HUAINAN -- Zhang Lanhe, a mine worker from Huainan Mining (Group) Co., Ltd, together with his 50 colleagues, came to the downtown of Huainan, a city of China's Anhui province, expecting to witness the Olympic torch relay.

The torch relay took place at 7:10 a.m. local time, and the Olympic flame cheered everyone up.

"I am very excited to witness the relay!" said Zhang at the scene. "It gives the affection to the earthquake victims, gives them confidence and strength, and unites the Chinese people."

Huainan is a city where the Huaihe river goes through, and experienced the most disastrous flood since 1954 last July.

"The city, including our mine, was serious flooded last year, but with the help of the people of the whole country, we overcame the difficulties," said Zhang. "The earthquake victims are suffering what we suffered, so we have the same feeling. We know how important fraternity and aids are when disaster comes."

Sun Jie, a senior of Huainan Normal University, a torch bearer and a leukaemia sufferer, said that many people helped her when she and her single parent family was distressed. "I hope the torch can transfer hope, fraternity, and my appreciation to everyone, especially those earthquake victims."

Early on the Thursday morning, Zhang Wenyue, a farmer of Zhangji, a town of Huainan's Fengyang county, was seated before the TV with his family to watch the torch relay. "I can not witness the relay in person as our village is 50 kilometers away from the downtown," said Zhang regretfully.

The flood last year remains fresh in Zhang's memory.

"It disrupted our village, and many houses collapsed, but nobody died or injured. Every endangered villager had evacuated with the help of the local officials. Money and materials donated helped us greatly in our home rebuilding. Our life has returned to the normal."

"I want to donate blood to the earthquake victims as I am not rich," said Zhang. "The Olympic spirit helps unite the Chinese, and I am sure we can conquer the disaster."