition was held as an outright final:... Ulrika Knape Ulrika Knape Ulrika Margareta Knape Lindberg is a Swedish diver, who is married to fellow Swedish diver Mathz Lindberg. She's mother to the Swedish diver Anna Lindberg....  – gold medalist Swedish diver Dong Zhaozhi Dong Zhaozhi Dong Zhaozhi is a male Chinese foil fencer. He competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics, the 2000 Summer Olympics, and the 2004 Summer Olympics....  (董兆致) – silver medalist fencer Fencing Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games... Shen Xiangfu Shen Xiangfu Shen Xiangfu is a Chinese football coach and a former international football player. -Playing career:...  (沈祥福) – former Chinese national football coach	208
May 8		Shenzhen Shenzhen Shenzhen is a major city in the south of Southern China's Guangdong Province, situated immediately north of Hong Kong. The area became China's first—and one of the most successful—Special Economic Zones...	40 km	Xiao Jinfeng Gymnastics at the 2000 Summer Olympics At the 2000 Summer Olympics, three different gymnastics disciplines were contested: artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, and trampoline. The artistic gymnastics and trampoline events were held at the Sydney SuperDome on September 16–25 and September 22–23, respectively...  (肖劲峰) – gold medalist gymnist Gymnastics Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body... Wang Shi (王石) – head of China Vanke China Vanke Vanke is the largest residential real estate developer in the People’s Republic of China. It is engaged in developing, managing and selling of the properties across 20 cities in Pearl River Delta, Yangtze River Delta and Bohai-Rim Region, with the provision of investment trading, consultancy...	–
May 8	Mt Everest Summit 2008 Summer Olympics summit of Mt. Everest The 2008 Summer Olympics summit of Mt. Everest was the special route of the torch relay as part of the 2008 Summer Olympics taking place in Mount Everest. Torchbearers reached Mt. Everest at 9.20 in the morning on May 8, in parallel with the Shenzhen route...		–	–	–
May 9	Guangdong Guangdong Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...	Huizhou Huizhou Huizhou , historically known as Waichow, is a city located in central Guangdong province of the People's Republic of China. Part of the Pearl River Delta, Huizhou borders the provincial capital of Guangzhou to the west, Shaoguan to the north, Heyuan to the northeast, Shanwei to the east, Shenzhen...	–	Liang Wenbo Liang Wenbo Liang Wenbo is a Chinese professional snooker player. He is left-handed and ranked as China's number 2 player, after Ding Junhui. Liang is based at the World Snooker Academy in Sheffield, England, United Kingdom.-Career:...  (梁文博)	–
May 10		Shantou Shantou Shantou , historically known as Swatow or Suátao, is a prefecture-level city on the eastern coast of Guangdong province, People's Republic of China, with a total population of 5,391,028 as of 2010 and an administrative area of...	–	Sun Shuwei Sun Shuwei Sun Shuwei is a famous Chinese diver.Sun started diving training in 1984. As a talented athlete, he entered China national diving team in 1989. In 1990, he won the gold medal in the 10 meter platform in Asian Games...  (孙淑伟) – gold medalist diver Xu Yinchuan Xu Yinchuan Xu Yinchuan is currently considered to be one of the world's best players in Xiangqi, or Chinese chess.Xu was born in Huilai, Guangdong Province, China, in August 1975...  (许银川) – international master of Chinese chess Xiangqi Xiangqi is a two-player Chinese board game in the same family as Western chess, chaturanga, shogi, Indian chess and janggi. The present-day form of Xiangqi originated in China and is therefore commonly called Chinese chess in English. Xiangqi is one of the most popular board games in China...	208
May 11	Fujian Fujian ' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...	Fuzhou Fuzhou Fuzhou is the capital and one of the largest cities in Fujian Province, People's Republic of China. Along with the many counties of Ningde, those of Fuzhou are considered to constitute the Mindong linguistic and cultural area....	–	Zheng Meizhu Zheng Meizhu Zheng Meizhu is a Chinese volleyball player who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics and in the 1988 Summer Olympics.In 1984 she was a member of the Chinese volleyball team which won the gold medal. She played all five matches....  (郑美珠) – gold medalist volleyball player Hou Yuzhu Hou Yuzhu Hou Yuzhu is a Chinese volleyball player who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics and in the 1988 Summer Olympics.In 1984, she was a member of the Chinese volleyball team which won the gold medal. She played all five matches....  (侯玉珠) – gold medalist volleyball player Lin Qiang (林强), a sixth-generation descendant of Lin Zexu Lin Zexu Lín Zéxú ; 30 August 1785 – 22 November 1850) was a Chinese scholar and official during the Qing Dynasty.He is most recognized for his conduct and his constant position on the "high moral ground" in his fight, as a "shepherd" of his people, against the opium trade in Guangzhou...  – person who opposed opium Opium Opium is the dried latex obtained from the opium poppy . Opium contains up to 12% morphine, an alkaloid, which is frequently processed chemically to produce heroin for the illegal drug trade. The latex also includes codeine and non-narcotic alkaloids such as papaverine, thebaine and noscapine...  trade with the British in the Qing dynasty Qing Dynasty The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....  and led to the First Opium War First Opium War The First Anglo-Chinese War , known popularly as the First Opium War or simply the Opium War, was fought between the United Kingdom and the Qing Dynasty of China over their conflicting viewpoints on diplomatic relations, trade, and the administration of justice...	208
May 12		Quanzhou Quanzhou Quanzhou is a prefecture-level city in Fujian province, People's Republic of China. It borders all other prefecture-level cities in Fujian but two and faces the Taiwan Strait...	20.35 km	–	108
May 12		Xiamen Xiamen Xiamen , also known as Amoy , is a major city on the southeast coast of the People's Republic of China. It is administered as a sub-provincial city of Fujian province with an area of and population of 3.53 million...	17.4 km	Guo Yuehua (郭跃华) – winner of 8 consecutive titles for table tennis Ji Xinpeng Ji Xinpeng Ji Xinpeng is a retired Chinese badminton player.-Career:Ji Xinpeng is the first Chinese badminton player to win an Olympic gold medal in men's singles. Having never previously captured a top tier event on the international circuit, he surprised the field at the 2000 Games in Sydney by defeating...  (吉新鹏) – gold medalist badminton player	100
May 13		Longyan Longyan Longyan is a prefecture-level city in southwestern Fujian province, China.-Geography:It is situated in the upper reaches of the Jiulong and Tingjiang rivers...	30.5 km	Zhang Xiangxiang Zhang Xiangxiang Zhang Xiangxiang is a male Chinese weightlifter. He is an Olympic medalist. He won the bronze medal at the men's 56 kg class in Weightlifting at the 2000 Summer OlympicsHe won the gold medal in the 62 kg class at the 2008 Summer Olympics....  (张湘祥) – bronze medalist weightlifter Shi Zhiyong Shi Zhiyong Shi Zhiyong is a Chinese weightlifter. He became Olympic Champion during the 2004 Summer Olympics. He lifted a total of 325 kg, equalising the World record at that time....  (石智勇) – gold medalist weightlifter Chen Hong (陈宏) – badminton player	208
May 14	Jiangxi Jiangxi ' is a southern province in the People's Republic of China. Spanning from the banks of the Yangtze River in the north into hillier areas in the south, it shares a border with Anhui to the north, Zhejiang to the northeast, Fujian to the east, Guangdong to the south, Hunan to the west, and Hubei to...	Ruijin Ruijin Ruijin is a county-level city of Ganzhou in the mountains bordering Fujian Province in south-eastern Jiangxi.The name derives from the ancient God, Rui Jin. It is most famous as one of the earliest centers of Chinese communist activity...	15 km	–	208
May 15		Jinggangshan Jinggangshan City Jinggangshan is a county-level city of Jiangxi, China. It is under the administration of the Ji'an city. It is located in the Luoxiao Mountains which cover some 670 km².-External links:**...	14.5 km	–
May 16		Nanchang Nanchang Nanchang is the capital of Jiangxi Province in southeastern China. It is located in the north-central portion of the province. As it is bounded on the west by the Jiuling Mountains, and on the east by Poyang Lake, it is famous for its scenery, rich history and cultural sites...	–	Peng Bo Peng Bo Peng Bo is a Chinese diver who competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics and won the men's 3m springboard diving event with a score of 787.38....  (彭勃) – gold medalist diver
May 17	Zhejiang Zhejiang Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital...	Wenzhou Wenzhou Wenzhou is a prefecture-level city in southeastern Zhejiang province, People's Republic of China. The area under its jurisdiction, which includes two satellite cities and six counties, had a population of 9,122,100 as of 2010....	–	–	108
May 17		Shaoxing Shaoxing Shaoxing is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Zhejiang province, People's Republic of China. Located on the south bank of the Qiantang River estuary, it borders Ningbo to the east, Taizhou to the southeast, Jinhua to the southwest, and Hangzhou to the west. It was once known as "越"...	–	–	100
May 18		Hangzhou Hangzhou Hangzhou , formerly transliterated as Hangchow, is the capital and largest city of Zhejiang Province in Eastern China. Governed as a sub-provincial city, and as of 2010, its entire administrative division or prefecture had a registered population of 8.7 million people...	–	Li Lingwei Li Lingwei Li Lingwei is a Chinese badminton player of the 1980s who ranks among the greatest in the history of the women's game. A brilliant all-around player whose court coverage and net play were particularly impressive, she maintained an overall edge on her teammate, rival, and sometimes doubles partner...  (李玲蔚) – badminton champion	208
May 19 – May 21		–	–	Relay suspended to honor victims of the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake 2008 Sichuan earthquake The 2008 Sichuan earthquake or the Great Sichuan Earthquake was a deadly earthquake that measured at 8.0 Msand 7.9 Mw occurred at 14:28:01 CST...
May 22		Ningbo Ningbo Ningbo is a seaport city of northeastern Zhejiang province, Eastern China. Holding sub-provincial administrative status, the municipality has a population of 7,605,700 inhabitants at the 2010 census whom 3,089,180 in the built up area made of 6 urban districts. It lies south of the Hangzhou Bay,...	–	–
May 22	Jiaxing Jiaxing Jiaxing is a prefecture-level city in northern Zhejiang province of Eastern China. Lying on the Grand Canal of China, Jiaxing borders Hangzhou to the southwest, Huzhou to the west, Shanghai to the northeast, and the province of Jiangsu to the north....	8.2 km	Lü Lin (吕林) – gold medalist table tennis player	90
May 23 – May 24	Shanghai		62.84 km (day 1) + 136.55 km (day 2)	Zhuang Yong (庄泳) – gold medalist swimmer Zhou Xun Zhou Xun Zhou Xun is a Chinese actress and singer. She is regarded as one of the "Four Young Dan actresses" in China in the early 2000s, along with Zhang Ziyi, Xu Jinglei and Zhao Wei.-Early life:...  (周迅) – actress and singer Liu Xuegen (刘学根), father of Liu Xiang Liu Xiang Liu Xiang is a Chinese 110 meter hurdler. Liu is an Olympic Gold medalist and World Champion. His 2004 Olympic gold medal was the first in a men's track and field event for China....  (刘翔 ) Li Bingbing Li Bingbing Li Bingbing is a Chinese actress and singer.-Life and career:Li had no intention of becoming an actress initially and enrolled specifically in a high school for prospective school teachers...  (李冰冰) – actress Tony Leung Ka-Fai Tony Leung Ka-Fai Tony Leung Ka-fai is a three-time Hong Kong Film Award-winning Chinese film actor.Because he is often confused with actor Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Tony Leung Ka-fai is known as "Big Tony", while Tony Leung Chiu-Wai is known as "Little Tony", nicknames which correspond to the actors' respective...  (梁家辉) – actor Sun Wen Sun Wen (football) Sun Wen is a retired well-known female Chinese football player.Sun appeared in the national squad at the age of 17 . A strong striker with great skills and passing abilities, Sun won both the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball for the 1999 Women's World Cup, and became the first woman to be...  (孙雯) – football (soccer) player Chen Lu Chen Lu Chen Lu is a Chinese figure skater. She is the 1994 and 1998 Olympic bronze medalist and the 1995 World Champion. Chen won the first ever Olympic medal in figure skating for China.- Amateur career :...  (陈露) – world champion figure skater Zhu Jianhua Zhu Jianhua Zhu Jianhua is a retired Chinese high jumper.In Helskinki 1983, he became China's first ever male athlete to win a medal in the history of the IAAF World Championships and, in Los Angeles 1984, became China's first ever male athlete to win a medal in the history of the Olympic Games.In addition to...  (朱建华) – medalist high jumper  Lee Kaifu (李开复) – founder of Google China Google China Google China is a subsidiary of Google, Inc., the world's largest Internet search engine company. Google China ranks as the number 2 search engine in the People's Republic of China, after Baidu... Cao Yanhua Cao Yanhua Cao Yanhua is a male former table tennis player from China. From 1978 to 1985 he won several medals in singles, doubles, and team events in the Asian Table Tennis Championships and in the World Table Tennis Championships.-References:...  (曹燕华) – table tennis champion	416 (including 44 foreign nationals)
May 25	Jiangsu Jiangsu ' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...	Suzhou Suzhou Suzhou , previously transliterated as Su-chou, Suchow, and Soochow, is a major city located in the southeast of Jiangsu Province in Eastern China, located adjacent to Shanghai Municipality. The city is situated on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Taihu Lake and is a part...	17 km	–	104
May 25		Nantong Nantong Nantong is a prefecture-level city in Jiangsu province, People's Republic of China. Located on the northern bank of the Yangtze River, near the river mouth, Nantong is a vital river port bordering Yancheng to the north, Taizhou to the west, Suzhou and Shanghai to the south across the river, and...	20 km	–	104
May 26		Taizhou Taizhou, Jiangsu Taizhou is a prefecture-level city in central Jiangsu province of eastern China. Situated on the north bank of the Yangtze River, it borders Nantong to the east, Yancheng to the north and Yangzhou to the west....	12.8 km	–	104
May 26		Yangzhou Yangzhou Yangzhou is a prefecture-level city in central Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China. Sitting on the northern bank of the Yangtze River, it borders the provincial capital of Nanjing to the southwest, Huai'an to the north, Yancheng to the northeast, Taizhou to the east, and Zhenjiang across...	11 km	–	104
May 27		Nanjing Nanjing ' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...	12.9 km	Yang Yang Yang Yang (badminton) Yang Yang is a former Chinese badminton player.He is one of the two badminton players in the world to have won two World Badminton Championships men's singles titles consecutively , the other being Lin Dan. He also won the men's singles gold medal when badminton was a demonstration sport at the...  (杨阳) – badminton player Chen Peisi (陈佩斯) – actor Gao Yuanyuan Gao Yuanyuan Gao Yuanyuan is a Chinese actress.-Biography:Gao was born in Beijing on October 5, 1979 and entered the entertainment industry in 1996. Known for her fresh looks and chaste spirit, Gao, unlike other mainland Chinese actresses, did not graduate from any drama academic institutions...  (高圆圆) – actress	208
May 28	Anhui Anhui Anhui is a province in the People's Republic of China. Located in eastern China across the basins of the Yangtze River and the Huai River, it borders Jiangsu to the east, Zhejiang to the southeast, Jiangxi to the south, Hubei to the southwest, Henan to the northwest, and Shandong for a tiny...	Hefei Hefei Hefei is the capital and largest city of Anhui Province in Eastern China. A prefecture-level city, it is the political, economic, and cultural centre of Anhui...	–	Fan Xueping Wushu at the Asian Games Wushu has been contested at the Asian Games since 1990 in Beijing, China.-Medal table:--52 kg:--56 kg:--60 kg:--65 kg:--70 kg:--75 kg:-Changquan:* Changquan, Daoshu and Gunshu -Nanquan:* Nanquan...  (范雪平) – wushu Wushu (sport) The sport of wushu is both an exhibition and a full-contact sport derived from traditional Chinese martial arts. It was created in the People's Republic of China after 1949, in an attempt to nationalize the practice of traditional Chinese martial arts...  champion Jiang Xiaoyu (蒋效愚) – executive VP of Beijing Organizing Committee Beijing Organizing Committee The The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, or BOCOG, also known as the Beijing Organizing Committee, is an informal name for the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad. It was also the organizing committee for the Games of the XIII Paralympiad...
May 29		Huainan Huainan Huainan is a prefecture-level city with 2,334,000 inhabitants in central Anhui Province, People’s Republic of China. It borders the provincial capital of Hefei to the south, Lu’an to the southwest, Fuyang to the west, Bozhou to the northwest, Bengbu to the northeast and Chuzhou to the east.Its...	–	–	10
May 29		Wuhu	–	Vicki Zhao Zhao Wei Zhao Wei is a mainland Chinese film actress and pop singer. Audiences sometimes refer to her by her English name, Vicki Zhao...  (赵薇) – actress and singer	100
May 30		Jixi Jixi Jixi is a city in eastern Heilongjiang Province in the People's Republic of China. At the 2010 census, 1,862,161 people resided within its administrative area of 22,351 square kilometers and 757,647 in its built up area made of 4 out of 6 urban districts...	–	Ding Junhui Ding Junhui Ding Junhui is a Chinese professional snooker player. Ding Junhui is China's most successful player ever, having become only the second teenager, after John Higgins, to win three ranking titles...  (丁俊晖) – snooker Snooker Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a green baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. A regular table is . It is played using a cue and snooker balls: one white , 15 worth one point each, and six balls of different :...  player	80
May 30		Huangshan	–	Ye Qiaobo Speed skating at the 1994 Winter Olympics The 1994 Winter Olympic Games Speed Skating results.-500 m:Monday February 14, 1994 — 40 competitors from 16 countries-1,000 m:Friday February 18, 1994 — 43 competitors from 17 countries-1,500 m:...  (叶乔波) – speed skating champ	120
May 31	Hubei Hubei ' Hupeh) is a province in Central China. The name of the province means "north of the lake", referring to its position north of Lake Dongting...	Wuhan Wuhan Wuhan is the capital of Hubei province, People's Republic of China, and is the most populous city in Central China. It lies at the east of the Jianghan Plain, and the intersection of the middle reaches of the Yangtze and Han rivers...	20.7 km	Li Xiaoshuang Li Xiaoshuang Li Xiaoshuang is a Chinese gymnast and Olympic champion. Li Xiaoshuang and his twin brother Li Dashuang's gymnastics talent was discovered at the age of six...  (李小双) – gold medalist gymnast
June 1		Yichang Yichang Yichang is a prefecture-level city located in Hubei province of the People's Republic of China. It is the second largest city in Hubei province after the province capital, Wuhan. The Three Gorges Dam is located within its administrative area, in Yiling District.-History:In ancient times Yichang...	10 km	Li Ting (李婷) – gold medalist tennis player Karen Mok Karen Mok Karen Joy Morris, known more commonly in the Sinosphere as Karen Mok or Mok Man-Wai, is a three-time Golden Melody Award-winning Hong Kong-based actress and singer-songwriter.- Biography :...  (莫文蔚)- singer	208
June 2		Jingzhou Jingzhou Jingzhou is a prefecture-level city in Hubei Province, People's Republic of China. The city is located on the banks of the Yangtze River.Its population is 5,691,707 at the 2010 census whom 1,154,086 in the built up area made of 3 urban districts.-Geography:Jingzhou occupies an area of...	18.6 km	Zeng Li (曾黎) – actress	208
June 3	Hunan Hunan ' is a province of South-Central China, located to the south of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting...	Yueyang Yueyang Yueyang is a prefecture-level city at the northeastern corner of Hunan province, South Central China, on the southern shores of Dongting Lake.The Yueyang metropolitan area occupies 14,896 km². and the city proper occupies 304 km²...	16.9 km	–
June 4		Changsha	–	Zhong Zhihua (钟志华) – head of Hunan University Hunan University Hunan University , located in Changsha, Hunan province, is one of the oldest and most important national universities in China.- History :Hunan University traces its history back to the Yuelu Shuyuan founded in the Song Dynasty, originally in 976, over 1000 years ago... Xiong Ni (熊倪) – 3-time gold medalist diver	208
June 5		Shaoshan Shaoshan Shaoshan is a county-level city in Xiangtan, Hunan Province, noted as the birthplace of Mao Zedong, founder of the People's Republic of China. Shaoshan was an important base during the Chinese Communist Revolution....	79.1 km		208
June 6	Guangxi Guangxi Guangxi, formerly romanized Kwangsi, is a province of southern China along its border with Vietnam. In 1958, it became the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, a region with special privileges created specifically for the Zhuang people.Guangxi's location, in...	Guilin Guilin Guilin is a prefecture-level city in the northeast of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of far southern China, sitting on the west bank of the Li River. Its name means "forest of Sweet Osmanthus", owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet Osmanthus trees located in the city...	–	Xiao Jiangang Xiao Jiangang Xiao Jiangang is a male Chinese weightlifter. He competed at 1996 Atlanta Olympics, and won a bronze medal in Men's 64 kg.-References:*...  (肖建刚) – weightlifting champion Tang Lingsheng Tang Lingsheng Tang Lingsheng is a male Chinese weightlifter.- Major performances :*1989 National Junior Games - 3rd 56 kg ;*1991 National Inter-city Games - 2nd 60 kg ;...  (唐灵生) – gold medalist weighlifter
June 7		Nanning Nanning Nanning is the capital of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China. It is known as the "Green City" because of its abundance of lush tropical foliage.-History:...	16.5 km	Chen Wenzhong (陈文忠) – olympic sprinter Mo Huilan Mo Huilan Mo Huilan is a Chinese gymnast who competed at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. She was one of China's most successful gymnasts in the 1990s. She is known for performing routines of exceptional difficulty and technique, but also for inconsistency....  (莫慧兰) – gymnast
June 8		Baise	–	–
June 9	Yunnan Yunnan Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...	Kunming Kunming ' is the capital and largest city of Yunnan Province in Southwest China. It was known as Yunnan-Fou until the 1920s. A prefecture-level city, it is the political, economic, communications and cultural centre of Yunnan, and is the seat of the provincial government...	8.3 km	Angela Chang Angela Chang Angela Chang was born on 19 January 1982. She is a Taiwanese Mandopop singer and actress. She has been nominated twice for Best Leading Actress in a Television Series at the Golden Bell Awards, Taiwan.-Biography:...  (张韶涵) – Taiwanese singer and actress	208
June 10		Lijiang	26 km	–	-
June 11		Xamgyi'nyilha Shangri-La County Shangri-La County is a primarily Tibetan county in northwestern Yunnan province, Southwest China and is the location of the seat of the Dêqên Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.-Name:...	40.36 km	Zhang Guowei (张国伟) – track & field	–
June 12	Guizhou Guizhou ' is a province of the People's Republic of China located in the southwestern part of the country. Its provincial capital city is Guiyang.- History :...	Guiyang Guiyang Guiyang is the capital of Guizhou province of Southwest China. It is located in the centre of the province, situated on the east of the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau, and on the north bank of the Nanming River, a branch of the Wu River. The city has an elevation of about 1,100 meters...	16.9 km	–	208
June 13		Kaili	19.3 km	–	208
June 14		Zunyi Zunyi Zunyi is a prefecture-level city in Guizhou province in southwestern China. Along with Guiyang and Liupanshui, it is one of the most important cities of the province...	6.3 km	–	208
June 15 – June 16	Chongqing Chongqing Chongqing is a major city in Southwest China and one of the five national central cities of China. Administratively, it is one of the PRC's four direct-controlled municipalities , and the only such municipality in inland China.The municipality was created on 14 March 1997, succeeding the...	–	17 km	Gu Li Gu Li Gu Li is a Chinese professional Go player.- Biography :Gu Li is currently the #1 ranked Chinese player by the Zhongguo Qiyuan. He became a pro in 1994 when he was only 12. In 2006, he won the 10th LG Cup and became the youngest Chinese player to ever win a major international title; as a result,...  (古力) – Go Go (board game) Go , is an ancient board game for two players that originated in China more than 2,000 years ago...  champion	208
June 17	Xinjiang Xinjiang Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...	Ürümqi Ürümqi Ürümqi , formerly Tihwa , is the capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, in the northwest of the country....	12.5 km	Wang Yanhong – gold medalist archer Abuduxikeer Mijiti – boxing champion	208
June 18		Kashi Kashgar Kashgar or Kashi is an oasis city with approximately 350,000 residents in the western part of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. Kashgar is the administrative centre of Kashgar Prefecture which has an area of 162,000 km² and a population of approximately...	7.43 km	–	208
June 19		Shihezi Shihezi Shihezi is a sub-prefecture-level city in northern Xinjiang, People's Republic of China.-Demography:Shihezi is the second largest city in Xinjiang, after Urumqi....	–	–	-
June 19		Changji	4.4 km	–	104
June 21	Tibet Tibet Autonomous Region The Tibet Autonomous Region , Tibet or Xizang for short, also called the Xizang Autonomous Region is a province-level autonomous region of the People's Republic of China , created in 1965....	Lhasa Lhasa Lhasa is the administrative capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China and the second most populous city on the Tibetan Plateau, after Xining. At an altitude of , Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world...	11 km	Cedai Drolma – singer	156
June 22	Qinghai Qinghai Qinghai ; Oirat Mongolian: ; ; Salar:) is a province of the People's Republic of China, named after Qinghai Lake...	Golmud Golmud Golmud , sometimes transliterated as Ge'ermu or Geermu, is a county-level city in Qinghai Province, Western China. Administrated by Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, it is the second largest city in Qinghai and the third largest in the Tibetan Plateau . The population is now about...	7.5 km	–	-
June 23		Qinghai Lake Qinghai Lake Qinghai Lake , is a saline lake situated in the province of Qinghai, and is the largest lake in China. The names Qinghai and Kokonor both mean "Blue/Teal Sea/Lake" in Chinese and Mongolian. It is located about west of the provincial capital of Xining at 3,205 m above sea level in a depression...	6 km	–	162
June 24		Xining Xining Xining is the capital of Qinghai province, People's Republic of China, and the largest city on the Tibetan Plateau. It has 2,208,708 inhabitants at the 2010 census whom 1,198,304 live in the built up area made of 4 urban districts.-History:...	–	Li Chunxie – medalist racewalker	-
June 25	Shanxi Shanxi ' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....	Yuncheng	9.8 km	Lu Shuming – actorZhang Weihong Zhang Weihong Zhang Weihong is a former female Chinese handball player. She competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics and in the 1988 Summer Olympics.In 1984, she was a member of the Chinese handball team which won the bronze medal. She played all five matches and scored three goals.Four years later she was part of...  (张维红) – medalist handball Team handball Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team...  player	104
June 25		Pingyao Pingyao Pingyao is a Chinese city and county in central Shanxi province, China. It lies about 715 km from Beijing and 80 km from the provincial capital, Taiyuan. During the Qing Dynasty, Pingyao was a financial center of China...	–	–
June 26		Taiyuan Taiyuan Taiyuan is the capital and largest city of Shanxi province in North China. At the 2010 census, it had a total population of 4,201,591 inhabitants on 6959 km² whom 3,212,500 are urban on 1,460 km². The name of the city literally means "Great Plains", referring to the location where the Fen River...	39 km	Yan Weiwen – singer Tan Jing – singer Robin Li Robin Li Robin Li is a Chinese entrepreneur, co-founder of China's most popular search engine Baidu.Li studied information management at Peking University and the State University of New York, Buffalo. In 2000 he founded Baidu with Eric Xu...  (李彦宏) – CEO of Baidu Baidu Baidu, Inc. , simply known as Baidu and incorporated on January 18, 2000, is a Chinese web services company headquartered in the Baidu Campus in Haidian District, Beijing, People's Republic of China....	208
June 27		Datong Datong Datong is a prefecture-level city in northern Shanxi Province of North China, located a few hundred kilometres west by rail from Beijing with an elevation of...	4 km	–	208
June 28	Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center is a People's Republic of China space vehicle launch facility .The facility is part of Dongfeng Aerospace City , and is located in the Gobi desert, Ejin Banner , Alxa League , Inner Mongolia, situated about 1,600 km from Beijing.- History :It was founded in 1958,...		22	Fei Junlong Fei Junlong Colonel Fei Junlong is a Chinese military pilot and an astronaut. He flew on the second manned spaceflight of the Shenzhou program....  (费俊龙), Nie Haisheng Nie Haisheng Colonel Niè Hǎishèng is a Chinese military pilot and CNSA astronaut .-Military career:Nie was born in Yangdang town of Zaoyang, Hubei Province. After graduating from high school he joined the People's Liberation Army Air Force and became a fighter pilot. During his training at the PLAAF's No...  (聂海胜) – crew of Shenzhou spacecraft 6 Shenzhou spacecraft Shenzhou is a spacecraft developed and operated by the People's Republic of China to support its manned spaceflight program. The name is variously translated as "Divine Craft," "Divine Vessel of God," "Magic Boat" or similar and is also homophonous with an ancient name for China...	–
June 29	Ningxia Ningxia Ningxia, formerly transliterated as Ningsia, is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. Located in Northwest China, on the Loess Plateau, the Yellow River flows through this vast area of land. The Great Wall of China runs along its northeastern boundary...	Zhongwei	3.3 km	–	-
June 30		Wuzhong	5.6 km	–	193
July 1		Yinchuan	–	–	-
July 2	Shaanxi Shaanxi ' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...	Yan'an Yan'an Yan'an , is a prefecture-level city in the Shanbei region of Shaanxi province in China, administering several counties, including Zhidan County , which served as the Chinese communist capital before the city of Yan'an proper took that role....	6.31 km	–	208
July 3		Yangling Yangling Yangling District is located on the plains of the Wei River , within the City of Xianyang in the Province of Shaanxi, People's Republic of China. It has an area of and a population of 155,000...	6.53 km	–	95
July 3		Xianyang Xianyang Xianyang is a former capital of China in Shaanxi province, on the Wei River, a few kilometers upstream from Xi'an. It has an area of...	6.9 km	–	113
July 4		Xi'an Xi'an Xi'an is the capital of the Shaanxi province, and a sub-provincial city in the People's Republic of China. One of the oldest cities in China, with more than 3,100 years of history, the city was known as Chang'an before the Ming Dynasty...	–	Tian Liang (田亮) – gold medalist diver	200
July 5	Gansu Gansu ' is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China.It lies between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus, and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east...	Dunhuang Dunhuang Dunhuang is a city in northwestern Gansu province, Western China. It was a major stop on the ancient Silk Road. It was also known at times as Shāzhōu , or 'City of Sands', a name still used today...	7.6 km	Fan Jinshi – director of Dunhuang Research Institute	120
July 6		Jiayuguan	13.8 km	–	208
July 7		Lanzhou Lanzhou Lanzhou is the capital and largest city of Gansu Province in Northwest China. A prefecture-level city, it is a key regional transportation hub, allowing areas further west to maintain railroad connections to the eastern half of the country....	–	–	-
July 8	Inner Mongolia Inner Mongolia Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, located in the northern region of the country. Inner Mongolia shares an international border with the countries of Mongolia and the Russian Federation...	Hohhot Hohhot Hohhot , is a city in north-central China and the capital of the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, serving as the region's administrative, economic, and cultural centre....	6.2 km	Mengke Bateer Mengke Bateer Mengke Bateer or Menk Batere , commonly referred to simply as Bateer, is a Chinese professional basketball player, formerly in the NBA. He currently plays center for Xinjiang Guanghui.Bateer is an ethnic minority from China's Inner Mongolia region...  (巴特尔) – pro basketball player Pan Gang – president of Yili group Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Company Yili Group is a privately-owned company of dairy industry in China. It is engaged in processing and manufacturing of milk products, including ice-cream, milk powder, milk tea powder, sterilized milk and fresh milk under "Yili" brand. It is headquartered in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia...	208
July 9		Ordos Ordos -Places:*Ordos Loop of the Yellow River, a region of China*Ordos Desert, in Inner Mongolia*Ordos City, city and district in Inner Mongolia*Ordos International Circuit, a race track in Ordos City.-People:...	6.3 km	–	104
July 9		Baotou Baotou Baotou is a mid-sized industrial city in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. Governed as a prefecture-level city, its urban areas are home to a population of approximately 1.78 million, with a total population of over 2.65 million accounting for counties under...	–	–	104
July 10		Chifeng Chifeng Chifeng , also known as Ulanhad, is a prefecture-level city in southeastern Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China. It borders Xilin Gol to the north and west, Tongliao to the northeast, Chaoyang prefecture of Liaoning province to the southeast, and Chengde prefecture of Hebei province to the...	6.2 km	Siqingaowa Siqin Gaowa Sechen Guwa is a Chinese-Swiss actress of Mongol ethnicity. Her name "Сэцэн Гуа" means in Mongolian: The Wise Beautiful.She first came into prominence in the 1982 film adaptation of Lao She's novel, Rickshaw Boy, where she played "Tigress" opposite Zhang Fengyi's Xiangzi...  (斯琴高娃) – actress	208
July 11	Heilongjiang Heilongjiang For the river known in Mandarin as Heilong Jiang, see Amur River' is a province of the People's Republic of China located in the northeastern part of the country. "Heilongjiang" literally means Black Dragon River, which is the Chinese name for the Amur. The one-character abbreviation is 黑...	Harbin Harbin Harbin ; Manchu language: , Harbin; Russian: Харби́н Kharbin ), is the capital and largest city of Heilongjiang Province in Northeast China, lying on the southern bank of the Songhua River...	14.86 km	Zhang Dan Zhang Dan Zhang Dan is a Chinese pair skater. With her partner Zhang Hao, she is the 2006 Olympic silver medalist, 2005 & 2010 Four Continents champion, and three time World silver medalist.-Biography:...  (张丹) & Zhang Hao Zhang Hao Zhang Hao is a Chinese figure skater. With partner Zhang Dan, he is the 2006 Olympic silver medalist, 2005 & 2010 Four Continents champion, and three time World silver medalist.-Biography:...  (张昊) – pairs figure skating  Shen Xue Shen Xue Shen Xue is a female Chinese pair skater. With her partner and husband Zhao Hongbo, Shen is the 2010 Olympic champion, the 2002 & 2006 Olympic bronze medalist, a three-time World champion, a three-time Four Continents Champion and a six-time Grand Prix Final champion.Shen and Zhao were the first...  (申雪) & Zhao Hongbo Zhao Hongbo Zhao Hongbo is a male Chinese pair skater. With his partner and wife Shen Xue, Zhao is the 2010 Olympic champion, the 2002 & 2006 Olympic bronze medalist, a three-time World champion, a three-time Four Continents Champion and a six-time Grand Prix Final champion.Shen and Zhao were the first...  (赵宏博) – pairs figure skating  Sun Xue – singer	208
July 12		Daqing Daqing Daqing is a prefecture-level city in the west of Heilongjiang province of Northeast China. The name literally means "Great Celebration".Its population is 2,904,532 at the 2010 census whom 1,042,902 in the built up area made of 4 out of 5 urban districts It was founded in 1959 to house workers...	7.6 km	–	208
July 13		Qiqihar Qiqihar - Subdivisions :Qiqihar is divided into 16 divisions: 7 districts , 8 counties and 1 county-level city .-Economy:...	7.5 km	–	208
July 14	Jilin Jilin Jilin , is a province of the People's Republic of China located in the northeastern part of the country. Jilin borders North Korea and Russia to the east, Heilongjiang to the north, Liaoning to the south, and Inner Mongolia to the west...	Changchun Changchun Changchun is the capital and largest city of Jilin province, located in the northeast of the People's Republic of China, in the center of the Songliao Plain. It is administered as a sub-provincial city with a population of 7,677,089 at the 2010 census under its jurisdiction, including counties and...	9 km	Wang Chunlu Wang Chunlu Wang Chunlu is a Chinese short track speed skater. She won medals in the 500 m and 3000 m relay at the 2002 Winter Olympics. She had also already won a relay silver medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics, at the age of 19.-External links:*...  – silver medalist short track skater Short track speed skating Short track speed skating is a form of competitive ice speed skating. In competitions, multiple skaters skate on an oval ice track with a circumference of 111.12 m...	218
July 15		Songyuan Songyuan Songyuan is a prefecture-level city in Jilin province, People's Republic of China.-History:Even though the present city of Songyuan is predominantly modern in appearance, the area has a long history dating back to the Neolithic age...	–	–	110
July 15		Jilin City Jilin City Jilin City is the second largest city of Jilin province in Northeast China. At the 2010 census, 4,414,681 people resided within its administrative area of and 1,975,803 in its built up area...	7.7 km	Wang Chunli Wang Chunli Wang Chunli is a Chinese biathlete and cross-country skier. She competed for China at the 2006 Winter Olympics in cross-country skiing. She also competed in the biathlon for China at the 2010 Winter Olympics.-References:...  – medalist skater	108
July 16		Yanji Yanji Yanji , also known as Yeon'gil from its Korean name , is the seat of the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, eastern Jilin province, Northeast China. Its population is approximately 400,000 of which a large section is ethnic Korean...	–	Xie Jun Xie Jun Xie Jun is a chess grandmaster from China. She had two reigns as Women's World Chess Champion, from 1991 to 1996 and again from 1999 to 2001. Xie is only the second woman to have two reigns, the other being Elisabeth Bykova....  (谢军) – chess champion	-
July 17	Liaoning Liaoning ' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the northeast of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "辽" , a name taken from the Liao River that flows through the province. "Níng" means "peace"...	Shenyang Shenyang Shenyang , or Mukden , is the capital and largest city of Liaoning Province in Northeast China. Currently holding sub-provincial administrative status, the city was once known as Shengjing or Fengtianfu...	10.08 km	Zhuang Xiaoyan Zhuang Xiaoyan Zhuang Xiaoyan is a Chinese judo coach, former international judo champion, and winner of the gold medal for judo in the women's +72 kg division at the 1992 Summer Olympics. Her medal was China's first Olympic gold medal in judo.-Early life:Zhuang was born on 4 May 1969 in Shenyang, Liaoning,...  – gold medalist in judo Han Xiaopeng Han Xiaopeng Han Xiaopeng is a freestyle skier who competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, and won gold in the men's aerials event. In this discipline he also won the World Championships in 2007. Despite these great achievements, he has yet to win a World Cup competition...  (韩晓鹏) – gold medalist freestyle skier Freestyle skiing Freestyle skiing is form of skiing which used to encompass two disciplines: aerials, and moguls. Except the two disciplines mentioned earlier Freestyle Skiing now consists of Skicross, Half Pipe and Slope Style... Li Yuwei – gold medalist shooter Gao Hongmiao Gao Hongmiao Gao Hongmiao is a retired Chinese race walker.-Achievements:-External links:...  – racewalking champion	241
July 18		Anshan	7.3 km	Wang Yifu Wang Yifu Wang Yifu is a male Chinese pistol shooter, and in terms of Olympic medals one of the most successful sport shooters of all times. He specializes in the 50 m Pistol and 10 m Air Pistol events....  (王义夫) – gold medalist shooter	175
July 19		Dalian Dalian Dalian is a major city and seaport in the south of Liaoning province, Northeast China. It faces Shandong to the south, the Yellow Sea to the east and the Bohai Sea to the west and south. Holding sub-provincial administrative status, Dalian is the southernmost city of Northeast China and China's...	–
July 21	Shandong Shandong ' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...	Qingdao Qingdao ' also known in the West by its postal map spelling Tsingtao, is a major city with a population of over 8.715 million in eastern Shandong province, Eastern China. Its built up area, made of 7 urban districts plus Jimo city, is home to about 4,346,000 inhabitants in 2010.It borders Yantai to the...	14.5 km	Zhang Xiaodong – medalist windsurfer	259
July 21		Linyi Linyi Linyi is a prefecture-level city in the south of Shandong province, People's Republic of China. The largest prefecture-level city in Shandong both by area and total population, Linyi borders Rizhao to the east, Weifang to the northeast, Zibo to the north, Tai'an to the northwest, Jining to the...	5.6 km	–	109
July 22		Qufu Qufu Qufu is a city in southwestern Shandong province, People's Republic of China. It is located at 35° 36′ northern latitude and 117° 02′ east, about south of the provincial capital Jinan and northeast of the prefecture seat at Jining...	5.1 km	–	100
July 22		Tai'an Tai'an Tai'an is a prefecture-level city in western Shandong province, People's Republic of China.Centered around Mount Tai, the city borders the provincial capital of Jinan to the north, Laiwu to the northeast, Zibo to the east, Linyi to the southeast, Liaocheng to the extreme west and Jining to the south...	–	Bi Wenjing Bi Wenjing Bi Wenjing is a Chinese gymnast. She competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, winning a silver medal in uneven bars, and placing fourth in the team competition with the Chinese team.-References:...  – uneven bars athlete Xing Aowei Xing Aowei Xing Aowei is a Male Chinese gymnast. Xing was part of the Chinese team that won the gold medal in the team event at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.-Major performances:*1998 Asian Games - 1st team & pommel horse, 3rd horizontal bar...  – gymnast	120
July 23		Jinan Jinan Jinan is the capital of Shandong province in Eastern China. The area of present-day Jinan has played an important role in the history of the region from the earliest beginnings of civilisation and has evolved into a major national administrative, economic, and transportation hub...	13.5 km	Xing Huina Xing Huina Xing Huina is a Chinese track and field athlete.-Biography:Xing was born to family of farmers in Hanting, Weifang, Shandong. Standing 1.66 m tall and weighing 50 kg , she began training at Weifang City Sport School, coached by Chi Yuzhai...  (邢慧娜) – gold medalist track & field Lin Weining Lin Weining Lin Weining is a female Chinese weightlifter. She began with wushu in 1991, and switched to weightlifting in 1992...  – weighlifter Wu Minxia Wu Minxia Wu Minxia is a female diver from the People's Republic of China.Wu represented China at the 2004 Summer Olympics, earning a gold medal in the 3 metre women's synchronized springboard along with Guo Jingjing before winning a silver medal in the 3 metre women's springboard, coming in second place...  (吴敏霞) – gold medalist diver Qiao Yunping Qiao Yunping Qiao Yunping is a female Chinese table tennis player. She won a silver medal in 1996 Atlanta Olympics Games in the women's doubles.-References:...  – table tennis champion Guo Jingjing Guo Jingjing Guo Jingjing is a Chinese female diver from the People's Republic of China. She has won more Olympic medals than any other female diver and has won the 3m springboard event at five consecutive World Championships. She announced her retirement in 2011....  (郭晶晶) – gold medalist diver	243
July 25	Henan Henan Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...	Zhengzhou Zhengzhou Zhengzhou , is the capital and largest city of Henan province in north-central China. A prefecture-level city, it also serves as the political, economic, technological, and educational centre of the province, as well as a major transportation hub for Central China...	7.6 km		208
July 26		Kaifeng Kaifeng Kaifeng , known previously by several names , is a prefecture-level city in east-central Henan province, Central China. Nearly 5 million people live in the metropolitan area...	6.6 km	Chang Wu (張武) – a designer of Dancing Beijing Dancing Beijing Dancing Beijing is the name of the official emblem of the 2008 Summer Olympics, which took place in Beijing in the People's Republic of China. It was unveiled in August 2003 in a ceremony attended by 2,008 people at Beijing's Temple of Heaven.-Description:...  symbol Wang Liqun Wang Liqun Wang Liqun is a Chinese historian, a professor at Henan University.-Biography:Wang received his M.A degree from Henan University in 1982 and then joined the faculty of Henan University....  (王立群) – historian and professor of Henan University Henan University Henan University is a public university in Kaifeng, Henan, China.-History:Founded in 1912, Henan University is one of the oldest universities in China. It was originally named the Preparatory School for Further Study in Europe and America... Mark Roswell Dashan Dashan is the Chinese stage name adopted by Canadian Mark Henry Rowswell, CM who works as a freelance performer in People's Republic of China. Relatively unknown in the West, Dashan is the most famous Western personality in China's media industry. He occupies a unique position as a foreign...  (大山) – xiangsheng Xiangsheng Xiangsheng , sometimes translated as crosstalk, is a traditional Chinese comedic performance in the form of a dialogue between two performers, or, much less often, a solo monologue or, even less frequently, a multi-player talk show. The language, rich in puns and allusions, is delivered in a rapid,...  – actor Zheng Haixia (郑海霞) – medalist basketball player	208
July 27		Luoyang Luoyang Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...	6.9 km	–	208
July 28		Anyang Anyang Anyang is a prefecture-level city in Henan province, People's Republic of China. The northernmost city in Henan, Anyang borders Puyang to the east, Hebi and Xinxiang to the south, and the provinces of Shanxi and Hebei to its west and north respectively....	5.9 km	–	208
July 29	Hebei Hebei ' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...	Shijiazhuang Shijiazhuang Shijiazhuang is the capital and largest city of North China's Hebei province. Administratively a prefecture-level city, it is about south of Beijing...	9.3 km	Cai Yalin Cai Yalin Cai Yalin is a male Chinese sports shooter. He won the 10m air rifle at the 2000 Summer Olympics, in the process beating the Olympic record of 695.7pts with 696.4pts....  – medalist shooting champion Li Meisu Li Meisu Li Meisu is a retired Chinese shot putter who won the bronze medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.She also won the Asian Games in 1982 and 1998, the Asian Championships in 1998 and the East Asian Games in 1997....  – medalist in shot put Shot put The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action....	188
July 30		Qinhuangdao Qinhuangdao Qinhuangdao is a port city in northeastern Hebei province of North China. It is about 300 km east of Beijing, on the Bohai Sea, the innermost gulf of the Yellow Sea....	7 km	Xi Enting Xi Enting Xi Enting is a male former table tennis player from China. From 1972 to 1975 he won several medals in singles, doubles, and team events in the Asian Table Tennis Championships and in the World Table Tennis Championships.-References:...  – table tennis champion	256
July 31		Tangshan Tangshan "唐山"redirects here. For an alternative name of China, see Names of China#TangTangshan is a largely industrial prefecture-level city in Hebei province, People's Republic of China. It has become known for the 1976 Tangshan earthquake which measured 7.8 on the Richter scale and killed at least...	10.1 km	Qian Hong Qian Hong (swimmer) Qian Hong is a former butterfly swimmer from China and two-time Olympic medalist. Qian first won a bronze medal in the 100 m butterfly at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. Four years later she captured gold in the same event at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.-References:*...  (钱红) – gold medalist swimmer	208
August 1 – August 2	Tianjin Tianjin ' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...		12 km	–	225
August 3	Sichuan Sichuan ' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...	Guang'an Guang'an Guang'an is a prefecture-level city in eastern Sichuan province. It is most famous as the birthplace of China's former paramount leader Deng Xiaoping. Guang'an lies between the hills of central Sichuan and the gorges area of the east...	7.3 km	Jiang Min – Policewoman	189
August 4		Leshan Leshan -Administrative divisions:-Transport:There is a passenger rail line that serves the Mianyang–Chengdu–Leshan inter-city area.The Chengdu-Leshan Highway with a total length of 160 kilometers, was finished on January 14th, 2000...	8.2 km	Gao Min – gold medalist diver	185
August 5		Chengdu Chengdu Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...	13.2 km	Zhang Shan Zhang Shan Zhang Shan is a Chinese sports shooter and Olympic Champion. She won the gold medal in the Olympic Skeet Shooting event at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona....  – gold medalist shooter	315
August 6	Beijing (outside)		16.4 km	Zhang Yimou Zhang Yimou Zhang Yimou is a Chinese film director, producer, writer and actor, and former cinematographer. He is counted amongst the Fifth Generation of Chinese filmmakers, having made his directorial debut in 1987 with Red Sorghum....  (张艺谋) – film director Bai Yansong Bai Yansong Bai Yansong is a prominent Chinese news anchor and journalist affiliated with China Central Television, China's national television network, and is known for his articulate and confident style. He was born in Inner Mongolia, China and is an ethnic Mongol. Bai was one of CCTV's major news anchors...  – CCTV China Central Television China Central Television or Chinese Central Television, commonly abbreviated as CCTV, is the major state television broadcaster in mainland China. CCTV has a network of 19 channels broadcasting different programmes and is accessible to more than one billion viewers...  anchor Yang Liwei Yang Liwei Yáng Lìwěi is a Chinese major general and military pilot and a CNSA astronaut. He was the first man sent into space by the Chinese space program and his mission, Shenzhou 5, made China the third country to independently send people into space.-Background:...  (杨利伟) – astronaut Liu Qi (刘淇) – president of BOCOG Li Furong Li Furong Li Furong was a Chinese male table tennis player. He was a native of Zhejiang province starting to play table tennis at 15 and joined national team in 1959. Li helped the Chinese men's team win four team titles at the World Table Tennis Championships in 1961, 1963, 1965 and 1971...  – VP of BOCOG Yao Ming Yao Ming Yao Ming is a retired Chinese professional basketball player who last played for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association...  (姚明) – basketball player Song Dandan Song Dandan Song Dandan is a very popular Chinese skit and sitcom actress.-Biography:She was trained and started as a drama actress. But it was her skit debut, A Date with Slug, in 1989 CCTV New Year's Gala that brought her immediate success. Afterwards she costarred firstly with Huang Hong then with her most...  (宋丹丹) – actress Liu Chuanzhi Liu Chuanzhi Liu Chuanzhi is a Chinese businessman. Liu is the founder of Lenovo, the second largest computer maker in the world, and remains the paramount leader of the firm.-Lenovo:...  (柳传志) – founder of Lenovo Wu Shaozu Wu Shaozu Wu Shaozu is a Chinese politician and a major general of the People's Liberation Army.-References:...  – former chairperson of Chinese Olympic Committee Chinese Olympic Committee Chinese Olympic Committee represents the People's Republic of China in international affairs related to the Olympic Movement.-Timeline concerning Olympic recognition:... Lang Lang Lang Lang (pianist) Lang Lang , born June 14, 1982, in Shenyang, Liaoning, China, is a Chinese concert pianist, currently residing in New York, who has performed with leading orchestras in Europe, the United States and his native China. He is increasingly well known around the world for his concert performances,...  – pianist Wang Hui Wang Hui (intellectual) Wang Hui is a professor in the Department of Chinese Language and Literature, Tsinghua University, Beijing. His researches focus on contemporary Chinese literature and intellectual history. He was the executive editor of the influential magazine Dushu from May 1996 to July 2007...  (汪晖) – intellectual Yang Yuanqing Yang Yuanqing Yang Yuanqing is the current chief executive officer of Lenovo.-Lenovo:In 1989, Yang joined Legend, as Lenovo was then known, as a salesman. Since then, Yang has moved up the ranks quickly. A mere 12 years later, at the age of 37, he moved to the top as president and CEO. Yang Yuanqing was...  (杨元庆) – Lenovo chairman Jiang Xiaoyu – executive VP of BOCOG JJ Lin JJ Lin JJ Lin is a Singaporean Mandopop Singer-songwriter, Composer and Actor based in Taiwan. JJ Lin is managed by Ocean Butterflies. Lin won Best New Artist for his work on his debut album Music Voyager at the 15th Golden Melody Awards in 2004....  (林俊杰) – singer Yu Dan Yu Dan Yu Dan is an associate professor at China's Beijing Normal University. She is also assistant to the Dean, Faculty of Arts & Media, as well as Head, Department of Film & Television Media. She receives a master degree in ancient Chinese literature and a doctoral degree in film & TV studies from...  (于丹) – professor Wu Jinglian Wu Jinglian Wu Jinglian is one of the preeminent economists of the People's Republic of China , primarily specializing in economic policy as it applies to China's ongoing series of economic reforms....  (吴敬琏) – economist Li Yongbo Li Yongbo Li Yongbo is a retired Chinese male badminton player and now the head coach of Chinese National Badminton Team.-Career:As a player he was a men's doubles specialist noted for his quickness, reflexes, and power. From the mid-1980s to the early 1990s he shared numerous international titles with his...  (李永波) – medalist badminton player Dong Jiong Dong Jiong Dong Jiong is a Chinese badminton player who ranked among the world's men's singles elite in the mid and late 1990s.-Career:In a relatively short career at the top level, Dong won some of badminton's biggest events, including the prestigious All-England and Denmark Open titles in 1997...  (董炯) – medalist badminton player Winfried Vahland – president of Volkswagen Volkswagen Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...  China Song Taishan – Coca Cola Beijing general manager Luo Jing Luo Jing Luo Jing was a prominent news anchor for China Central Television , the main state broadcaster of the People's Republic of China. He was known all over China as an announcer for the 7:00pm CCTV News program Xinwen Lianbo. As one of China's most well-known TV personalities, Luo's voice was very...  – Newsreporter	433
August 7			14.58 km	Liu Xuan Liu Xuan (gymnast) Liu Xuan is a Chinese Gymnast. She was coached by Guo Xinming and Zhang Zhen.Liu said she took up gymnastics with encouragement from her mom, who had to cease gymnastics training during her younger years because of the closure of the gym during the Cultural Revolution...  (刘璇) – medalist gymnast Song Zuying Song Zuying Song Zuying is an ethnic Miao Chinese singer.-Biography:Song was born in Guzhang county, part of a Miao autonomous prefecture in Hunan and studied at the Central Institute for Nationalities in Beijing. Her father died when she was 12, and she is the oldest daughter. In 1991, she joined the Chinese...  (宋祖英) – singer Yang Wenjun Yang Wenjun Yang Wenjun is a Chinese sprint canoer who has competed since the early 2000s. Participating in two Summer Olympics, he won two C-2 500 m gold medals Meng Guanliang, earning them in 2004 and 2008....  (杨文军) – gold medalist flatwater canoer Canoe racing This article discusses canoe sprint and canoe marathon, competitive forms of canoeing and kayaking on more or less flat water. Both sports are governed by the International Canoe Federation .... Hu Kai Hu Kai Hu Kai is a Chinese sprinter who specializes in the 100 metres. As of 2008, he was pursuing an advanced degree in management. His personal best time is 10.24 seconds, achieved in May 2008 in Beijing. In the 200 metres he has 20.57 seconds, achieved in April 2006 in Chongqing.He won the 100 metres...  – gold medalist sprinter Han Geng - Member of South Korean Boy Band Super Junior Super Junior Super Junior is a South Korean boy band. Formed in 2005 by producer Lee Soo-man of SM Entertainment, the group comprised a total of thirteen members at its peak, and was once claimed to be the world's largest boy band...	268
August 8			–	Feng Gong Feng Gong Feng Gong is a Chinese actor, xiangsheng performer, film director, and screenwriter from Tianjin, China. He is the great grandson of Feng Guozhang, a statesman and warlord of China during the early 20th century.- Partial filmography :...  (冯巩) – xiangsheng Xiangsheng Xiangsheng , sometimes translated as crosstalk, is a traditional Chinese comedic performance in the form of a dialogue between two performers, or, much less often, a solo monologue or, even less frequently, a multi-player talk show. The language, rich in puns and allusions, is delivered in a rapid,...  performer Xu Zhihong Xu Zhihong Xu Zhihong is a botanist and former President of Peking University. He is a former Vice-President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.-External links:*...  – president of Peking University Peking University Peking University , colloquially known in Chinese as Beida , is a major research university located in Beijing, China, and a member of the C9 League. It is the first established modern national university of China. It was founded as Imperial University of Peking in 1898 as a replacement of the...	-
August 8	Beijing (part of opening ceremony 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony The 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony was held at the Beijing National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest. It began at 8:00 pm China Standard Time on August 8, 2008, as 8 is considered to be a lucky number. The number 8 is associated with prosperity and confidence in Chinese culture...  in Beijing National Stadium Beijing National Stadium Beijing National Stadium, also known officially as the National Stadium, or colloquially as the Bird's Nest , is a stadium in Beijing, China. The stadium was designed for use throughout the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.-History:... )		–	Xu Haifeng Xu Haifeng Xu Haifeng is a male Chinese pistol shooter, and the first person to win a gold medal for China in the Olympic Games. He specializes in the 50 metre pistol event....  (许海峰) – gold medalist shooter Gao Min (高敏) – gold medalist diver Li Xiaoshuang Li Xiaoshuang Li Xiaoshuang is a Chinese gymnast and Olympic champion. Li Xiaoshuang and his twin brother Li Dashuang's gymnastics talent was discovered at the age of six...  (李小双) – gold medalist gymnast Zhan Xugang Zhan Xugang Zhan Xugang is a male Chinese weightlifter who competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics, in the 2000 Summer Olympics, and in the 2004 Summer Olympics.In 1996 he won the gold medal in the 70 kg class...  (占旭刚) – gold medalist weighlifter Zhang Jun (張軍) – gold medalist badminton Chen Zhong Chen Zhong Chen Zhong is a retired Chinese taekwondo competitor who represented her country at international level for more than 10 years, including three consecutive Summer Olympic Games. She won China's first Olympic gold medal in taekwondo at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, and successfully defended...  (陈中) – gold medalist taekwondo Sun Jinfang – member of team that won China's first major championship in a team sport Li Ning Li Ning Li Ning is a well-known Chinese gymnast and entrepreneur. He was born in an ethnic Zhuang family.-Gymnastics career:... (李宁) – gold medalist gymnast	-