KUNMING -- The Olympic flame landed in Kunming, the "Spring City", on Monday, embarking on a three-day torch relay in Yunnan province.

Two torchbearers, one from German and the other from the Yao ethnic group, pass flame during the Beijing Olympic torch relay in Kunming, Yunnan Province, June 9, 2008. [Xinhua]

The opening ceremony started at 9:00 a.m. local time following half-an-hour ethnic drum and dance performance.

As usual, one-minute silence tribute to the Sichuan earthquake victims was practised before the first torchbearer Zhong Huandi, a long-distance runner with 10,000m and 3,000m titles at the Beijing Asian Games 1990, was handed the torch in the "Garden of the World Horticultural Exposition", where the opening-up took place and the first 100 bearers ran.

Kunming hosted the 1999 world horticultural exposition and kept all the exhibits in the Garden. With a torch lay-out at the gate of Garden, the torch moved on to Lake Dian Tour Resort on vehicle by passing the Third Ring East Road, Kun Luo Road, and Guang Fu Road.

Then the torch relay continued to go along Lake Dian Road, Saigon Wharf Road, Kangyi Leisure Garden, arriving at Yunnan Ethnic Village, which hosted the last 17 torchbearers and put an end to the 8.3km hand-to-hand relay.

The last torchbearer was Jiang Shaomin, a 63-year-old gymnast with a couple of national titles and sixth-placed result in the 15th world championships in her career.

"Today, going together with other torchbearers and Yunnan residents, I am so pleased to carry the Olympic torch," said Jiang after lighting the cauldron at 10:45 a.m. local time.

"The Olympic flame arrived at Yunnan province, arrived at the ruddle plateau. This tells us the Beijing Olympic Games is coming. As an athlete of age, I am proud of Beijing hosting the Olympic Games and I believe in a successful Olympic Games being presented.

"I am looking forward to athletes and coaches from all corners of the world coming to the Games. Through the relay, we can better understand each other between China and other countries and better support each other," added Jiang.

"Reflecting the difficulties slated in the way of reconstruction from Sichuan earthquake destruction, I hope all the people stand side by side and heart to heart with the residents surviving from the disaster," said Jiang, referring to the disastrous earthquake in Sichuan on May 12.

Kunming is a prefecture-level city and capital of Yunnan province, southwestern China. Because of its year-round temperate climate, Kunming is often called the "Spring City" or "City of Eternal Spring".

It was important during World War II as a Chinese military center, American air base, and transport terminus for the Burma Road. Located in the middle of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, Kunming is at an altitude of 1,900m above sea level.

The Olympic flame is heading for Li Jiang, a picturesque city and tour destination for foreigners for its ancient buildings, scenic attraction and comfortable climate.